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Cossey / ScreenPixelRuler2

An open source and free screen pixel ruler based on .NET that is a clone of MioPlanet PixelRuler
BSD 3-Clause "New" or "Revised" License
4 stars 0 forks source link

Rulers and guidelines similar to photoshop. #2

Open Spunkie opened 4 years ago

Spunkie commented 4 years ago

In relation to issue #1 where you ask for any suggestions for additional functionality.

This might be a bit of a stretch from where the current functionality is, but I would really love something like photoshops rulers. They attached to the top/side of the screen and then I can click & drag guidelines in/out of existence.

I took a short video of what I mean: https://i.spunkiedesign.com/zr76bHwQXjivLriTFQwfNikRcKw0sIP1.mp4

Seen in that video there are also some nice QOL additions to the guidelines. Like a X/Y tooltip next to the cursor while dragging the guideline. And a light snap-in on major divisions(like 25%/50%/75% X or Y) or 50% divisions in between placed guidelines.

Cossey commented 4 years ago

That’s a bit beyond what I was picturing for this tool but those suggestions aren’t bad ideas.

I think I can look at something like the ruler guidelines and snapping to specified guidelines. I’m not sure about the guidelines extending outside of the ruler boundaries though.

Having dual rulers (both vertical and horizontal) on screen at the same time could be useful.

I need to do more research into the feasibility of these features and whether they’d work as intended. Maybe this tool could be a universal ruler for apps that don’t have the functionality built in.

Cossey commented 4 years ago

The thing to keep in mind with this tool is that it is a standalone ruler not attached to any particular software. I've used it for measuring component positions on web pages, running UI or other documents that don't have similar pixel ruler functionality.

What I am going to do is allow the user to create guidelines/positional markers on the ruler using a keyboard shortcut or the context menu, similar to the freeze cursor (keypress Ctrl + F) functionality . Adding a guideline will show a visible line on the ruler so you know it is there, similar to the position cursor and you can press the same keypress on the guideline where the position cursor is to remove the guide line.

Another keypress will toggle the lock to nearest guideline which the mouse will lock to the guide line nearest the position cursor and will only allow you to move the mouse to horizontally (for the vertical ruler) or vertically (for the horizontal ruler) along this guide. Which will allow you to make perfectly horizontal or vertical lines in applications that don't support a similar ruling system.

This can also be extended down track when I eventually add a dual ruler mode.

For this to be really useful though, I will need to look at adding in Global Shortcuts, since the current shortcuts only work when the ruler has current focus.

What do you think about this approach @Spunkie ?