[Piers]

UPDATED 2015-03-03 - rev.2

I've remade this to include any options from Kodi 14 and will update it again to include options added from Kodi 15, and in the same style I made for the proposed forum structure change. I hope it's easier to read.

A few points to note:
1. This should make far more sense to first time users, of which there are many (I believe).
2. Services to be renamed 'Network' or 'Connectivity' or similar (Montellese)
3. Additional area for settings that don't fit anywhere else (Montellese)
4. Alphabetical ordering no longer makes sense, settings should be in the order most commonly used (suggested by multiple people)
5. Notes are in [] after an item.

Key: RED = new (sub-)section or major change | ORANGE = sub-section moved or medium change | GREEN = small or no change

Section 1. Appearance
a. Skin
b. Screensaver

Section 2. Playback [a new section covering all aspects of Library-scanned playback]
a. Video [covers missing Video section items]
b. Video Acceleration [moved from Video]
c. DVDs [moved from Video]
d. Subtitles [moved from Video]
e. Music [covers missing Music section items]
f. Audio CDs [moved from Music]
g. Karaoke [moved from Music]

Section 3. Media Management [a new section covering all of managing media. Although duplications may occur, it provides a central location for this task]
a. Manage Media [new section as per suggestion, possibly change to name to 'Manage Sources'] [note2: this will take the user to a an area with options 'Music', 'Video' and 'Pictures' or similar, inside here will be one option to manage content type]
b. Meta-data [new section as per suggestion by da-anda, a place to contain scrapers, thumb extraction and other items]
c. Music Library [moved and renamed from Music]
d. Music Lists [moved and renamed from Music]
e. Picture Library [moved from Pictures]
f. Picture Lists [moved and renamed from Pictures]
g. Video Library [moved and renamed from Video]
h. Video Lists [moved and renamed from Video]

Section 4. Live TV
a. General
b. Menu/OSD
c. EPG
d. Playback
e. Recording
f. Power Saving
g. Parental Control
h. Client Specific

Section 5. Add-ons [some changes, mostly ordering and/or name]
a. Check for Updates (date)
b. Install New Add-on [rename and re-order of 'Get Add-ons' for clarity]
c. View Enabled Add-ons [rename and re-order for clarity]
d. View Disabled Add-ons [rename and re-order for clarity]
e. Install Add-on from Zip [rename and re-order for clarity]
f. Search for Add-ons [rename and re-order for clarity]

Section 5. Networking / Network / Internet / Network Setup / ? [Weather and Pictures move here, although not a service they are easily view as such by the end-user]
a. General
b. UPnP
c. Webserver
d. Remote Control
e. Zeroconf
f. AirPlay

Section 6. System
a. Regional [moved from Appearance]
b. Input Devices
c. Power Saving
d. Video Output
e. Audio Output
f. Internet Access
g. Master Lock
h. Debugging

Section 7. Other [a new section where items not belonging anywhere else can go]
a. Weather [removes Weather section, there's no need for it to be dedicated]

UPDATED 2015-03-02

I've remade this to include any options from Kodi 14 and will update it again to include options added from Kodi 15, and in the same style I made for the proposed forum structure change. I hope it's easier to read.

A few points to note:
1. This should make far more sense to first time users, of which there are many (I believe).
2. Although some of these are NOT services, they appear to the end-user as such.
3. Alphabetical ordering makes sense, but this will obviously vary per language. The majority of Latin-based languages, or Germanic, should be fine and fit in. There are some options that take priority that will not be alphabetized.
4. Notes are in [] after an item.

Key: RED = new (sub-)section or major change | ORANGE = sub-section moved or medium change | GREEN = small or no change

Section 1. Appearance
a. Skin [this stays in position 'a']
b. Screensaver

Section 2. Playback [a new section covering all aspects of Library-scanned playback]
a. Audio CDs [moved from Music]
b. DVDs [moved from Video]
c. Music [covers missing Music section items]
d. Karaoke [moved from Music]
e. Video [covers missing Video section items]
f. Video Acceleration [moved from Video]
g. Subtitles [moved from Video]

Section 3. Media Management [a new section covering all of managing media. Although duplications may occur, it provides a central location for this task]
a. Add Media [new section as per suggestion, possibly change to name to 'Manage Sources'] [note2: this will take the user to a an area with options 'Music', 'Video' and 'Pictures' or similar, inside here will be one option to manage content type]
b. Music Library [moved and renamed from Music]
c. Music Lists [moved and renamed from Music]
d. Picture Lists [moved and renamed from Pictures]
e. Video Library [moved and renamed from Video]
f. Video Lists [moved and renamed from Video]

Section 4. Live TV
a. General
b. Menu/OSD
c. EPG
d. Playback
e. Recording
f. Power Saving
g. Parental Control
h. Client Specific

Section 5. Add-ons [some changes, mostly ordering and/or name]
a. Check for Updates (date)
b. Install New Add-on [rename and re-order of 'Get Add-ons' for clarity]
c. View Enabled Add-ons [rename and re-order for clarity]
d. View Disabled Add-ons [rename and re-order for clarity]
e. Install Add-on from Zip [rename and re-order for clarity]
f. Search for Add-ons [rename and re-order for clarity]

