Author Topic: Newb question... scrolling main window?  (Read 2443 times)

Offline calan

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Newb question... scrolling main window?
« on: 2017 March 11 23:27:55 »
When my mouse is in the main workspace (not on an image or anything)...shouldn't I be able to scroll the main window with my mouse scroll wheel? Even if I click in the main workspace to make sure it has focus, I still can't scroll. It's a little frustrating to constantly have to move over to the main scroll bar and drag it.

Am I just missing something?

Offline bulrichl

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Re: Newb question... scrolling main window?
« Reply #1 on: 2017 March 12 03:27:04 »
The scroll wheel is for zooming in and out when the mouse pointer is placed inside the image window.

You can scroll by
- moving the window sliders, or
- use the arrow keys for fine scrolling or
- scroll up/down with the Page up/Page down keys.
You can shift the visible area by pressing the left mouse button inside the window and shifting the mouse when in Pan Mode.

Bernd

Offline calan

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Re: Newb question... scrolling main window?
« Reply #2 on: 2017 March 12 04:10:13 »
Well, I know what I can do... just wondering why I can't scroll the main window like in every other program.  :)

If the mouse is over the main window and not an image window, there is no reason that the scroll wheel couldn't do what it should. Otherwise it's just an unused control input.

On a semi-related topic, it would also be nice if we had shift + mouse button control for panning and dragging. Hold down shift (or control), and the left mouse button becomes a pan within the image window. Shift (or control) + right button could drag the image window. Small changes that could have a substantial impact on usability. Anything that cuts down on moving the mouse to an icon simply to be able to pan, or to a window's border to move it...is a big plus IMO.

Offline Niall Saunders

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Re: Newb question... scrolling main window?
« Reply #3 on: 2017 March 12 06:36:26 »
If you are looking for keyboard shortcuts for certain PixInsight operations, then there are many - here is just a sample of those applicable to your last paragraph.

Readout Mode : ALT + R
Zoom In : ALT + Z
Zoom Out : SHIFT + ALT + Z
Pan Mode : ALT + P

And, all (many?, most?) of these key combinations are 'customisable'.
EDIT: Sorry - I just realised that this comment is wrong. PixInsight does not allow keyboard shortcuts to be user-customisable (yet ?)

Right now I have just ordered £50-worth of nits and pieces to build a small box that will have a bunch of buttons on it that will provide the most common key-combos that I need. The box connects to the PC by a USB lead, and the function of each button can be set by a small software routine.

I plan to use this to give me the two type of Undo/Redo functionality (for normal view and preview modes), selection between Pan and Readout modes, File Save, ProcessIcon Save, etc., etc. (I haven't even generated a full list yet, but the module I have ordered can handle at least 32 external buttons, each of which can also be 'shifted' as well).

Certainly PixInsight is exactly the type of software that demonstrates that mouse-control has advantages, but should never be used to totally replace keyboard selections.

Now, until Juan builds in a full "mind-control" interface, I reckon we will all have to learn some of the shortcuts that will make our processing tasks more productive  ^-^

As to your initial query (scolling of the main PixInsight window), I actually find that scenario very disconcerting indeed - my experience has been that I tend to 'lose' controls (typically at the top/bottom of the window), and completely forget that I can 'find' them again simply by scrolling. For that reason alone, I always run PixInsight in a 'maximised window' mode - where no scroll-bars are present at all.

Yes, this can lead to a little bit of screen clutter at times, but my own solution is to simply have multiple monitors (I know, not everybody will be able to do this) and then, because PixInsight is so flexible, I pull the ConsoleWindow out to the monitor on the left of my main screen (this monitor is in portrait mode), and the likes of ScreenTransferFunction, Histogram, Curves, etc. etc. get pulled out to a third monitor on the right of my main monitor (again, in portrait mode). This leaves my main, central, monitor (32" 4K, in landscape mode) far less cluttered for actual image inspection. I have even considered a fourth monitor, again in landscape mode, sitting 'below' my main monitor, angled towards me as I look down over the back of the keyboard to see it.

With modern OSes handling multiple monitors with ease, and with many graphics cards supporting several monitors from a single board, and with lower-resolution monitors selling at low prices (especially if you go second-hand, or ex-demo) you can put together quite a sophisticated layout for not a lot of extra cash.

Hope this helps.
« Last Edit: 2017 March 12 10:15:35 by Niall Saunders »
Cheers,
Niall Saunders
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