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I'm a Mylyn-newbie, so feel free to correct my understanding. This is sort of a "first impressions" after having used it for a month now. But just to make it absolutely clear: I [expletives] love this stuff! Executive Summary: don't mess up the standard PE, instead make a new view that is a Mylynized PE, and where the forced opening of the class structure is an option. Reasoning: I don't like the "focused Package Explorer" as it stands. I don't like the hiding of nodes - it hides my overview. Since Mylyn takes over the entire IDE, there is no longer a place where I can get this overview without using the ALT button. I don't like the ALT-click thing. (Given the ALT-click, I don't like how the earlier nodes disappear when I drill down in the packages - it should at least stay static while ALT is still held.) I don't like the fact that it forces open the class structure - I get completely confused by all the "stuff" in that view: when having e.g. 10 files open, it gets idiotically long, and there is no overview whatsoever anymore. I don't understand why Mylyn has to highjack a perfectly nice view: why not make a new one? These elements I feel is working against the point of Mylyn (at least my point of Mylyn!): being able to context-switch fast and efficiently, and making me code faster and better! I'd love to have a normal Package Explorer (which could use bold to highlight the context) - and *in addition* have a Mylynized version of the same. I'd have both open on my large wide screen! This Mylynized version of the PE should have the OPTION of opening the class structure, or just show the context-classes. I'd personally not use the opening - at least not yet. I actively use the Outline for this purpose. This is Mylynized enough as it is: bold. (Personally I could also use some colors.) This way, I could still browse the full tree in full overview mode, "as normal". I need this to get my bearings and my head straight when coding. From here I'd like to pick elements into the task context (which simply means to open them), which then would show up in the Mylynized version of PE. The bottom line is that I need BOTH: context (which is a awesome idea!), and overview. I feel Mylyn now takes away the overview, which to me becomes 20 steps forward, but then about 8 steps back. (A final thought: why doesn't Eclipse globally have a "scroll-wheel is active in the mouse-pointed-to view"?? I LOATHE the fact that I have to click into the view to use the scroll wheel.)
Endre, you can get Package Explorer view (as well as any other view with Mylyn filtering support) back to the original state by switching off filter from the view toobar (there is "tree ball" icon out there).
Thanks! Can I have both versions at the same time? And can I have the Mylyn-version not open the classes and methods?
Way back we used to provide a second filtered Package Explorer, but too many users found that this was not sufficiently integrated. So our current approach is to extend existing views, but to do this in a way where each of the Mylyn features can easily be removed. This is documented at: http://wiki.eclipse.org/index.php/Mylyn/FAQ#Which_Focused_UI_features_can_I_turn_off.3F If you prefer to use the Package Explorer without focus, we recommend using it in conjunction with Navigate -> Quick Context View. This should provide the context view that you're after, but also lets you type element names in order to open them. Let us know how that works out for you.
(In reply to comment #2) > can I have the Mylyn-version not open the classes and methods? I also find that too noisy. However you can enable "Java Declaration Filter" in Package Explorer view filters configuration.
@Mik: Navigate -> Quick Context View: nice! But I'd still like to have a PE with context filtering. I believe I need it statically "just there". I believe I'd then get a visual (spatial) "fix" on the .. "landscape" .. of the filtered view (In the same way I argued that I need it for the full "world" - the original PE). The quick views doesn't quite give the same feel. The quick-view I've really gotten used to use is the Ctrl-T thing - but I know what I expect to find there: it is just a way to quickly navigate to an element I already know is there. The context view is something grander: it is an evolving map of the "local terrain", and it needs, IMO, a constant presence to be more "burnt into" the brain - in a spatial kinda way..! (However, I'm still very new to Mylyn, so I might just have to get used to some new way of thinking and processing.) @Eugene: Thanks! Where do I find that? (I am a bit baffled over the small number of config elements for Mylyn in Preferences - am I missing some large piece of the system?)
(In reply to comment #5) > @Eugene: Thanks! Where do I find that? Standard view menu (Ctrl-F10) in Package Explorer / Filters... / Java Declaration Filter
Endre: also consider trying to use a focused Project Explorer next to an unfocused Package Explorer. That might give you the two view mode that you're after.
@Eugene: oh, .. wow. I had no idea. Thanks! @Mik: huh? Can I have two instances of the same view? That would of course fully fix my issue (given Eugene's tip). However, when I select the PE from Window -> Show view -> Package Explorer, it just kinda gently highlights the existing one.
I was referring to the *Project* Explorer, not the Package Explorer. The reason this should work for your use case is that these two views are capable of showing the same content (Java project structure). Give it a shot.
Thanks for helping! However, I don't like the Project Explorer as much. I've come to find something of a solution for the time being: I go back and forth between the modes using the "bubbles" button on the Package Explorer (as Eugene pointed out). I feel this is much better than the Alt-click stuff, since I sometimes need the overview (and then I need it to stay there!) and sometimes would more like the focus to narrow down to find "the file I'm looking for was just here!?!". This along with the tip from Eugene for how to turn off the class/method focusing have made my Mylyn-experience way better. I do however still think that the possibility of having one focused and one unfocused at the same time would be nice (but don't take away the possibility I just described nevertheless..!) Thanks..
It is possible to have two views of the same editor file, with independent cursor positions and scroll positions. Why could it not be possible to similarly "duplicate" any arbitrary view, such as Package Explorer, and then manipulate its state (e.g., Link with Editor, Focused View) independently? You'd have something like "Package Explorer" and "Package Explorer (2)". Just another instance of the same view class. You'd create it like you create a duplicate instance of an editor: right-click on the tab and click "New View" (like "New Editor").
Additional discussion on the usability of focusing will take place on bug 272089.
