Dialog Levels
From Printing
Dialog Structure and Layout
The printing dialog shall have three distinct stages, level 2, level 3 and level 3.5. Level 1 describes the "just print" function which is menu based, and therefore, does not require a dialog.
Level 2 shall enable users to view a print preview and to review the essential of the current settings.
Level 3 shall show expand the preset information which will include some controls, which are selected via a tags matrix.
Level 3.5 shall be an extended version of level 3.
Working with Different Platforms and Themes
This specification shall be platform agnostic. That means that the specification can be used to develop the dialog for both Gnome and KDE desktop environments. It is accepted that a whole gamut of variable factors will influence the final appearance of the dialog. These could include:
- Font sizes- especially in relation to accessibility
- Margins, vertical spacing amongst other lay-outing sizes
- Colours- especially when in conjunction with Themes
- Window dressing and title bar sizes
- Widget sizes- for controls and button heights for example.
The lay-outing specification therefore includes a strategy for laying out the dialog independently of these factors.
- This can include making sure essential proportions and ratios are maintained in the layout of the dialogue.
- In some cases minimum or maximum pixel sizes will be given, in instances where this is vital for the success of an element.
- The overall maximum width of the dialogue is given- the dialogue will continue to be non- resizable by the user. Although, importantly, it will resize itself when more space for content is required- up until there is no further screen space available- the strategy for this instance is also documented below.
Colours and Fonts
The dialog design is optimised for the use of 13pt standard sans-serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial. The use of larger or smaller fonts is however tolerated to a certain level. The nature of the dialog is such that in cases where very large fonts are used, the amount of imfomation available to view will be severely limited. It is anticipated that in these cases where accessibility is the significant issue, a screen magnifier would be more appropriately used.
As stated previously, the colours used in the dialog will be dependent upon platform and theme. Generally, however, some colour issues are noteworthy as being essential to the success of the design:
- the colour used in the preset one, and preset zone border must contrast significantly with the content background colour of both the parameters and the review zone.
- white/ light background of the review zone.
- warning colour contrasting with the highlight colour and the background colour
Level 2, Review and Print
- Example Level 2 Layout
This image is an example of how the dialogue could look. It is not replicated to actual size. Tags and Parameters are samples for illustration purposes only.
The focus of the dialog at this level is to:
- review—i.e. see what you will get - and print, with the option to quickly chose a number of copies. Therefore there is a comprehensive review of the current print settings, in an immediate and visual way. Therefore the main focus of the level 2 dialog must be the preview.
- Show that the print that is delivered is determined by a group of settings -which are encapsulated as a Preset. The expression of this encapsulation is achieved by the highlight area (dark blue in our example image ) wrapping itself around the preview and summary information. The information directly relating to the presets themselves, is presented on the highlight-colour area itself.
- Enable users to easily select further presets
- Demonstrate clearly that there is a more detailed level of control available. This is done via the details link- which appears on the highlight colour, to demonstrate that the preset details that will be revealed. It is also achieved by the asymmetric nature of the blue border. This, together with the form of the details link background, strongly suggests movement. This movement is important as this cannot be a fully static layout, as it is the first in a possible series of dialog panels. Users need to have the suggestion that more is available.
- Enable users to: select a printer. This must come at the top because it is the only control which influences all settings.
- Select the number of copies they require. This control is available becuase it is the only universal control-i.e one that is outside of the control of the presets.
The Printer Dialog shall contain the following zones
- Printer Zone, shall occupy the full top zone
- Preset Zone, shall be an area spanning the full width of the dialog, and is also represented by a narrow frame which encompasses the preview.
- Review Zone, shall occupy the central area of the dialog. It includes the preview and the text summary.
- Universal Controls Zone, shall occupy the first level of the bottom zone- outside of the preset area.
- Dialog Control Zone, shall occupy the bottom zone.
Level 2 - Layout Principals
Level 3 - Detailed View
- Example Level 2 Layout
This image is an example of how the dialogue could look. It is not replicated to actual size. Tags and Parameters are samples for illustration purposes only
(not actual size)
- Level 3 of the print dialog consists of level 2 with the addition of further controls. Users can fine tune their print using level 3.
- These controls exist within the confines of the preset. Therefore they come within the highlight- colour border.
- The configuration matrix lets users chose which controls are shown. It is the means by which a user controls how they change of create a preset. It is therefore also nominally shown as being a part of the preset controls- i.e actually on the highlight colour background.
The Level 3 Printer Dialog shall contain:
- All areas from the level 2 dialog.
In addition it will include:
- Configuration Matrix Zone.
- Printing Parameters Zone, shall occupy the full remainder of of column 3
- Dialog Control Zone, shall expand to occupy the full bottom zone.
Level 3 Layout Principals
An overview of how the zones fit together.
Level 3.5, Expanded layout
This image is an example of how the dialogue could look. It is not replicated to actual size. Tags and Parameters are samples for illustration purposes only
When not all the printing parameters can be placed in a level 3 dialog, the dialog shall grow vertically to accommodate them and be called a expanded level 3 dialog. In this state the dialog shall have the minimum height necessary to fit every printing parameter.
The further expanded Printer Dialog shall contain the following zones in addition to the level 3 dialog:
- The Extended Printing Parameters Zones, appear under the Preview Zone and the former printing parameters Zone respectively.
Level 3.5 Layout Principals
Laying out the Parameters
Principles for laying out the controls in the parameters section:
- Controls are grouped according to:
- sections
- main controls and subordinate controls
- Sections are kept together and separated by section diving lines.
- The diving lines shall be spaced in the same way as the main controls
- Controls (excluding label and space) shall begin at not more than 1/3 of the width of the parameter zone.
- Groups of controls shall be kept together
- Subordinate controls shall be indented and groups of controls shall have reduced spacing between them
- Subordinate controls shall be hidden in the instance that they are not required.
Full details of the Controls to included in this section can be found in the specification for each cluster of controls
Layout for R to L languages
As a general rule:
- Languages which read right-to-left shall align all controls right
- Languages which generally use right to left page turning will reverse the sequence of pages - starting wth page 1 right etc.
forthcoming
- spec persistence of state of dialog for user+printer+app on pressing the Print button
