PSP X5 Histogram Palette Docking Location

[DavidL]

The behavior has changed drastically. I see someone else has this problem in X6. I just wanted to say that it appeared sometime in X5. I didn't install X5 until SP3 was available. I don't know if it first showed up in one of the SPs since I only ever installed SP3. In X4, I work with the Histogram Palette docked below the image at all times so I can monitor what is happening as I work within the various adjustments. If I check/uncheck the "Preview on Image" box, I can toggle the differences on the histogram as I work. This is invaluable functionality. I depend on it for my work. [I wish the Histogram window would give me readouts of Histogram values when I place my mouse over the Histogram window, but that is an enhancement request for another day.] Now with X5, I can ONLY dock the Histogram window over on the right side. This is about the most braindead place for it, as the width is extremely limited, which limits the scale at which change information is displayed to the point of being useless. Seemingly more braindead, while docked, the only dimension in which the Histogram can be expanded without sacrificing image preview size is vertically. Corel has taken what was a very useful tool and rendered it mostly useless. Knowing this is also a problem in X6, I will not be purchasing that version unless it has been fixed, which I gather has not happened yet. I tried to Save an X4 Workspace and Load it into X5, but X5 cannot even open an X4 Workspace. I guess Workspaces are another USELESS "feature" since Corel seems not to preserve basic function across Revs.

[LeviFiction]

The lack of ability to preserver workspaces is something we've just grown use to. A workspace is after all just a series of registry settings. They say you can't use them between versions because they make too many drastic changes between versions.

As for docking, it's true. You can't talk most palettes anywhere but to the right. They're taking away one of the best features of PSP, flexible customization of the UI. And I know it's not like they had to. Their new instant effects palette can still be docked anywhere they like.

Yeah this has been there since x5, it was one of the first things I complained about. Because I too love to have the histogram palette under the image.

It has not changed in X6.

[DavidL]

The lack of ability to preserver workspaces is something we've just grown use to. A workspace is after all just a series of registry settings. They say you can't use them between versions because they make too many drastic changes between versions.

I assume "they" in this case would be Corel tech support... As a software engineer, I know there are ways to provide forward compatibility (future revs. retaining ability to behave as previous did), even if you have to call it something like "Compatibility Mode". I don't accept that this is impossible for Corel to do with Workspaces, even if you have to run an outside translation script or somesuch thing. I looked inside the Workspace files in both versions X4 and X5, and by all appearances they already place the revision number information in there, along with the registry chunk, and some binary. If they cannot make the code accept and translate one revision Workspace to another, Corel design team (is there one?) needs to seriously question why changing so fundamental a part of the user interface as docking behavior is really really necessary. I suspect somebody didn't know what they were doing when they altered this behavior, and now it is justified with "that's just the way it is now" mentality at the support and management levels.

They're taking away one of the best features of PSP, flexible customization of the UI. And I know it's not like they had to. Their new instant effects palette can still be docked anywhere they like.

Yeah this has been there since x5, it was one of the first things I complained about. Because I too love to have the histogram palette under the image.

What answer did Corel give when you complained? Just curious...

Anyway, I believe it is a fundamental job of the design team to be very protective of User Interfaces, and to always be aware of what people might like and be depending on from Rev to Rev, not simply push out new functionality every Rev.

[LeviFiction]

I agree with you. I mean throw away the registry entries that don't work anymore. Convert the value for the ones that use a different way of representing the values. Should definitely be possible.

I would love if workspace files were workspace scripts. Two reasons, the commands wouldn't change to make the new differences possible and scripts would have greater control over the interface. Something I would love.

As for what they said. Not anything really, just "we'll continue to investigate it"