Layout: modern-side planning phase and button placement

[Samillion]

At the moment, ModernZ implements chapter skip buttons in the center

On mpv's stock osc, it's like this:

Why am I considering this idea:

• It places relative buttons in the focused area, where they're needed
• It reduces footprint of buttons
• It would allow in the future to add a "side" layout, where the controls are shown similar to Youtube, without it being too crowded

So they would be added left of chapter title, with a matching size in:

[Keith94]

Sure. That wouldn't be bad.

If placed there, they would no longer be grayed out when no chapter exists? Rather the buttons would be hidden entirely.

[Samillion]

Indeed. I'll even try to find simplified alternative icons to match the area.

I'll wait a while before actually starting to implement this, to get a general sense from feedback (if any), and if it would be an actual good decision or not.

[Keith94]

It may even prompt someone to ask for the same treatment of [playlist_prev] [playlist_next] [show_title]

Arguably it might look a little busy having multiple arrows up there.

[Samillion]

Sexactly!

Honestly though, the reason I'm hesitant about chapter skip buttons placement is that I never use them. If I was maintaining ModernZ for my own personal use only, I would have removed them long ago lol.

That's why I'm trying to get a general feel on this to not let my own bias affect the decision.

[Keith94]

Explains why they're disabled by default haha.

It would be more obvious on what the buttons do because they'd be beside chapter title. Less confusing for a new user.

[Keith94]

It should probably check for show_chapter_title and if set to no, put them back in the center?

[Samillion]

It should probably check for show_chapter_title and if set to no, put them back in the center?

Good point.

So it needs to address that scenario, especially if a side buttons layout is added.

[play_pause] [playlist_prev] [playlist_next] [skip_back] [skip_forward] [chapter_prev] [chapter next]

That's initially what made me hesitant, becoming too crowded on the side. But I guess that's only if they're all enabled.

Explains why they're disabled by default haha.

Tehehe

[Keith94]

Play button can even go in the middle. Chapter title at the end.

Have to find a spot for mpv-player/mpv#15499 eventually.

[Samillion]

Yeah, it looks amazing when it's compact like that.

Hmmm. The use of > indicator is interesting. Would relying on toggle select menu for chapters, instead of the chapter buttons be a good idea? Basically what we have now, just with an indicator to show "there are more chapters ahead".

Edit:
< chapter_title >

Actually, they can each be their own button. Interesting.

[Keith94]

It wouldn't be bad to have that visual indicator, since the chapter skip functions can be implemented in other ways.

In my config I could possibly set the mouse actions like this (need to add middle button action)..

chapter_title_mbtn_left_command=add chapter -1
chapter_title_mbtn_mid_command=add chapter 1
chapter_title_mbtn_right_command=script-binding select/select-chapter; script-message-to modernz osc-hide

[da3dsoul1]

I want them to be here! Here's my idea of how I would like things to be

[Samillion]

Yeah, that's the future plan for adding a "side buttons" layout.

This is basically the phase before it, planning the layout.

When it's implemented, basically the user can switch layouts between modern and modern-side within modernz.conf

# not implemented yet
# accepts modern and modern-side
layout=modern

[da3dsoul1]

Cool, thanks for your work! Best osc out there!

[Xurdejl]

Personally, I never use the chapter buttons. I either use the hotkeys or, in case I use the mouse, I click on the chapter title for the interactive menu.

[Samillion]

Indeed.

I think for modern-side I'll just move them to the side before doing any major changes/additions. Since the user has full control on which buttons to appear.

Most players include the following by default

[play_pause] [playlist_prev] [playlist_next]

Left side full layout:

[play_pause] [playlist_prev] [playlist_next] [skip_back] [skip_forward] [chapter_prev] [chapter_next]

Right side full layout:

[cache] [download] [loop] [speed] [screenshot] [pin] [audio] [subs] [playlist] [info] [fullscreen]

[Samillion]

Also, for modern-side, we can condition some buttons.

For example, playlist_prev and playlist_next

Logic:

• If there are no previous files within the playlist, don't show it. Same for next
  • Which applies for chapter skip as well
• Only show next and prev related buttons if one of the conditions exist, as in: no grayed out buttons display

[Keith94]

Good ideas. Probably will need a few changes to the side_buttons_color = and middle_buttons_color = for the different layouts as well.

[Samillion]

True, and it'll workout for all layouts. We can introduce:

left_side_buttons_color=#FFFFFF
right_side_buttons_color=#FFFFFF