[Hinkel]

Hello @jurialmunkey. Now with the "icon only" view option might be interesting to extend the main menu panel a bit more. Maybe similar as eminence 2.0 , but obviously maintaining vertical mode and not so big, it's just an idea, but just a little wider I think it would look better. Thanks and congratulations for the work, in my opinion is the best skin ever.

[karlshea]

Would it be a big pain to show the current episode art in PVR recordings?

[jurialmunkey]

@Hinkel - That would require redesigning the whole skin as it would change the margin size on the left. As it isn't even the default setting, that is a definite no to that idea I'm afraid.

@karlshea - I don't currently have a working pvr (no over the air reception at my current place) so it is a little difficult for me to test pvr stuff properly. That being said, I don't think episode art is too hard to add if I remember correctly. I will look at it later today. I'll keep you updated when I add it as I will need you to test whether it is working correctly.

[Hinkel]

No problem. Horizon is beautiful anyway.

[jurialmunkey]

Opinions Needed!

Hey everyone. I'm wondering how many people actually use the alphabet bar frequently.
I've found myself barely ever using it and pretty much only using scrollbars.

The reason I'm asking is that I'm considering removing the alphabet strip altogether. I think it looks a lot cleaner without it and makes the skin match better with the home screen rather than feeling "boxed in" if you get what I mean.

Instead, I'm considering having a scrollbar that sits tightly against the edge of the screen. You would still be able to use the alphabet jump: pressing right again would open up a small dialog with the full alphabet jump (and arranged with multiple rows so it is quicker to navigate). The dialog would also have search and filter buttons to be able to refine a search in different ways.

I'm pretty strongly leaning towards making these changes, but I do want to consider everyone's opinions first -- mostly because it wouldn't be an optional change as it requires changing too many dimensions (I did a toggleable dimension thing in Eminence and it was such a pain to manage so I don't want to go down that path again).

Some screenshots showing without alphabet strip -- I just think it looks so much cleaner. What do you guys think?

[Edworld]

Jurialmunkey,

A couple of weeks ago I asked about bluring using poster instead of fanart and you recommended replacing "Global_Background_Image_Var" with "Image_Poster" in the includes_Global.xml file.

I replaced Global_Background_Image_Var in all 6 files, but something broke...

What files should I replace with Image_Poster so it doesn't break?

Thanks

[Edworld]

Jurialmunkey,

+1 for no alphabet

[karlshea]

@karlshea - I don't currently have a working pvr (no over the air reception at my current place) so it is a little difficult for me to test pvr stuff properly. That being said, I don't think episode art is too hard to add if I remember correctly. I will look at it later today. I'll keep you updated when I add it as I will need you to test whether it is working correctly.

Awesome, thanks. If anything once you get it working I can test and clean things up if needed and send a pull request.

[ferent]

Jurialmunkey, I have to say that I find the alphabet quite usefull sometimes, as I have a really big library and it makes easy to jump directly to the movie I want to check instead of clicking 30 times till I get it + a lot of resources consumed by my Zotac to load each screen each time that I scroll up/down (you have to hear how the fans sounds sometimes). But if you are going to maintain the alphabet hidden .but still accesible for people like me, you have my thumbs up. I'm a big fan of your great ideas and designs.

[jurialmunkey]

Jurialmunkey,

A couple of weeks ago I asked about bluring using poster instead of fanart and you recommended replacing "Global_Background_Image_Var" with "Image_Poster" in the includes_Global.xml file.

I replaced Global_Background_Image_Var in all 6 files, but something broke...

What files should I replace with Image_Poster so it doesn't break?

Thanks

In Includes_Global ONLY change $VAR[Global_Background_Image_Var] to $VAR[Image_Poster] in multiimage control with id 7975.
That multiimage control is what colorbox uses as the base image.

Code:

<control type="multiimage" id="7975">
    <left>-2160</left>
    <width>1</width>
    <height>1</height>
    <timeperimage>10000</timeperimage>
    <randomize>true</randomize>
    <fadetime>600</fadetime>
    <imagepath background="true">$VAR[Global_Background_Image_Var]</imagepath>
</control>

Jurialmunkey, I have to say that I find the alphabet quite usefull sometimes, as I have a really big library and it makes easy to jump directly to the movie I want to check instead of clicking 30 times till I get it + a lot of resources consumed by my Zotac to load each screen each time that I scroll up/down (you have to hear how the fans sounds sometimes). But if you are going to maintain the alphabet hidden .but still accesible for people like me, you have my thumbs up. I'm a big fan of your great ideas and designs.

Yeah I definitely wont be removing the functionality as I think it is a great feature.

It is more about the aesthetics:
1. Do people agree that it looks cleaner without the alphabet strip?
2. Will hiding the alphabet scroll mean that other people in your household will no longer use it?

With the second question I'm pretty aware that people typically only use things they can immediately see. I think it is something that is pretty easy to teach people, but I am a little worried about the "discovery" aspect. That's why I'm interested to know how many people frequently use it.

I'm thinking I might link the new alphabet search dialog to the search button in the sidebar (in addition to pressing right twice) to help with the discovery aspect. That way you click search and you get a pop up dialog with the alphabet strip and options for global search and advanced filtering of the list.

[Hinkel]

I particularly like the scrollbars. Alphabet bar is useful sometimes, but I can live without it.

[Blurayx]

@jurialmunkey,

I use the alphabet bar every single day, it's one of the best features

[jurialmunkey]

@jurialmunkey,

I use the alphabet bar every single day, it's one of the best features

It will definitely remain in the skin, I'm just wondering if it will affect people that much if it isn't visible (i.e. you press right again from the scrollbar).

[Blurayx]

@jurialmunkey,

I use the alphabet bar every single day, it's one of the best features

It will definitely remain in the skin, I'm just wondering if it will affect people that much if it isn't visible (i.e. you press right again from the scrollbar).

I don't think it will be an issue

[Aaiemron]

It looks cleaner without the alfhabet strip indeed