by Mixer (Posted Sat May 28, 2016 3:27 pm)
I decided to take a break from what I usually do with XnView for-Windows-only aka Classic (i.e. from using it solely as image decoder with standard editing abilities) and try to do something new that other users do with XnView MP.
MP has "better interface™", and I agree, having better interface is better than having no interface at all.
So I came up with idea of trying better interface of XnView MP 0.79 x64 on Win 10 x64 platform in a task of assigning categories to file.
There is plenty of comments on this topic on forum, I think it won't hurt to add another one.
I did not test this feature on large scale like professional photographers do, but just with one single picture file in folder. My options which I set for testing look like this, don't know if they have any influence on MP's interface functioning.
![Image]()
Maybe I don't understand something and more experienced users will convince me that it all really should work like it does.
Here are my observations from using them.
1. Secret interface elements.
Open menu View->Info pane... from menu bar in main window. Do you see there item "Categories"? No.
![Image]()
Right-click any tab title of Info Pane (tabs are visible only if View->Info pane...->Use tabs is checked). Now you can enable secret hidden tab "Categories".
![Image]()
There is conflict between tab Categories of Info Pane and element Preview of Info Pane. If View->Info pane...->Preview as tab is not checked, then selecting or deselecting menu item View->Info pane...->Preview causes tab Categories of Info Pane to switch off.
2. Total neglection of discipline, expressed in desynchronization between windows which are supposed to reflect on status of categories assignment.
Starting position: picture is selected in MP's Browser window, no categories are assigned yet.
Assigning category through Categories tab of Info Pane won't update any other windows (which are Categories of Data Pane, Category Sets of Data Pane and Categories Filter).
![Image]()
Assigning category through Categories window of Data Pane will update only window Category Sets of Data Pane.
![Image]()
And Category Sets is updated from this action only one way. That is, if you assigned category, then it appears under Assigned list, but if you remove category, it stays in Assigned list anyway.
![Image]()
![Image]()
I'd expect that changing category in any window where it is possible shall update information in all other related windows, but this does not happen.
Only way to get all those windows updated at once is assigning category through picture's right-click menu in Browser.
3. Enigmatic state of category.
I imagine that category can be assigned or not assigned. XnView MP obviously thinks that category can be semi-assigned or "maybe assigned".
I have no other explanation for the fact that checkboxes in Categories tab, checkboxes in Categories window and category names in Category Sets list have tri-state. I assume that means "not assigned", "probably assigned" and "definitely assigned" state of category (see other screenshots too).
![Image]()
![Image]()
4. To automatically apply all parent categories of hierarchical structure you must use Categories Tab from Info Pane or Categories window from Data Pane, because menu item Category from picture's right-click menu in Browser won't let you to do it.
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
From right-click menu you can assign only last subcategory in list, you can't select any parent category, and this last category will be the only category assigned, omitting all parents.
![Image]()
![Image]()
5. Finally, to understand what happens with your categories and which window, tab or pane of MP's interface speaks the truth, you must remove selection from processed file.
Then Categories Filter window will show you new numbers.
![Image]()
When you select your file anew, MP will read all data from database and will update all related windows accordingly. Hurray.
![Image]()
Conclusion: XnView MP is recommended for download to all fans of quest and puzzle games.
Read Main Topic
I decided to take a break from what I usually do with XnView for-Windows-only aka Classic (i.e. from using it solely as image decoder with standard editing abilities) and try to do something new that other users do with XnView MP.
MP has "better interface™", and I agree, having better interface is better than having no interface at all.
So I came up with idea of trying better interface of XnView MP 0.79 x64 on Win 10 x64 platform in a task of assigning categories to file.
There is plenty of comments on this topic on forum, I think it won't hurt to add another one.
I did not test this feature on large scale like professional photographers do, but just with one single picture file in folder. My options which I set for testing look like this, don't know if they have any influence on MP's interface functioning.
Maybe I don't understand something and more experienced users will convince me that it all really should work like it does.
Here are my observations from using them.
1. Secret interface elements.
Open menu View->Info pane... from menu bar in main window. Do you see there item "Categories"? No.
Right-click any tab title of Info Pane (tabs are visible only if View->Info pane...->Use tabs is checked). Now you can enable secret hidden tab "Categories".
There is conflict between tab Categories of Info Pane and element Preview of Info Pane. If View->Info pane...->Preview as tab is not checked, then selecting or deselecting menu item View->Info pane...->Preview causes tab Categories of Info Pane to switch off.
2. Total neglection of discipline, expressed in desynchronization between windows which are supposed to reflect on status of categories assignment.
Starting position: picture is selected in MP's Browser window, no categories are assigned yet.
Assigning category through Categories tab of Info Pane won't update any other windows (which are Categories of Data Pane, Category Sets of Data Pane and Categories Filter).
Assigning category through Categories window of Data Pane will update only window Category Sets of Data Pane.
And Category Sets is updated from this action only one way. That is, if you assigned category, then it appears under Assigned list, but if you remove category, it stays in Assigned list anyway.
I'd expect that changing category in any window where it is possible shall update information in all other related windows, but this does not happen.
Only way to get all those windows updated at once is assigning category through picture's right-click menu in Browser.
3. Enigmatic state of category.
I imagine that category can be assigned or not assigned. XnView MP obviously thinks that category can be semi-assigned or "maybe assigned".
I have no other explanation for the fact that checkboxes in Categories tab, checkboxes in Categories window and category names in Category Sets list have tri-state. I assume that means "not assigned", "probably assigned" and "definitely assigned" state of category (see other screenshots too).
4. To automatically apply all parent categories of hierarchical structure you must use Categories Tab from Info Pane or Categories window from Data Pane, because menu item Category from picture's right-click menu in Browser won't let you to do it.
From right-click menu you can assign only last subcategory in list, you can't select any parent category, and this last category will be the only category assigned, omitting all parents.
5. Finally, to understand what happens with your categories and which window, tab or pane of MP's interface speaks the truth, you must remove selection from processed file.
Then Categories Filter window will show you new numbers.
When you select your file anew, MP will read all data from database and will update all related windows accordingly. Hurray.
Conclusion: XnView MP is recommended for download to all fans of quest and puzzle games.
Read Main Topic