Difference between revisions of "Save + export specification"
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# simplify and clarify the user model: what you see on the canvas is always GIMP content; | # simplify and clarify the user model: what you see on the canvas is always GIMP content; | ||
− | # enforce that what is on the canvas is only '''safe''' when saved as an xcf | + | # enforce that what is on the canvas is only '''safe''' when saved as an xcf file—or its compressed variants; |
# give primary support for a high-end workflow where the work is saved in xcf, and when it is time for ‘delivery’, it is exported to the required format; | # give primary support for a high-end workflow where the work is saved in xcf, and when it is time for ‘delivery’, it is exported to the required format; | ||
# give secondary support to workflows where the input and output are the same non-xcf file; the reason for this is not the often touted ‘prosumer photo jpeg–to–jpeg’ workflow, because of GIMP product vision there is no need for optimising this. A much better reason for optimising are situations where high-end GIMP users have to do some quick touch-ups on graphic files for mates or clients, and send them back. | # give secondary support to workflows where the input and output are the same non-xcf file; the reason for this is not the often touted ‘prosumer photo jpeg–to–jpeg’ workflow, because of GIMP product vision there is no need for optimising this. A much better reason for optimising are situations where high-end GIMP users have to do some quick touch-ups on graphic files for mates or clients, and send them back. | ||
− | The basic strategy that follows from the points above is: ''GIMP opens and saves GIMP files and imports/exports the rest.'' We make however one optimisation: fold Import back into Open, so everything stays (almost) the same there. Furthermore for the secondary workflow a | + | The basic strategy that follows from the points above is: ''GIMP opens and saves GIMP files and imports/exports the rest.'' We make however one optimisation: fold Import back into Open, so everything stays (almost) the same there. Furthermore for the secondary workflow a ‘Export to’ menu item is added. |
==file menu changes== | ==file menu changes== | ||
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Currently (v2.6) the Save section of the file menu looks like this:<br>[[Image:Save_menu.png]] | Currently (v2.6) the Save section of the file menu looks like this:<br>[[Image:Save_menu.png]] | ||
− | Two new menu items shall be introduced: Export and | + | Two new menu items shall be introduced: Export and ‘Export to’. To avoid too long (== too slow to scan) menu sections, this section shall be split in two: |
* Save | * Save | ||
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* <menu separator> | * <menu separator> | ||
* Export… | * Export… | ||
− | * | + | * Export to |
− | * | + | * Create template… |
− | The sensitivity of the Export command shall track that of the Save command. The | + | The sensitivity of the Export command shall track that of the Save command. The ‘Export to’ command shall be insensitive by default. |
===keyboard shortcuts=== | ===keyboard shortcuts=== | ||
− | The existing shortcuts in the FIle menu stay as-is. Finding them for the 2 new items is tricky, because the obvious candidates are taken. <ctrl>(-<shift>)-E would | + | The existing shortcuts in the FIle menu stay as-is. Finding them for the 2 new items is tricky, because the obvious candidates are taken. <ctrl>(-<shift>)-E would have been perfect for Export, ‘Export to’. |
==(no) changes in actions== | ==(no) changes in actions== | ||
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====opening a GIMP-type file==== | ====opening a GIMP-type file==== | ||
− | After opening a (compressed) xcf file everything works as it does | + | After opening a (compressed) xcf file everything works as it does in v2.6. |
====opening a non-GIMP-type file==== | ====opening a non-GIMP-type file==== | ||
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* the title of the image window shall be set to “Untitled (imported from <filename>)-X.Y etc, etc.” where the <filename> is the name of the imported file; further opening of other files into this document (even GIMP files) shall not change the title or its status; | * the title of the image window shall be set to “Untitled (imported from <filename>)-X.Y etc, etc.” where the <filename> is the name of the imported file; further opening of other files into this document (even GIMP files) shall not change the title or its status; | ||
− | * the | + | * the ‘Export to’ menu item shall have its label set to “Export to <filename>” and shall be made sensitive; |
* the document shall be treated as a new, untitled file; | * the document shall be treated as a new, untitled file; | ||
* the file name and path shall be recycled in the Export dialog as the default path and name (==type); | * the file name and path shall be recycled in the Export dialog as the default path and name (==type); | ||
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The revert dialog box shall remain as-is. For reverting back to the state of [[#opening a non-GIMP-type file | opening non-GIMP files]], the top string shall be “Revert 'Untitled' to '/<path>/<filename>'?”. | The revert dialog box shall remain as-is. For reverting back to the state of [[#opening a non-GIMP-type file | opening non-GIMP files]], the top string shall be “Revert 'Untitled' to '/<path>/<filename>'?”. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To be clear, here is the list of what revert should revert to, in order of precedence (highest at the top): | ||
+ | |||
+ | # saved-to GIMP file; | ||
+ | # opened GIMP file; | ||
+ | # opened non-GIMP file. | ||
===exporting files=== | ===exporting files=== | ||
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* an export shall not change the saved-status of the document, or replace the Untitled status to associated with an actual file; | * an export shall not change the saved-status of the document, or replace the Untitled status to associated with an actual file; | ||
* the file path and name (== type) a document is exported to shall be reused as default path and name for the next export (before the document is closed); | * the file path and name (== type) a document is exported to shall be reused as default path and name for the next export (before the document is closed); | ||
+ | * when a document is exported for the second (and up) time, before it is closed, to exactly the same path + filename + type, then the file-type options dialogs (as seen for png or jpg) shall not be shown again; | ||
* in any consecutive Export File dialogs (e.g. those about flattening layers and reducing colours) the whole string “Your image should be exported before it can be saved as <file type> for the following reasons:” shall be omitted; the dialog will need a bit of straightening out as a result but can remain unchanged in content. | * in any consecutive Export File dialogs (e.g. those about flattening layers and reducing colours) the whole string “Your image should be exported before it can be saved as <file type> for the following reasons:” shall be omitted; the dialog will need a bit of straightening out as a result but can remain unchanged in content. | ||
− | === | + | ===Export to=== |
− | From the moment it is made sensitive the | + | From the moment it is made sensitive the ‘Export to’ menu item shall be sensitive until the document is closed. |
− | * the first time the | + | * the first time the ‘Export to’ is invoked after opening the file, the file-type options dialogs (as seen for png or jpg) shall be shown; any consecutive ‘Export to’s of this document before it is closed shall use the same settings; |
− | * the | + | * the ‘Export to’ shall not change the saved-status of the document, or replace the Untitled status to associated with an actual file. |
* Export File dialogs: see [[#exporting files | exporting files]]. | * Export File dialogs: see [[#exporting files | exporting files]]. |
Revision as of 17:32, 6 March 2009
Contents
intro
This specification defines a clear separation between saving and export, based on version 2.6.
