Screenshots of work-in-progress UI overhaul - June 28

[Dan Dixon]

Here are two work-in-progress screenshots of the upcoming UI overhaul. This is what I worked on most of the weekend.

In the screenshots:

• Normal and chart mode buttons.
  
• Tool panel - Fly, Move, Rotate, New, Action, Find
  
• Create new body panel with different categories - Galaxies, Stars, Planets, Moons, Asteroids, Objects
  
• Early work in progress of object panel showing editable orbital elements (sma, ecc, inc) for the moon.
  
• The second screenshot shows an early look at new ways to visualize bodies. This view showsorder by density. I need to write code to keep the labels from overlapping.
  
• Collapsed simulation controls in the upper left.
  
• Thicker pause border.
  

Additional progress not pictured:

• Advanced tooltip functionality in place. Hover over any button, tab, or text box for instant help.
  
• On the fly language switching functionality. (English, German, etc...)
  

While it looks like I'm almost done, there's still lots to do. There's lots of bugs and some new performance issues. I still need to add color and texture controls, duplicating the functionality of the old view panel, fix the camera control panel (in the lower left of the screenshots), fix the look of the chart mode options, update all the documentation, rethink all the keyboard shortcuts, and a hundred other things.

I hope everyone had a good weekend.

Please let me know if you've got any comments or suggestions. Feel free to be brutal (but civil); you won't hurt my feelings.

Last week's screenshot:
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,455.0.html

[Naru523]

Nice work, Dan.

Ohh... Now I know, the large Earth was only a picture of the Earth menu.

[FGFG]

The work is very nice!

Don't forget a button to switch off the interface; or to close all the menues maintaining the time control (like it is now)

About the chart mode
The names of big objects could be written under them instead of near them.
I also suggest you to add values in the chart, under the graph, near the lines, like [the image with yellow bodies] (just turn up with down):

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk114/FGFG-23/Chartmodedensity.jpg

Or you can simply make a scale on the line with some of the values...
[image with white bodies]

[monmarfori]

What is that software?

[FGFG]

What is that software?

If you refer to Dan's post, it is the new version of Universe Sandbox. If you refer to mine it is Paint.

[Chaotic Cow]

LOVE. The. Symbols.

[atomic7732]

some of the symbols i'm gonna have to re -learn what they do!

[Dan Dixon]

Now I know, the large Earth was only a picture of the Earth menu.

Yeah it wasn't clear the way I had it arranged before.

Don't forget a button to switch off the interface; or to close all the menus maintaining the time control (like it is now)

Will do.

About the chart mode...

Awesome. I plan to add a title and a numbered axis, but I hadn't done any pre-visualizations yet. These are great and helpful. Thanks. If you have any other ideas let me know.

will we b able to set the orbital elements when it releases 

Yes. All of the numbers in textboxes are editable.

some of the symbols i'm gonna have to re -learn what they do!

No worries... just hover your mouse over them to get their name and a short description of what they do.

[SuperNova]

can't you release a Beta (test) version?
i would be cool.

P.S: i love your works!

[atommo999]

that "motion is relative to" button on the left hand side really confuzzles me i mean, what does it do?

[FGFG]

For example the speed relative to "absoulute space" is how much the object is moving relative to the referiment system. If you change it in (for example) "the Sun", it will show you the speed relative to the Sun.

[Dan Dixon]

can't you release a Beta (test) version?

I'm making so many changes to Universe Sandbox that I probably will release a 'beta' version to the users of the forum a few weeks before the official release to help make sure that I haven't broken something without realizing it.

For example the speed relative to "absoulute space" is how much the object is moving relative to the referiment system. If you change it in (for example) "the Sun", it will show you the speed relative to the Sun.

Yes.

that "motion is relative to" button on the left hand side really confuzzles me i mean, what does it do?

It is confusing and not intuitive, but an important setting when dealing with the motion of planetary bodies (and stars, etc).

