Bug 326404

Problem still valid using last digiKam 4.2.0 ?

Gilles Caulier

No, there is no problem anymore in the "Map" view (selected in the top of the screen, besides the thumbnails/preview image/Table views).

However the problem is still present in the "Map" selected on the left of the screen (besides the Albums/Tags/Labels/Fuzzy/People/... buttons). On the little map that appears on the left, it is not possible to select pictures, whatever the way I try:
- using the 'select images' button
- using the 'filter images' button (don't know how this is supposed to work ??)
- using 'select images by drawing a rectangle' button (no rectangle appears...)

As dysfunction is in map searches view, this is the right component...

Gilles Caulier

Can you reproduce the problem using digiKam Linux AppImage bundle ? The last
bundle is available at this url:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzeiVr-byqt5Y0tIRWVWelRJenM

Gilles Caulier

Hi Gilles, 
I tried with DK 5.3 and the problem is still there.
I.e. the map from the left view does not work like the map from the top menu.

- The map from the left menu (besides Albums/Tags/Labels/Fuzzy/People/... buttons): it is not possible to select pictures by clicking on them (which is the most obvious and convenient way to select pictures I think).
- While it works well in the map on the top menu (besides Thumbnails and Preview_Image). There just click on a pictures and its easy.

I suppose the map view from the left could also work like that to be able to select pictures easily ?

I have similar problems in my DK 5.4.0. The "Select images" button works very strange in the Left Sidebar, if there are already a number of pictures selected it just toggles the selction of the one I'm clicking on. In general the shape of the mouse pointer doesn't change when you switch from one function to another, it remains the panning mode hand once you where in panning mode. One time I could make it change after going to "Select images by drawing a rectangle" but only after clicking several times on the map.
In the map that opens with the main toolbar map button there where no pictures shown at all at first, only when I changed on the Left Sidebar from Albums to Map and fumbled a while on that little map they also appeared in the big map in the View Area.
"Select images by drawing a rectangle" works in principle but it took me a while to find out that cannot just drag a rectangle by pressing and holding the left mouse button. You have to click where you want the first corner of the rectangle and then drag teh rectangle open and click a second time where you want the other corner. I guess this is not what most users expect.

Nicofo,

After working a while now with all the geolocation tools in digiKam (AppImage 5.5.0) in order to write the doc about it I have an idea what your problem might be.
In the Map View of the Left Sidebar which is the geolocation search tool the Select Images button works only on those images which are in your current region selection, indicated by a rectangle on the map. Here it will just toggle the selection of the pic or group of pics you are clicking on in the Image Area (central part of the digiKam window). This can be helpful to fine tune your selection before carrying out operations from the Right Sidebar or the menus. The button has no effect on pics outside of the rectangle which is intended behaviour. Wouldn't make sense anyway since they are not displayed in the Image Area.
The Filter-images button you mention in Comment 2 filters the result of you region selection which means that only the  one pic or group of pics you are clicking on is displayed in the Image Area. This is particular useful if the map is just showing markers or if the thumbnails are too small to clearly identify images.
I hope this explanation can solve your problem. If you confirm we could close this bug. The handbook will be updated with the next release. Remains only the problem with the shape of the mouse pointer wich is subject of https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=376072.

Hello Wolfgang,

thanks for investigating this. I agree with your observations.
It is indeed necessary to first select an area (by rectangle for instance) and only then it is possible to select pictures inside the rectangle selection.

For me, knowing that, the bug could be closed, but I would like to add these comments:
1) the fact you need first to use a 'search by area' tool is not intuitive. I think some easy cosmetic adaptations could be made, like:
 - Move the icons "Search by area" above the other icons could already help because it is the first action to do.
 - add information that "Select images" button cannot be used if no rectangle selection is made. Example: by modifying the tooltip - OR - disabling that button if no selection made - OR - adding a message (in the notification toolbar) - OR - ... 
2) the rectangle selection could (should ?) be changed: as you mentioned, pressing and holding doesn't work: you need to click to initiate the rectangle and re-click elsewhere to finish the rectangle.
3) (same comments as yours about the mouse pointer)

Gilles,

I know that Nicofo is absolutely right blamimg this tool for not being intuitive (because it took me quite some time getting into it) and his suggestions would be a start at least. For sure there would be more improvements if one would take the time to think about it.

So what are we going to do with this issue? Leaving this bug open and change it to wishlist or open a new one as wishlist? Or something else?