Description: This is a patch for kdebase 3.4 and 3.3.2.
It changes the FileTip* to a balloon shaped object (like the one kopete uses) insteed of the Rectangle-object it normally is.
*) Hold the mouse over an icon on the desktop or in a iconview in konqueror.
Install: Download kdebase.3.4.0rc1 or get CVS, unpack this patch and apply it like this: cd kdebase && patch -p1 < PATH_TO_PATCH when configure, compile and install.Last changelog:
0.4 Black borderline has been improved lot.
0.3 By request, a black borderline has been added. Renamed to BalloonFileTip (makes more sence to me)
0.2 Fixed a minor drawing issue. Backported to KDE3.3.2
0.1 Initial release of patch: Ballon shaped FileTip.
Known issues: If the FileTip is larger then halv the screen width, no arrow will be pointing too the file icon. The borderline is not perfect, the corners are too thick at some spots.
I have one issue with this.
First, I like the idea of having sophisticated shaped ballon helps. In particular I liked those of Enlightenment.
But: The shape should be dependend on the current GUI widget style. Please, if it is somehow possible, just patch the balloon help in a way that it is asking the KStyle engine to give it a nice shape and background image. Then you could provide your implenentation as a default in KStyle. As a result another style author can still provide his own look and feel (I really don't believe that styles like Baghira go with this balloon help, or - what if in the near future your implementation looks old fashioned?)
What do you think of this problem? In KDE all appearance related things should somehow be related to the Widget style engine. Remember, in KDE1 someone implemented the toolbar separators hard coded in KToolBar. It needed up to 3.2 to find this out and fix it! Don#t do the same mistake again and again...
" First, I like the idea of having sophisticated shaped ballon helps. In particular I liked those of Enlightenment."
Havn't tried enlightenment in a long time (last 16, quite old), I'm looking forward to trying it again (17).
"But: The shape should be dependend on the current GUI widget style. Please, if it is somehow possible, just patch the balloon help in a way that it is asking the KStyle engine to give it a nice shape and background image. Then you could provide your implenentation as a default in KStyle. ..."
I really havn't though of that, I think it's a great idea. I don't know mush about how kstyle-works.
I never expected this too make it into KDE's codebase, not in it's current form.
I just don't like these irregular shaped windows, but prefer rectangular ones, but well that's just my opinion.
But if you shape the window, than it should still have a black border as the outer line. You're dialog is just yellow, but a black line at the edges would look better.
You don't have to use it ;-)
I made this mostly for myself, but shared it here for those who might like it too.
I'll get around to the blank line later, I ment to do that from the beginning, but could do it when.
Ah sorry, I thought you wanted to get this in a default KDE installation :)
No offense however, tastes are different, and I am sure some people like it, and therefore it's good that you uploaded the thing, even if I personally don't like it :)
also have a look at this:
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=21453
you could combine thos ideas in your patch (the actual tooltips are too large IMHO, this is a more compact look)
I already know of it :-) But I see a number of issue with it, as I pointed out in the commenting section on that.
While invistigating howto make this patch, I learn something on how the metainfo system works in KDE.
1. I think the horizontal line in that idea would require a major rewrite due to the fact that the metainfo including the horizontal line i basicly an HTML-string that doesn't just split up. So I don't see a simple way of having both an icon/preview and that HTML-string.
2. I actually like the size of the FileTip as it is, this balloon has the same size as the original. I might be able to do something about the height, there seem to be some pixels at the bottom.
It won't for now, the patch doesn't even apply, but I already know why, the class KonqFileTip is in another file in 3.3.
I was planning to port it tonight (GMT+1) or early tomorrow.
Ratings & Comments
10 Comments
Hmm, i wonder if someday we can have that balloon customized via CSS :D .. It would definitely rocks!
I have one issue with this. First, I like the idea of having sophisticated shaped ballon helps. In particular I liked those of Enlightenment. But: The shape should be dependend on the current GUI widget style. Please, if it is somehow possible, just patch the balloon help in a way that it is asking the KStyle engine to give it a nice shape and background image. Then you could provide your implenentation as a default in KStyle. As a result another style author can still provide his own look and feel (I really don't believe that styles like Baghira go with this balloon help, or - what if in the near future your implementation looks old fashioned?) What do you think of this problem? In KDE all appearance related things should somehow be related to the Widget style engine. Remember, in KDE1 someone implemented the toolbar separators hard coded in KToolBar. It needed up to 3.2 to find this out and fix it! Don#t do the same mistake again and again...
" First, I like the idea of having sophisticated shaped ballon helps. In particular I liked those of Enlightenment." Havn't tried enlightenment in a long time (last 16, quite old), I'm looking forward to trying it again (17). "But: The shape should be dependend on the current GUI widget style. Please, if it is somehow possible, just patch the balloon help in a way that it is asking the KStyle engine to give it a nice shape and background image. Then you could provide your implenentation as a default in KStyle. ..." I really havn't though of that, I think it's a great idea. I don't know mush about how kstyle-works. I never expected this too make it into KDE's codebase, not in it's current form.
I just don't like these irregular shaped windows, but prefer rectangular ones, but well that's just my opinion. But if you shape the window, than it should still have a black border as the outer line. You're dialog is just yellow, but a black line at the edges would look better.
You don't have to use it ;-) I made this mostly for myself, but shared it here for those who might like it too. I'll get around to the blank line later, I ment to do that from the beginning, but could do it when.
Ah sorry, I thought you wanted to get this in a default KDE installation :) No offense however, tastes are different, and I am sure some people like it, and therefore it's good that you uploaded the thing, even if I personally don't like it :)
Do you know if this will work on 3.3? it seems good and I want to include that on my kde for slackware
also have a look at this: http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=21453 you could combine thos ideas in your patch (the actual tooltips are too large IMHO, this is a more compact look)
also have a look at this: http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=21453 you could combine thos ideas in your patch (the actual tooltips are too large IMHO, this is a more compact look) I already know of it :-) But I see a number of issue with it, as I pointed out in the commenting section on that. While invistigating howto make this patch, I learn something on how the metainfo system works in KDE. 1. I think the horizontal line in that idea would require a major rewrite due to the fact that the metainfo including the horizontal line i basicly an HTML-string that doesn't just split up. So I don't see a simple way of having both an icon/preview and that HTML-string. 2. I actually like the size of the FileTip as it is, this balloon has the same size as the original. I might be able to do something about the height, there seem to be some pixels at the bottom.
It won't for now, the patch doesn't even apply, but I already know why, the class KonqFileTip is in another file in 3.3. I was planning to port it tonight (GMT+1) or early tomorrow.