Version: 2.0.0 (using KDE 4.6.3) OS: Linux I like the geolocation feature of Digikam and make regular use of it. However, for me the way this stuff is implemented in Digikam2 is very unintuitve and overloaded. I consider it a regression. 1. Pics are only display as thumbnails in the map. Something like a "pin" as used by other geolocation implementations would give much more overview. If only one picture is selected, I know the contents and don't need another thumbnail to clutter the map view. If more pictures are selected, the map soon is crowded. Also, a "pin" can be located exactly. At least this should be configurable. 2. It took a long time for me to find out how to use the map to assign coordinates for a picture. While drag and drop is basically intuitive, it seems misplaced here. Again, why not a pin, why not a "right click" and a telling context menu. 3. Moving around a picture on the map does not seem to be implemented. However, correcting GPS data is a very important part of my workflow - not possible, you cannot draw a picture around on the map. It has again to be "drag and dropped" to the new location. 4. I also doubt the necessity to clutter the geolocation window with a list of selected images. Actions with several pictures, e.g. correlating to a GPX file, can be done from digikam's main win. Most other geolocation tasks only deal with one picture. That's the same logic as used by Digikam's image editor, why has the geolocation to be put in a cluttered window with a different workflow logic? Basically, I think the problem is that the new geolocation window tries to put to much into one window, therefore making the basic tasks hidden. Reproducible: Always
Hi Larx, thanks for your comments. However, there is a way to switch from images to pins: In the buttons below the map, the fourth button from the left switches between images and pins. Yes, this button is not intuitive, suggestions appreciated. > 1. Pics are only display as thumbnails in the map. Something like a "pin" as > used by other geolocation implementations would give much more overview. If > only one picture is selected, I know the contents and don't need another > thumbnail to clutter the map view. If more pictures are selected, the map soon > is crowded. Also, a "pin" can be located exactly. At least this should be > configurable. Even with pins, with many pictures, there will be many pins. Maybe we can add an option "Only show selected images on the map". > 2. It took a long time for me to find out how to use the map to assign > coordinates for a picture. While drag and drop is basically intuitive, it seems > misplaced here. Again, why not a pin, why not a "right click" and a telling > context menu. Right click was not implemented yet because I'm not sure how to properly do it in the Google Maps backend, which is KHTML based. However, a button for a "Click to place images on the map" mode is planned. > 3. Moving around a picture on the map does not seem to be implemented. However, > correcting GPS data is a very important part of my workflow - not possible, you > cannot draw a picture around on the map. It has again to be "drag and dropped" > to the new location. Solved, since pins are available. > 4. I also doubt the necessity to clutter the geolocation window with a list of > selected images. Actions with several pictures, e.g. correlating to a GPX file, > can be done from digikam's main win. Most other geolocation tasks only deal > with one picture. That's the same logic as used by Digikam's image editor, why > has the geolocation to be put in a cluttered window with a different workflow > logic? For me, it is very useful to be able to load a bunch of images into the editor at once. I can correlate them, and then make corrections right away. If the list disturbs you, it is resizable and even completely collapsable. If you then open the "details" tab, it looks almost like the old editor. > Basically, I think the problem is that the new geolocation window tries to put > to much into one window, therefore making the basic tasks hidden. Yes, there are lots of functions in one window. But other people complained about all the functions being separated into many dialogs. Re-implementing the old editor based on libkmap is not so hard, so we can do it if there is demand for it. Regards, Michael
I really appreciate your quick reply. It's always difficult to discuss matters of usability, as in many cases, like in this, the basic complaint amounts to "it just doesn't feel right for me". Yes, the icons in the geolocation tab are really not self explaining. However, they offer really relevant functions. I really had to look hard for many functions I need, and, as you see, I did not yet find the "pin"-button. I often simply gave up and did no longer care about the geotagging, as it seemed to much of a hassle to get the basic tasks going. Thanks for the hint, this button eases many of my complaints ;)! The feature to geolocate several pics at once with the geotagging window for me is a break from usual digikam habits. I have no useful information from all other pics cluttering the window: Like in the image editor, I like to work with one pic. When I'm done, I press a button or the "page down" button and work with the next picture, which might need a completely different procedure. Probably a matter of personal taste, and I'll go with your hint and hide the unneccessaty cruft. It all boils down that for me there is to much functionality in one window. Maybe it's just my problem.
I tried out your hint about hiding the "picture selection list" to un-cruft the geolocation window. It looks like the old way - but it doesn't work the old way. If you select a single new picture and invoke the geolocation window, the map does not update to the position of the new picture but remains where it was for the previous geotagging task. Thus you have to "unhide" the picture list and first select the new pic in order to see it in the map. Which makes the hint currently not very practicable ;).
Larx, This file still valid using kipi-plugins 2.4 ? Gilles Caulier
I think I finally got used to the new geotagging window.
I tested Digikam's geolocation today in 3.5.0 and had to conclude the usability concerns are far from being completely solved. I reported bug 328855, which can constitute an update on this issue. As for specific issues, I agree that placing thumbnails is suboptimal. I also didn't notice that one could switch to pins. This could be improved by inverting the icon (click on a pin to switch to pins and vice versa) or by always displaying both icons. Considering the space available, I'd favor the latter option.