Version: (using KDE 4.1.2) Installed from: SuSE RPMs much easier choosing master channel Despite that fact I knew in advance that there is some way of choosing master channel, it took me really long time to find out how to do it. I think this is not some kind of expert option, so it should be available w/o any fuss. My suggestion: user shows mixer window, clicks twice at the channel, voila, master channel set.
Why would double-clicking on a channel be easier to guess than right-clicking on the systray icon and choose "select master channel" ? (this option was already there on KDE3)
Because all setting should be grouped. Now you have mixer window, separately you have settings, and separately you have master channel. I was so focus on mixer that I spent a lot of time to find out some switch there. Now I know, that I should get back to the systray icon. Three separate windows for configuring one program (and kmix is not a Kdevelop after all) is really too much. Kmix should provide quick access control (as it is done now) and one regular control dialog -- using current terms, mixer window combined with master channel selector. ( Age of the design is not argument/proof the design is good. )
> ( Age of the design is not argument/proof the design is good. ) Just because you didn't find it where you supposed it may be isn't an argument/proof showing that the design is bad.
It is not a proof, but argument -- yes. I am one of the users, if there are more users with such problem it shows the UI is not intuitive. Anyway, the thing is -- the settings for the kmix are scattered in three places. And this is actually a "proof".
Choosing the master channel is an action related to the systray icon. It makes sense to have it where it is. Apart from that I agree that having it as a menu option in the main gui in addition to that would help users who search this option but don't try right-clicking the icon.
(In reply to comment #3) > > ( Age of the design is not argument/proof the design is good. ) > > Just because you didn't find it where you supposed it may be isn't an > argument/proof showing that the design is bad. Discoverability and intuitiveness are fundamental features of GUI design. As soon as you start getting reports regarding how hard to find a feature is or how non-intuitive it is intended to be used... Well, those are clear signs that something is wrong with the UI design. Unless you an UI isn't intended to be used as an interface by users. But to give you another example of how that feature was mismanaged, that option isn't even listed on the settings menu nor in the "configure channels" dialogue. It's a setting, it regards channel configuration, it's a kmix configurable option and yet there is nothing covering that on any menu entry.
*** Bug 175048 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
(In reply to comment #5) > Choosing the master channel is an action related to the systray icon. Well, for me (as probably for most people, I guess) the tray icon is just a part of the mixer. After all the mixer window is usually opened and accessed from there. So expecting a config regarding the tray icon in the app it belongs to is not sooo far off ;)
Micheal, you probably mistunderstood -- the systray menu is context menu, and according to HIG every item in context menu should be present also (doubled) in "normal" menu. It does not mean that context menu item should be configured in settings, but since in this case it is settings category it should be present in settings menu as item, not something to configure. And while I am commenting, Greatbunzinni, one of the best insight of UI, thank you, I will quote it in the future.
(In reply to comment #9) > Micheal, you probably mistunderstood I don't think so, that's actually preciously what I meant as well ;) It sould be *also* in the systray menu, but not exclusively.
#10, Oh, ok, next time I will refer to comments too :-) Sorry, my mistake with order of comments.
agreed. i just looked for it for 10 minutes, because i assumed it to be in the MAIN configuration window, too.
Luckily I received a patch that implements the menu thing (see comment #9: 'according to HIG every item in context menu should be present also (doubled) in "normal" menu.'). Thus this is fixed. I already got a bit tired about this disussion. ;-)
It will be available in KDE4.4.
A patch is always the easiest way to convince a dev ;)
*** Bug 202942 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***