Allow keyboard shortcut customization

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I'd like to propose an overhaul of the keyboard shortcuts so that they are a 
little more intuitive. I general I think we should aim to have tools as single 
keys and actions as CTRL/SHIFT/ALT+key. I have mostly gone with the Illustrator 
defaults, accept where I have always found them un-intuitive.

Would everyone be happy with:

TOOLS

Select (V) - I'd be OK with S, but V is pretty entrenched in my muscle memory :)
Path (P)
Pencil (N)
Line (L)
Type (T)
Eyedropper (I)
Zoom (Z)
Rectangle (M)
Ellipse (E)

I don't think the square and circle tools need shortcuts because of the ability 
to generate these from the main ellipse/rectangles tools by holding down SHFT

ACTIONS

Cut (CTRL+X)
Copy (CTRL+C)
Paste (CTRL+V)
Select All (CTRL+A)

Large Nudge (SHFT+Arrow key)
Rotate normal (CTRL+Arrow key)
Large rotate (SHFT+CTRL+Arrow key)

Clone (CTRL+D) - could we rename this tool to Duplicate? (Already mentioned 
here: Issue 359)

Undo (CTRL+Z)
Redo (CTRL+Y & SHFT+CTRL+Z)

Group (CTRL+G)
Ungroup (SHFT+CTRL+G & CTRL+U)

Bring to Front (SHFT+CTRL+]) - current SHFT+Up broken due to it being 
reassigned for large nudge
Bring Forward (CTRL+])
Send Backward (CTRL+[)
Send to Back (SHFT+CTRL+[) - current SHFT+Down broken due to it being 
reassigned for large nudge
(See Issue 20 Comment 23 for my thought on name changes to stacking order tool)

Wireframe (CTRL+F)
Grid (CTRL+D - toggle show/hide) - note current grid shortcut doesn't work

Zoom In (SHFT+CTRL++)
Zoom Out (SHFT+CTRL+-)
I'd prefer without the SHFT, but can we override the browser default so that it 
doesn't zoom the entire viewport?

File Open (CTRL+O)
File Save (CTRL+S)
New Image/Document (CTRL+N)
Image Libray (CTRL+I)
Export PNG (CTRL+E)
Document Properties (CTRL+P)
Help (CTRL+H) - New screen that needs adding (Issue 176)

Edit Source (SHFT+CTRL+E)

Change segment type (CTRL+T) - probably should consider other node/path tools 
as well.

Any other thoughts? I am sure I have missed some.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by adrianbj...@gmail.com on 26 Sep 2010 at 4:18

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I should point out that CTRL+X/C/V are not the default shortcut keys on OSX.  
There, the modifier key is the CMD (Apple) key.  See Issue 84.

Original comment by codedr...@gmail.com on 27 Sep 2010 at 1:00

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Yeah, good point! I asked Adeveria about this in Issue 687. I thought that 
"modKey" was designed to swap between CTRL and CMD depending on the OS, but 
sounds like it needs some more testing. Has anyone tested this further?

Original comment by adrianbj...@gmail.com on 27 Sep 2010 at 2:02

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Sorry, I really should have read Issue 84 more fully :) Now I see your reason 
for avoiding the modifier keys for many of the shortcuts.

I don't suppose newer versions of Chrome and Opera are working any better with 
the navigator.platform.indexOf("Mac") check?

Original comment by adrianbj...@gmail.com on 27 Sep 2010 at 5:19

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Only one real way to find out...

Test! :)

Original comment by codedr...@gmail.com on 27 Sep 2010 at 6:22

[GoogleCodeExporter]

See issue 84 for the results of my tests.

Original comment by adeve...@gmail.com on 27 Sep 2010 at 7:50

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Two other notes on this: 
- We need to be very careful not to show a shortcut combo if it's used by the 
browser and cannot be overridden. So things like Ctrl+T is fine for Firefox, 
but not Opera as it will open a new tab.

- Instead of just having a single keyboard setup, Ideally we would have a 
dropdown list in the preferences with options like "Default", "Illustrator 
compatible" and "Inkscape compatible". I feel the "default" option should avoid 
any shortcut options that override browser functionality, as we don't know how 
much the user would appreciate that...this way everyone could win without 
including a way for users to set their own shortcuts, as that would seem a bit 
overkill.

Original comment by adeve...@gmail.com on 27 Sep 2010 at 8:14

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I love the idea of multiple setups with Inkscape and Illustrator setups. But if 
we can't match their setups exactly (due to some shortcuts not being able to be 
overridden), should we really label them as compatible? Maybe close enough is 
good enough - not sure!

Original comment by adrianbj...@gmail.com on 27 Sep 2010 at 8:25

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Yeah, excellent point...but then obviously we won't have all the same functions 
anyway, soo...

