Combine the advanced and the simple selection tool into one tool

[Mario Kemper (Romario)]

Both tools do have unique features, e.g. the zoom window offered by the simple selection tool. It would make sense to combine the two tools.

Here are some ideas delivered by our users:
https://answers.launchpad.net/shutter/+question/68616

https://answers.launchpad.net/shutter/+question/86231

This isn't the easiest task so I'll target this for v0.90 of Shutter.

[Mario Kemper (Romario) (mario-kemper)]

1) ability to enter the width, height, X and Y position of the selection manually into text fields
2) ability to move and resize the selection rectangle with arrow keys or with mouse
3) always display the current dimension and position of the selection (the advanced selection tool doesn't display these informations)
4) always display the zoom window, it can be disabled, so it is not annoying
5) only take the screenshot when pressing a specified key (the simple selection tool immediately takes the screenshot upon releasing the mouse key, which is bad)

[Mario Kemper (Romario) (mario-kemper)]

I'll upload a new beta version tonight to test this.

[Mario Kemper (Romario) (mario-kemper)]

Sorry for the delay, but the Launchpad build farm is heavily overloaded. My last build is waiting since 25 hours now!
see: http://www.ubuntu-pics.de/bild/29801/auswahl_044_S0tO0r.png

I've created a debian package manually now to give you the opportunity to have a look at the implementation.

[Mario Kemper (Romario) (mario-kemper)]

Just a few more word to explain the changes I've made (according to the points mentioned at the top):

All the changes are related to the Advanced Selection Tool (I want to keep the Simple Selection Tool, because some older distros might not provide the library needed for the Advanced Selection Tool).

1) ability to enter the width, height, X and Y position of the selection manually into text fields

You can now open a popup when using the Advanced Selection Tool by hitting <Super> (Windows key) or using the right-click. There are some text fields to manipulate the geometry and the position of the current selection.

(close the popup by hitting <Super> again or right-click)

Additionally there is a new setting to configure an initial size and position of the selection in preferences.

2) ability to move and resize the selection rectangle with arrow keys or with mouse

cursor keys + alt = move selection
cursor keys + ctrl = resize selection

(This was already possible before)

3) always display the current dimension and position of the selection (the advanced selection tool doesn't display these informations)

The information is now shown in the zoom window.

4) always display the zoom window, it can be disabled, so it is not annoying

The zoom window will be displayed in the Advanced Selection Tool as well now (you can disable it via preferences). It hides automatically but can also be turned on/off via <space> key.

5) only take the screenshot when pressing a specified key (the simple selection tool immediately takes the screenshot upon releasing the mouse key, which is bad)

You can use <return> or double-click to take the screenshot.

[Charybdis (urbence)]

Wow this is great, thanks! I tested this on Ubuntu 9.10, and everything works perfectly. The selection tool is greatly improved now.

One thing I would change: the Compiz zoom uses the super key by default, so in this implementation I cannot use the Compiz zoom, unless I change the preferences in Compiz Config.
I now that I can zoom with Ctrl+mouse wheel too, but the zoom area moves with the mouse pointer in Compiz zoom, so maybe some people prefer the Compiz zoom.

[Mario Kemper (Romario) (mario-kemper)]

Ok, I've changed it to use the shift keys.
We are preparing the next release currently. I think it will be out in the next days.

Btw, this was your donation today, right? Thanks!

Regards
Mario

[Charybdis (urbence)]

Yep, thanks for the feature!
Why not use the space key for both windows? The user can still show/hide the 2 windows separately: there is a "hide" button on the sizer window, and the zoom window can be disabled in the options menu.