Section 5. Services [Weather and Pictures move here, although not a service they are easily view as such by the end-user]
a. General
b. UPnP
c. Webserver
d. Remote Control
e. Zeroconf
f. AirPlay
g. Pictures [moved from Pictures/General]
h. Weather [removes Weather section, there's no need for it to be dedicated]

Section 6. System [Weather and Pictures move here, although not a service they are easily view as such by the end-user]
a. Debugging
b. Input Devices
c. Internet Access
d. Master Lock
e. Power Saving
f. Regional [moved from Appearance]
g. Audio Output
h. Video Output

PREVIOUS POST
I wasn't really going to mention this, but it's been on my mind for the last 4+ years. I did mention it and jjd-uk suggested I make a post to discuss it. The options below are based on the latest available Gotham nightly set on Expert level.

Why I'm making this proposition

I went from using WMC -> MP -> MB -> XBMC -> MB -> XBMC. I initially tried XBMC and found the layout and other aspects to be far too confusing and time consuming compared to other solutions. Confluence now has a very useful mini guide and the Wiki is around full of helpful instructions, but it wasn't at the time. Since the day I worked out how to use XBMC I have never looked back.

Despite the advances in Gotham (Basic, Standard, Advanced, Expert) and tips in Confluence, I still think the structure of the menu merits a review. As you can see from the second list, I've kept 9 options but moved some around so it offers a more fluid experience. All File List options are group, all Playback options are grouped etc.

This is an open debate and I hope for active and sensible discussion.

The Current Structure (as I'm sure a lot are now familiar with) - applies to Gotham only

- Appearance
- Skin
- International
- File Lists
- Screensaver

- Video
- Library
- Playback
- Acceleration
- File lists
- Subtitles
- DVDs

- Live TV
- General
- Menu/OSD
- EPG
- Playback
- Recording
- Power Saving
- Parental Control
- Client Specific

- Music
- Library
- Playback
- File lists
- Audio CDs
- Karaoke

- Pictures
- File Lists
- Slideshow

- Weather
- General

- Add-ons
- Disabled Add-ons
- Enabled Add-ons
- Get Add-ons
- Install from zip file
- Search

- Services
- General
- UPnP
- Webserver
- Remote Control
- Zeroconf
- AirPlay

- System
- Video Output
- Audio Output
- Input Devices
- Internet Access
- Power Saving
- Debugging
- Master Lock

Proposed Change (Option One)

Key
Green: No change proposed
Orange: Some changes proposed
Red: Major change proposed
Blue: Item moved

- Appearance
- Skin
- International
- Screensaver
- Subtitles

- Playback
- Video
- Video Acceleration
- Live TV
- Music
- Karaoke

- File Lists
- General (taken from Appearance)
- Music
- Pictures
- Video

- Library
- Video
- Music

- Live TV
- General
- Menu/OSD
- EPG
- Recording
- Power Saving
- Parental Control
- Client Specific

- External Media
- DVDs
- Audio CDs

- Add-ons
- Disabled Add-ons
- Enabled Add-ons
- Get Add-ons
- Install from zip file
- Search

- Services
- General
- UPnP
- Webserver
- Remote Control
- Zeroconf
- AirPlay
- Pictures
- Weather

- System
- Video Output
- Audio Output
- Input Devices
- Internet Access
- Power Saving
- Debugging
- Master Lock

Proposed Change (Option Two) - includes suggestion made by jjd-uk as well as alphabetical ordering

Key
Green: No change proposed
Orange: Some changes proposed
Red: Major change proposed
Blue: Item moved

- Appearance
- Regional (name change from 'International' to 'Regional' or 'Region'
- Screensaver
- Skin

- Playback ( ---- indicates secondary menu as suggested by jjd-uk)
- Live TV
- Music
---- CDs
---- General
---- Karaoke
- Video
---- Acceleration
---- General
---- DVDs
---- Subtitles

- Media Management ( ---- indicates secondary menu as suggested by jjd-uk)
- Add Media (new section as per suggestion, possibly change to Manage Media/Sources or similar?)
- General (taken from Appearance)
- Music
---- Files
---- Library
- Pictures
- Video
---- Files
---- Library

- Live TV
- Client Specific
- EPG
- General
- Menu/OSD
- Parental Control
- Power Saving
- Recording

- Add-ons (non-alphabetical ordering for sanity)
- Disabled Add-ons
- Enabled Add-ons
- Get Add-ons
- Install from zip file
- Search

- Services (non-alphabetical ordering for sanity)
- General
- UPnP
- Webserver
- Remote Control
- Zeroconf
- AirPlay
- Pictures
- Weather

- System
- Debugging
- Input Devices
- Internet Access
- Master Lock
- Power Saving
- Audio Output
- Video Output

Proposed Change (Option Three) - includes suggestion made by jjd-uk as well as alphabetical ordering and further suggestions made by jmarshall

Key
Green: No change proposed
Orange: Some changes proposed
Red: Major change proposed
Blue: Item moved

