Two new Main Display layouts...

Panama Jack · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:07 pm **Posts:** 2930

Tarnus and I have been working on two new main screen displays this weekend. They are similar in look but different in function.

Tarnus used a dropdown menuing system at the top of the screen for selecting things. It completely replaces the command display you are familier with.

I went with a paged command hud that is similar to the normal command display you are familier with but it allows you to cycle through a couple pages of commands instead of all of them on screen at once.

Tarnus will be posting a picture of his later today so everyone can see it and an explanation.

The one I came up will display an alphabatized list of fighters and mines in a sector. It takes up far less room. Plus if there aren't any sector defenses it just isn't shown.

So here is what I came up with. We should have them posted on the beta game for people to try out later today.

Tarnus · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 12:17 pm **Posts:** 2619

Well here is the layout I did over the weekend. I designed it to make things easier to get to. It steps away a bit from the traditional layout designs any thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

Alf · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2004 6:59 pm

Cool, excellent jobs both of you.
Width is a problem for me (800 wide).
Can the menu of Tarnus be added to PJ's Planet layout etc.

Panama Jack · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:07 pm **Posts:** 2930

Well, I personally didn't like the menu dropdowns. I was having to do too much mouse movement for my taste. I found I could do things alot faster without the dropdown menu. That is why there will be two different templates to choose from.

Also, mine will display as small as 700 pixels wide.

I would suggest trying them both and picking the one you like.

Neither is completely finished as they will probably be tweaked by each of us.

I am currently placing them on the beta game and will reopen the game shortly. Go to the options screen to select the new templates.

Tarnus · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 12:17 pm **Posts:** 2619

My menu system breaks things into categories and provides easy access to everything. Works well in 800X 600 too

Course I like em as it keeps everything I need handy without having to scroll

But everyone likes different things hense the reason we will have multiple templates available

Panama Jack · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:07 pm **Posts:** 2930

I made a few more changes and updated the picture above.

I removed the box from around the sector defense display.

I also removed the LSS box in the lower left and placed it as a text line at the top of the screen. If you can see the players destination sector you can click on that sector and realspace to it.

Plus I also added a little color to some of the text to make it stand out a little better.

Panama Jack · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:07 pm **Posts:** 2930

Frames are EVIL!

Panama Jack · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:07 pm **Posts:** 2930

Everyone might want to keep checking out the two main displays because both of us are continuing to update them.

Tarnus added hotkeys to his.

I stole the hotkeys for mine and then created a Hotkey Help file and command.

He stole the hotkey help file and command for his.

I just changed the layout of mine and change the autoroute and traderoute displays to use the drop down menus like the realspace routes so they take up far less screen space.

Panama Jack · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:07 pm **Posts:** 2930

Yep, nice peice of work from Tarnus. I added it to the template I am working on too.

Tarnus · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 12:17 pm **Posts:** 2619

xiadix wrote:

PJ, My preference for your template would be to flip the right side. I definatly use RS more than Warps...especially with the mini-map. I think I use TradeRouts more then the cargo info. You might even thing about bumping the ShoutBox down and putting Cargo there. I use that the least and I wouldn't mind letting it go off screen most of the time.

KevG

Yeah I'm about to move my RS box to the top of the screen as it has become my main navigational tool now that the mini map has been put in place. Then I can expand on the cargo a bit more to include the f/t and armor levels.

Tarnus · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 12:17 pm **Posts:** 2619

OK I have made a few more adjustments on my template so be sure to change your options and take a look. Some will like, and some won't

Panama Jack · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:07 pm **Posts:** 2930

Gee, someone is on the special test server and shouldn't be. :wink:

Panama Jack · **Joined:** Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:07 pm **Posts:** 2930

Well, I spent alot of time yesterday and this morning working on my main template. I mainly worked with it to try and fit everything into an 800x600 window.

The display is very dynamic on some of the menus.

For example the Cargo table will only show cargo items that are not zero (0). If you are not carrying an item it will not be shown in the cargo list.

The traderoute table is shown at the BOTTOM of the right hand column if there are no traderoutes for the sector. But if the sector does have traderoutes then the table is displayed between the cargo and realspace tables for eazy access.

Another change in the cargo table is how amounts are shown. Anything over 999,999,999 is abbreviated.

In one of the example pictures Energy is 352.51 Qd. This is 352 quadrillion (352,510,000,000,000,000 rounded). If you want to see the exact amount on your ship just view your ship report. As you can see this cuts down on screen space by a HUGE amount.

This new display keeps things very tight. I reworked the realspace table to reduce it's size as well.

Enjoy

BTW, the top picture came from IE 6.02 and the bottom from Opera 7.23.

Two new Main Display layouts...

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