Making the message window smaller

[GunChleoc]

We are discussing on the forums how to make the messages window smaller.

https://wl.widelands.org/forum/topic/1795/

Creating a bug now so we can attach mockup images.

[kaputtnik (franku)]

First mockup. More on this in topic on widelands.org.

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

Work in progress - added message type and reworked title column.

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

Screenshot of resized window

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

Prefinal design - which small tweaks are still needed?

[kaputtnik (franku)]

Resized images of headquarters. The image of barbarian headquarter isn't easy to shrink. Hoping that's good enough.

Are the special images (like headquarter_shipwreck) also needed?

What is additional needed related to the message_menu?

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

Since I managed to automatically downscale the images, we only need the missing buildings' images now. All buildings that aren't buildable/enhancable don't have a menu.png yet. This is all the headquarters including headquarters_shipwreck and headquarters_interim, the construction site, the dismantle site and the destroyed building. For construction/dismantle site, I used idle_with_worker_00.png as a base, but I think it needs some brightening.

Full list:

    tribes/*/constructionsite/menu.png (identical for all 3 tribes)
    tribes/*/destroyed_building/menu.png (identical for all 3 tribes)
    tribes/*/dismantlesite/menu.png (identical for all 3 tribes)

    tribes/atlanteans/headquarters/menu.png

    tribes/barbarians/headquarters/menu.png
    tribes/barbarians/headquarters_interim/menu.png

    tribes/empire/headquarters/menu.png
    tribes/empire/headquarters_shipwreck/menu.png

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

New screenshot with all buttons on top

[kaputtnik (franku)]

I am bit confused...

> Since I managed to automatically downscale the images, we only need the missing buildings' images now

Which size should they have than?

> For construction/dismantle site, I used idle_with_worker_00.png as a base
This is a good idea... (seems like this image isn't used in the game... as i understand the code only the [idle] animations are loaded and additional animations won't work? )

> tribes/*/destroyed_building/menu.png (identical for all 3 tribes)
What about using tribes/*/ashes/ashes_00.png ?

I will look at the others soon, just tell me which size should they have.

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

For consistency, give them the same size as the other menu.png images - 30x30 seems to be the standard size.

I just checked the source code, idle_with_worker is loaded into the engine, but then not used. It was probably replaced by the build animations later on. I find construction sites hard to target with the mouse sometimes; maybe we should turn this into the idle animation?

I tried the ashes, it doesn't look as good as the destroyed building - at this small size, it's just a grey blob. Also, if the building should be destroyed after being taken over by the enemy, destroyed_building is the animation shown.

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

Mockup with buttons and columns rearranged

[kaputtnik (franku)]

Ok, here are the missing menu.png files.

To those who aren't quadratic i changed the height to 30 pixel and the width relative to new height. Most are shifted in brightness and sharpened.

Dismantlesite and constructionsite images are the same and i used idle_with_worker.png for them.

Related to the not used idle_with_worker image in game: If possible this image could be used only for big buildings (maybe medium size buildings too). But in general it looks a bit funny that building material is lying around before such material is carried to the constuctionsite ;-) If i find some time i will try to make an image for constructionsite that looks like the terrain is bulldozed (or flattend).

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

I think you have done a too good job of the icons - they stick out when you look at them in the Tribal Encyclopedia - screenshot attached. Can you tone them down again a bit?

[kaputtnik (franku)]

You're right :-)

The next days i am busy, before Sunday evening i couldn't work on this.

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

Whenever you have the time :)

[kaputtnik (franku)]

I have updated the images and put them directly into the branch and update the branch as well.

Instead having a floated width of the images, i decided to make them real 30x30 pixel. For example the empire headquarters-shipwreck had a width of 120 and height of 62 pixel. I resized the width to 30 pixel and the height corresponding to 16 pixel. To get a height of 30 i added some transparent area at the top of the shipwreck.

The images idle_with_worker and the barbarian headquarters was hard to change. I tested them in the tribal encyclopedia and i think i have found a good compromise between blurred and recognizability to the background. Hope they are ok for you.

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

I think they look good :)

I now still need to solve the problem with the images appearing below the table, then we're good to go I think.

[GunChleoc (gunchleoc)]

Fixed in build19-rc1.