This change tries to achieve some specific goals:
- simplify and clarify the user model: what you see on the canvas is always GIMP content;
- enforce that what is on the canvas is only safe when saved as an xcf file—or its compressed variants;
- give primary support for a high-end workflow where the work is saved in xcf, and when it is time for ‘delivery’, it is exported to the required format;
- give secondary support to workflows where the input and output are the same non-xcf file; the reason for this is not the often touted ‘prosumer photo jpeg–to–jpeg’ workflow, because of GIMP product vision there is no need for optimising this. A much better reason for optimising are situations where high-end GIMP users have to do some quick touch-ups on graphic files for mates or clients, and send them back.
The basic strategy that follows from the points above is: GIMP opens and saves GIMP files and imports/exports the rest. We make however one optimisation: fold Import back into Open, so everything stays (almost) the same there. Furthermore for the secondary workflow a ‘Export to’ menu item is added.
Currently (v2.6) the Save section of the file menu looks like this:
Two new menu items shall be introduced: Export and ‘Export to’. To avoid too long (== too slow to scan) menu sections, this section shall be split in two:
- Save
- Save as…
- Save a copy…
- Revert…
- <menu separator>
- Export…
- Export to
- Create template…
The sensitivity of the Export command shall track that of the Save command. The ‘Export to’ command shall be insensitive by default.
keyboard shortcuts
The existing shortcuts in the FIle menu stay as-is. Finding them for the 2 new items is tricky, because the obvious candidates are taken. <ctrl>(-<shift>)-E would have been perfect for Export, ‘Export to’.
(no) changes in actions
opening files
It is not the goal of this spec to overhaul the file Open dialog, it and other means of opening files shall remain unchanged. What matters is what happens after a file is opened.
opening a GIMP-type file
After opening a (compressed) xcf file everything works as it does in v2.6.
opening a non-GIMP-type file
After any other type of image file, it is officially imported, and the following shall be different:
- the title of the image window shall be set to “Untitled (imported from <filename>)-X.Y etc, etc.” where the <filename> is the name of the imported file; further opening of other files into this document (even GIMP files) shall not change the title or its status;
- the ‘Export to’ menu item shall have its label set to “Export to <filename>” and shall be made sensitive;
- the document shall be treated as a new, untitled file;
- the file name and path shall be recycled in the Export dialog as the default path and name (==type);
- it shall be possible to Revert to this state.
saving files
Save, ‘Save as’ and ‘Save a copy’ shall only save to (compressed) GIMP formats, which shall be the only available format choices in the Save dialog. Only Save and ‘Save as’ shall change the saved-status of the document, or replace the Untitled status to associated with an actual file.
revert
The revert dialog box shall remain as-is. For reverting back to the state of opening non-GIMP files, the top string shall be “Revert 'Untitled' to '/<path>/<filename>'?”.
To be clear, here is the list of what revert should revert to, in order of precedence (highest at the top):
- saved-to GIMP file;
- opened GIMP file;
- opened non-GIMP file.
exporting files
All non-GIMP file types can be exported via the Export menu item:
- no (compressed) GIMP formats shall be available as format choices in the Export dialog;
- the ‘Save as’ dialog shall be recycled for the Export dialog; the dialog title shall be “Export Image”;
- an export shall not change the saved-status of the document, or replace the Untitled status to associated with an actual file;
- the file path and name (== type) a document is exported to shall be reused as default path and name for the next export (before the document is closed);
- when a document is exported for the second (and up) time, before it is closed, to exactly the same path + filename + type, then the file-type options dialogs (as seen for png or jpg) shall not be shown again;
- in any consecutive Export File dialogs (e.g. those about flattening layers and reducing colours) the whole string “Your image should be exported before it can be saved as <file type> for the following reasons:” shall be omitted; the dialog will need a bit of straightening out as a result but can remain unchanged in content.
Export to
From the moment it is made sensitive the ‘Export to’ menu item shall be sensitive until the document is closed.
- the first time the ‘Export to’ is invoked after opening the file, the file-type options dialogs (as seen for png or jpg) shall be shown; any consecutive ‘Export to’s of this document before it is closed shall use the same settings;
- the ‘Export to’ shall not change the saved-status of the document, or replace the Untitled status to associated with an actual file.
- Export File dialogs: see exporting files.