Hotkey to close a dock

[bjones1]

A dialog between me and Andrei:

IHMO, all the dock open commands should also work to close the docs: Alt+O would open and close the opened files dock, etc.

This is very difficult question. You are not the first, who said about it. If a shortcut opens, than closes a dock, it would be more intuitive and user friendly. But, I often have Opened Files, File Browser, Navigator docks open when I'm coding on big wide screen monitor. And, I use shortcuts to move focus to a dock without touching mouse. Now Alt+ shortcuts meaning is "Make sure a dock is visible and set focus to it". And this meaning doesn't depend on context (dock is visible/hidden, focus is on editor/on dock). This behavior is not intuitive, but more comfortable for experienced users.

How about either opening/shifting focus to the dock or, if the focus is already on the dock, closing it? This does make it context-sensitive, which changes its current meaning. Here's my use case: for me, my 22" monitor can't fit the file navigator + opened files docs on the left, the editor window in the middle, and a preview dock on the right and still fit 80 columns of text. (My eyesight isn't great, so I can't comfortably use small fonts). I'd like to be able to keyboard toggle off the navigator and opened files dock most of the time while editing, then quickly toggle on one, make a selection, then toggle it back off. I do have a dual monitor setup, but I find it uncomfortable to stretch a single window such as Enki across two monitors.

There are 2 ways to close a dock: Press Esc when dock is focused, press Shift+Esc. Have you seen this ways? I need to think, how to improve behavior or documentation.

I hadn't seen this. This does give a hotkey way to close a dock. Probably what's needed is clearer docs somewhere regarding this behavior. I just edited that section of the document -- would you review, then close this issue?

[bjones1]

Also, I think the spreadsheet you provided at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AlY4NZ8uGZGxdF9aeERuSTc5ajMxVVZjOWZCZGpaM3c&output=html should be placed in the docs -- any objections?

[andreikop]

I hadn't seen this. This does give a hotkey way to close a dock. Probably what's needed is clearer docs somewhere regarding this behavior.

Yes, you are right. Uses read vim and emacs documentation, because they don't have any choice. But Enki can be used as is. I don't know how to force the users to read the docs but do not make them hate me and Enki. (Tell the truth, I never read end-user software documentation)

It might be something like tip of the day, but not in modal dialog, but a hint, shown on the status bar to the right from main menu. This hint would disappear, when first runtime message is shown.

I placed shortcut table to google docs because it is not convenient to edit tables in wiki-style markups. I'l move to wiki, if many users will need to edit it.

Thank your the wiki fixes!

[andreikop]

Your ideas about how to make users know how to close a dock are welcome!

[bjones1]

I don't read user-user docs either :). Re: the table, I mean simply provide a link to the table in the docs. I think the close behavior is documented. If only people (like me) would read it...

[andreikop]

https://github.com/hlamer/enki/wiki/Keyboard-map

It is documented, but documentation is not effective. So, it is an issue, which should be solved.

[bjones1]

Looks like it's time to upgrade our users... :)

On a more serious note, I was thinking about doing some screencasts to both demo Enki and train users. That might help.

[andreikop]

Yes, it might be cool idea.

I'm also thinking about some interactive teacher. i.e. if user has been using Enki for 40+ hours and closes a dock with mouse click, show him a hint

                 You may close File browser dock with `Alf+F, Esc`
    | Remind later |               | I got it, never show again|

[bjones1]

That's a good idea. I also like the idea of popping up hints when Enki opens. I do read those for IDEs, because it's just a little info and usually helpful.