- Appearance
- Screensaver
- Skin

- Playback
- Audio CDs
- DVDs
- Live TV
- Music
- Karaoke
- Video
- Video Acceleration
- Subtitles

- Media Management
- Add Media (new section as per suggestion, possibly change to Manage Media/Sources or similar?)
- General (taken from Appearance)
- Music Library
- Music Lists
- Picture Lists
- Video Library
- Video Lists

- Live TV
- General
- Menu/OSD
- EPG
- Recording
- Power Saving
- Parental Control
- Client Specific

- Add-ons (non-alphabetical ordering for sanity)
- Disabled Add-ons
- Enabled Add-ons
- Get Add-ons
- Install from zip file
- Search

- Services (non-alphabetical ordering for sanity)
- General
- UPnP
- Webserver
- Remote Control
- Zeroconf
- AirPlay
- Pictures
- Weather

- System
- Debugging
- Input Devices
- Internet Access
- Master Lock
- Power Saving
- Region (name change from 'International' to 'Regional' or 'Region')
- Audio Output
- Video Output

Side by side of Current vs. Option Three



Mock-up based on Option Three

[un1versal]

So what would happen in playback for e,g? You remove all of those things and where can one access it from then? would all them be amalgamated to under playback only? I dont understand this at all. plain and simple.

[jjd-uk]

Universal, you've misunderstood I think.

Playback would be a new Section under the above proposal filled with all the items in blue which would have been moved there from the current Gotham structure, so nothing has gone missing.

So Video Playback settings would be moved from

Video -> Playback

to

Playback -> Video

and Music Playback from

Music -> Playback

to

Playback -> Music

So both Video Playback and Music Playback would be group in a Playback section.

[un1versal]

ah right, ya this would have been better as a side by side comparison

Thx for clarifying.

[jjd-uk]

Piers, thanks for that it certainly makes a lot of sense to me.

I'd probably put Subtitles in the Playback section too, and possibly DVDs & Audio CDs as well.

Perhaps also File Lists & Library sections from your proposal could be combined in a single Media Manger section, and the ability to add media sources under there could also be added.

[Piers]

Sorry I should have made it more clear. I'll do a revised version based on the suggestion above.

[zag]

Yep that actually makes a lot of sense.

[Piers]

Updated the original post with a second option based on the suggestion from jjd-uk.

[jjd-uk]

- Media Management
- Add Media (new section as per suggestion, possibly change to Manage Media/Sources or similar?)
- General (taken from Appearance)
- Music / - Music (combined File List and Library options)
- Pictures
- Video / - Video (combined File List and Library options)

Actually what I had in mind here was something like:

Media Manager
===========

• Add Media
  
• General
  
• Music
  -> Files
  -> Library
  
• Pictures
  
• Video
  -> Files
  -> Library
  

So selecting Music changes the screen to one with File Lists and Library as the left-hand as menu options with Files Lists selected as the 1st item (same goes for Video).

[jjd-uk]

Playback could also be layered as follows:

• Live TV
  
• Music
  -> General
  -> CD's
  -> Karaoke
  
• Video
  -> General
  -> Acceleration
  -> DVD's
  -> Subtitles
  

[un1versal]

I know this is not a individual settings topic, but I was wondering why clean library options on both video/music isn't moved from settings to the fly-out menu and placed under update library option that now lives there. I suppose thers a good reson for keeping it in settings and the only reason is cean library in music only cleans music and video clean library option only cleans videos, but Im sure you can make it content aware.

[Piers]

Updated Option Two with the above suggestions, please review and see if that fits in with what you were saying.

---

I know this is not a individual settings topic, but I was wondering why clean library options on both video/music isn't moved from settings to the fly-out menu and placed under update library option that now lives there. I suppose thers a good reson for keeping it in settings and the only reason is cean library in music only cleans music and video clean library option only cleans videos, but Im sure you can make it content aware.

The Clean Library option could be placed under Media Manager/Management for Music and Video sections... that would also de-clutter and make the menu even more intuitive

[Ned Scott]

If possible, it would be neat to just show an applicable setting in more than one spot. Imagine various settings existing as their own isolated window, accessible from multiple locations. The settings categories would then just be a way to find what you're looking for, but the settings wouldn't have a hard-set "place".

For example, if "subtitles" was simply a button that created a popup window with all subtitle settings, and the "open subtitle settings" button could be in more than one place in settings, where ever it would be reasonable to find it. A user could even open that setting from XBMC's OSD audio settings.

[Piers]

Can you explain that a little more Ned?

[jjd-uk]

What I think he means is each individual setting window would have it's own Window ID (see Window_IDs (wiki) if you don't know what these are) and the Window ID would be used to open a particular settings screen using the xbmc action XBMC.ActivateWindow(windowid). This would allow a skinner to call a particular setting window from anywhere in the GUI by assigning the action XBMC.ActivateWindow(windowid) to a GUI button, or it would also allow users to map XBMC.ActivateWindow(windowid) to a keyboard or remote button for quick call up of a particular setting window.