Matrix layout

Lapinoo

Joined: 2004-05-08
Posts: 378

Posted: Thu, 2004-06-03 21:01

Right now, the matrix layout uses two parameters : the number of rows (N) and the number of columns (M).

The current implementation of this layout displays N x M elements, whether they are pictures or albums. When one thoose is an album, the layout is not correct anyore because an album occupies a whole row.

Let's say we want 4 rows and 3 columns. It should display :
- 12 pictures like this :

 X X X
 X X X
 X X X
 X X X

(X being a picture)

- 9 pictures and 1 album like this :

 A
 X X X
 X X X
 X X X

(X being a picture, A an album).

However, right now, if there is 1 album, G2 displays 11 pictures like that :

 A
 X X X
 X X X
 X X X
 X X

As you can see there is an extra line which is incomplete.

I would prefer that the number of rows is respected independantly of the nature of the elements to display.

rossr

Joined: 2002-08-19
Posts: 28

Posted: Fri, 2004-06-04 09:13

The "rows" issue is next on our list of things to resolve.

A little history: Back when we started developing the new G2 UI, our goal was to make it "table-less." CSS specs allow for fluid layouts, and the goal was to create a fluid layout for the G2 album thumbnail view. Well, we quickly learned that while CSS is infinitely better than using "pragmatic" (read: hacky) "old-school" HTML layout techniques, current CSS specs lack some of the muscle needed to get this to work correctly.

Status update: Chad and I have some ideas of how to resolve this issue avoiding tables, but we are preparing to return to tables (for displaying thumbnails only) to make sure the albums work as expected.

Thanks for the feedback!

Ross

Lapinoo

Joined: 2004-05-08
Posts: 378

Posted: Sun, 2004-06-06 12:51

I remember what it's like to design table like presentation with CSS...

The style "display: table-row" could be very useful, its implementation is usable only with Opera...

The main problem, from my point of view, is that the most used Web browser is the crappiest one : "Internet Explorer".
Once M$ managed to control this "market" by providing one for free with every PC, they just decided not to make its display engine evolve any longer... CSS2 support within Internet Explorer is very limited compared to Mozilla or Opera...
When designing a Web application compatible with the major Web browsers, you finish by using CSS hacks everywhere, and to revert to some HTML layout code just for letting IE display the page correctly...

Lapinoo Joined: 2004-05-08 Posts: 378	Posted: Thu, 2004-06-03 21:01
	Right now, the matrix layout uses two parameters : the number of rows (N) and the number of columns (M). The current implementation of this layout displays N x M elements, whether they are pictures or albums. When one thoose is an album, the layout is not correct anyore because an album occupies a whole row. Let's say we want 4 rows and 3 columns. It should display : - 12 pictures like this : X X X X X X X X X X X X (X being a picture) - 9 pictures and 1 album like this : A X X X X X X X X X (X being a picture, A an album). However, right now, if there is 1 album, G2 displays 11 pictures like that : A X X X X X X X X X X X As you can see there is an extra line which is incomplete. I would prefer that the number of rows is respected independantly of the nature of the elements to display.
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rossr Joined: 2002-08-19 Posts: 28	Posted: Fri, 2004-06-04 09:13
	The "rows" issue is next on our list of things to resolve. A little history: Back when we started developing the new G2 UI, our goal was to make it "table-less." CSS specs allow for fluid layouts, and the goal was to create a fluid layout for the G2 album thumbnail view. Well, we quickly learned that while CSS is infinitely better than using "pragmatic" (read: hacky) "old-school" HTML layout techniques, current CSS specs lack some of the muscle needed to get this to work correctly. Status update: Chad and I have some ideas of how to resolve this issue avoiding tables, but we are preparing to return to tables (for displaying thumbnails only) to make sure the albums work as expected. Thanks for the feedback! Ross

Lapinoo Joined: 2004-05-08 Posts: 378	Posted: Sun, 2004-06-06 12:51
	I remember what it's like to design table like presentation with CSS... The style "display: table-row" could be very useful, its implementation is usable only with Opera... The main problem, from my point of view, is that the most used Web browser is the crappiest one : "Internet Explorer". Once M$ managed to control this "market" by providing one for free with every PC, they just decided not to make its display engine evolve any longer... CSS2 support within Internet Explorer is very limited compared to Mozilla or Opera... When designing a Web application compatible with the major Web browsers, you finish by using CSS hacks everywhere, and to revert to some HTML layout code just for letting IE display the page correctly...

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