Maybe a disclaimer would be good somewhere.

Original comment by adeve...@gmail.com on 27 Sep 2010 at 8:29

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I don't use those applications due to their limitations for real world 
applications like large format printing.

Most applications have the key shortcuts as configurable as part of a users 
workspace, with default workspaces like Illustrator and Inkscape included.

Coreldraw even allows the user to completely rearrange every icon and tool 
which is a little more forward thinking in my opinion.

Isn't there a jquery function for that you could use do to offer that sort of 
freedom?

Original comment by dezigns...@gmail.com on 28 Sep 2010 at 4:30

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I see this fantastic tool you guys are making as the next generation design 
application for web to print applications.

Being able to modify the users environment and experience to the point where it 
is easy and comfortable is not overkill.

It's expected.

Original comment by dezigns...@gmail.com on 28 Sep 2010 at 4:47

[GoogleCodeExporter]

You make some good points, to clarify I believe it's overkill for right now and 
for most of its current uses. There are many different uses for SVG-edit, and I 
think the current most popular one is for embedding into another system or CMS 
where a user is asked to draw and submit an image/diagram/something. So for 
them, where they will only be using the editor for a short amount of time and 
may never use it again, having such advanced functionality is rather 
unnecessary.

If the project grows into an editor that will be used as more of a substitute 
for current desktop apps, then yes, such functionality would be desirable.

Original comment by adeve...@gmail.com on 28 Sep 2010 at 5:07

[GoogleCodeExporter]

The way I'm using it, SVGEDIT removes the need for a desktop application 
altogether.
Thanks to you guys I've made an application that creates separated print ready 
artwork for silk screen printing on t-shirts designed by the user from custom 
generated templates. 

This is the future I am trying to realize.

We should not really be assuming what it will be used for.
But adding all the tools we think will be needed to make just about anything.

Think big!

Original comment by dezigns...@gmail.com on 28 Sep 2010 at 5:19

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Really if the tool was only intended to be used 'for a short amount of time and 
may never use it again' then it would've been created for the users with no 
prior experience with Illustrator or Inkscape. 
It would be directed at the MSWord users level of design skill. 
Shortcuts from other apps would be irrelevant.

Original comment by dezigns...@gmail.com on 28 Sep 2010 at 5:46

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Well, it's intended for both types of users, so our priorities should consider 
both. :) And as long as the project is being run by just a handful of people in 
their spare time, there's only so big we can realistically think. 

I am all for SVG-edit reaching the future you are thinking of, but at current 
rate it will take quite some time and I believe there's more basic 
functionality that needs to come first. Of course any patches/extensions to 
accomplish what you're looking for would certainly be welcome.

Original comment by adeve...@gmail.com on 28 Sep 2010 at 6:49

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Yup! Would you believe that I wrote up a spec & UI design for the exact tool 
you've created 3 years ago. But at the time I was unable to to find anyone that 
understood how to combine SVG & Javascript. 

I think this SVG app could be a real disruptor for Coreldraw & Illustrator 
because of its web2print potential. 

Mark my words: Both companies will be releasing a new version of a similar SVG 
web-based vector app soon.

Original comment by dezigns...@gmail.com on 28 Sep 2010 at 8:24

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Original comment by adeve...@gmail.com on 26 Oct 2010 at 11:14

• Changed title: Allow keyboard shortcut customization
• Changed state: Accepted
• Added labels: NeededFor-Future

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I have started on the basic version of this. That is, making shortcuts more 
consistent with other apps. First cut is at:
http://ian.umces.edu/svg-edit_trunk/trunk/editor/svg-editor.html

A couple of things to note - I have commented out a couple of lines from 
adeveria's r1949 because they were interfering with the undo/redo from the main 
section (once I changed those over to the modKey variants). Does this change 
make sense, or is there a better way to do this?

I also renamed Clone to Duplicate as per Issue 359.

One concern so far is the use of SHIFT+E and SHIFT+M for circle and square - 
they work in chrome, but the icon won't change back when you hit M or E. 
Regardless, they don't override the default action in Firefox, so I'll probably 
delete them anyway.

I think I'll keep playing with this for a bit, testing override on various 
browsers till there is something stable for 2.6. Maybe we can revisit the idea 
of a dropdown list of shortcut compatibilities for 2.7.

Original comment by adrianbj...@gmail.com on 29 Jan 2011 at 1:10

• Changed state: Started

[GoogleCodeExporter]

It seems like making keyboard shortcuts configurable would be a good goal, but 
I really don't want to introduce options for this in the UI ("Inkscape 
compatible", "Illustrator compatible", etc).  I still occasionally wake up in a 
cold sweat from nightmares centered around the Microsoft Office Options dialogs 
with 20 tabs...

Original comment by codedr...@gmail.com on 29 Jan 2011 at 8:34