#6 UI Use drop-down boxes to limit choice of options

[Anonymous]

As a first time user of the tool I was confused by the many options. I suggest to replace the the 3 inputboxes (Always skip x versions,
Ignore first x versions, Versions to check) with 1 drop-down boxes that comes with a preconfigured set of sensible options. Something like:
- Linear (25 versions)
- Linear (250 versions, skip 9 of 10)
- Halfing method (unlimited)

This would have two benefits:
- less confusion for the user
- less server-load due to unsensible choices by the user.

See attached file for a mockup.

[Nobody/Anonymous]

Mockup UI changes

[Flominator]

Nice suggestion, especially the mockup file.

1. drop down field with selection of sensible options for projects.
Sounds doable. Is there any way to retrieve an generated list of projects which is up to date from somewhere?

2. new label months
Was a problem while there weren't enough translators. Should be no problem now.

3. drop down instead of radio button to tweak the search order
Doesn't that imply that this option is always used and not only for linear search? Maybe I should make these radio buttons only appear, when you select linear?

4. drop down instead of radio button; choice of sensible options, less server-load
I'm not sure if some users are going to miss the ability to tweak the settings. I will think about it. Any other opions?

[Flominator]

5. the cancel button
Please checkout https://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=2810928&group_id=261179&atid=1127548 for this

[Nobody/Anonymous]

> new label months

Maybe turn language selection also into drop-down? (I luv 'em drop-downs...)

> Doesn't that imply that this option is always used and not only for linear
search?

No. "Search order" (or maybe "search direction"?) should be useful for both methods, because it implies a search limit. For example: start date = 31.12.2007 and direction = backward searches excludes anything newer than 1.1.2008.

> I'm not sure if some users are going to miss the ability to tweak the settings.

They will. ;-) But how many are they - and what do they miss exacly? Is it just one or two really useful combinations, that should be included in the list of sensible options? Or are they hardcore users who know what they are doing and really benefit from advanced tweakability?

[Flominator]

I'm going to include your three drop downs in the UI. Experienced users can still tweak the setting via URL (or maybe via separate interface).

I have to think a little more about the order thing, since I'm not sure about the consequences on the two algorithms.

[Flominator]

I started implementing your suggestions with the first baby step: Month names instead of numbers. When I have some translations for it, I will put it live.

[Anonymous]

"Do you think WikiBlame's user interface needs improvement? Please post your opinon at SourceForge."

Yes, Especially over the spelling of "opinon" ;-)

[Flominator]

"Yes, Especially over the spelling of "opinon" ;-)"
good point :))

[Flominator]

1. Meanwhile I found http://de.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=sitematrix&format=xml which generates an xml version of the site matrix. On the other hand, I introduced a replacement of the most common input language mistakes. Maybe the drop down feature is not necessary at all?

[Flominator]

1. http://noc.wikimedia.org/conf/all.dblist offers a list of all projects . A possible way to build the list would be:
1. filter out private wikis
2. replace _ by -
3. stuff before "wiki" can be used as language
4. stuff after wiki is the project name
5. add .org to get a full server name

[Nobody/Anonymous]

no se puede poner las fechas de 1800's. You can't place the years of 1800's.