Bug 418211

Summary: The visual layout can be improved to better help the user when solving puzzles
Product: [Applications] picmi Reporter: Byrial Jensen <byrial.jensen>
Component: generalAssignee: Jakob Linke <jakob>
Status: REPORTED ---    
Severity: wishlist    
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: 2.0.0   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: Other   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments: Screenshot with dots in row streaks

Description Byrial Jensen 2020-02-26 07:30:20 UTC 
When solving puzzles I have missed some things in the layout which would help the user if present:

1) Have a row and column count

I miss an indication of the total number of rows and columns in the puzzle so I don't have to count them. The total number of rows could be placed over the number sequences for the rows. The total number of columns could be placed to the left of the number sequences for the columns.

2) Keep indication of every five cells in small cells

When the cells become smaller (which is necessary on small screens with large puzzles), the extra line to indicate groups of 5 cells will disappear. That makes the overall counting of cells more hard. Please keep a thicker line for every five cells in rows and columns for small cell sizes. 

3) Add more space between numbers for row sequences

It can be hard to see the spaces between the individual numbers in sequences for rows. I have several times read for instance "1 3" as "13". Please increase the space between numbers in sequences for rows a little bit.

4) Add counter for actual row and column sequences

When marking long sequences of either filled cells or empty cells, it would be nice with an indicator for the length, so the user can control the count. I suggest when the mouse is on a cell that is marked as either filled or empty, that numbers are shown for the number cells in the current sequence in both the row and column. So if you have marked e.g. a sequence of 5 filled cells in a row and place the mouse on one of the 5 cells, the number 5 will the shown, e.g. to right of the cell. And if you have marked e.g. a sequence of 8 filled cells in a column and place the mouse on one of the 8 cells, the number 8 will be shown, e.g. below the column.
Comment 1 Byrial Jensen 2020-02-27 21:35:21 UTC 
Created attachment 126464 [details]
Screenshot with dots in row streaks

For point 3 in the wishlist I found that a little dot between the numbers works good for me, so I changed RowStreakItem::refresh() in src/gui/graphicsitems/streakitem.cpp to append " ยท " between the numbers instead of just a space. I attach a screenshot for how it looks.
Comment 2 Jakob Linke 2020-02-28 07:32:26 UTC 
I like all of your suggestions and would be happy to accept contributions. Some specific remarks:

1. They could also be placed as small numbers on the bottom / right edges, perhaps one per 5 lines. Fixing point 2. would also help here.
2. Yes the thick line should definitely remain visible at all sizes.
3. Note that row sequences can become very long in bigger puzzles with many 1's. I like the look of the suggested dots though, even though it does introduce visual inconsistency between vertical/horizontal sequences.
4. Could be useful.