In the current version you can right click on a body and select "Set to Center". This makes all trails drawn with the motion relative to this body. Open up "Our Solar System" and try it on the earth. Turn up the trails. It's a pretty wild result. This is how the motion of all the planets and the Sun looks like from the perspective of the Earth.

Does anyone have thoughts on how to make this less confusing? Instead of "motion relative to" what should I call it? And any thoughts on an icon for this?

[hbmp88]

Well after that explanation it wasn't so confusing and actually fairly simple... Maybe movements according to???

[FGFG]

In the current version you can right click on a body and select "Set to Center". This makes all trails drawn with the motion relative to this body. Open up "Our Solar System" and try it on the earth. Turn up the trails. It's a pretty wild result. This is how the motion of all the planets and the Sun looks like from the perspective of the Earth.

I always forgot this (that you probably know).  After using the command "Set to Center" there isn't any way to turn back to the "absolute space referiment" (at least i didn't find it ); by the way this patch seems to have fixed the problem

Does anyone have thoughts on how to make this less confusing? Instead of "motion relative to" what should I call it?

I can't find another way to call it, but the user could still use the description of the command right?

[Dan Dixon]

After using the command "Set to Center" there isn't any way to turn back to the "absolute space referiment" (at least i didn't find it );

In the current version of Universe Sandbox, press the key "P" to return the center to "absolute space" or as the text says "free center".

...by the way this patch seems to have fixed the problem

Patch? Which problem?

I can't find another way to call it, but the user could still use the description of the command right?

I need to come up with 3 things for this control (and most controls):
- Icon (small picture of the concept)
- Name (1 or 2 word title)
- Description (a longer description for the new tooltip feature that's in the works)

...and I'm open to ideas for each. (and ideas for anything actually)

[hbmp88]

Ummmm...

Icon: Eyes
Name: Vantage Point
Description: Choose your point of view.

Is that reasonable?

[Dan Dixon]

Yeah... those are good suggestions (and ones that I had not considered before).

I need to be able to distinguish between "motion relative to" and "focus"

You suggestion sounds more like what "focus" does. (where focus is the object that the camera is looking at)

Think of this as a brainstorming session... There are no good or bad ideas at this point. Any others?

[atomic7732]

Does anyone have thoughts on how to make this less confusing? Instead of "motion relative to" what should I call it? And any thoughts on an icon for this?

Trails (or orbits) relative to. And an image maybe an object swiching from orbiting one to another.

[SuperNova]

in the next update can you see how long a planet circles around a star?

[Bla]

Icon: I guess the picture will be small, but if possible, a picture of some lines that looks like how the lines of the planets look when you set Earth to center. Or perhaps the trail of the Moon as it looks like when orbiting the Earth and the Sun is set to be the center.
Name: Center of Trails/Orbital Center
Description: All trails are drawn relative to (the) [name]. If (the) [name] is set to be a star in a star system simulation, you will see elliptical trails of the planets, asteroids and comets orbiting the star. The moons of the planets will make trails that look curly, since they orbit the planets while they orbit the star.

[FGFG]

...by the way this patch seems to have fixed the problem

Patch? Which problem?

The "Patch" is this new UI update, by the way there isn't any problem as i didn't know the right command 

[atommo999]

For example the speed relative to "absoulute space" is how much the object is moving relative to the referiment system. If you change it in (for example) "the Sun", it will show you the speed relative to the Sun.

thanks!

[atomic7732]

in the next update can you see how long a planet circles around a star?

That's a good idea have a period bieng calculated during the simulaiton!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_period

You can get the calculations there.

Edit: Fixed the link

[Dan Dixon]

in the next update can you see how long a planet circles around a star?

For sure. That's an easy one and (like NeutronStar said) a good idea.

Thanks for the link to the formula.

[Chaotic Cow]

What does Motion relative do?

I would open US up and figure it out but I can't at the moment.

[hbmp88]

Are you serious!? We just explained that!

[Chaotic Cow]

Are you serious!? We just explained that!

  LIES. I do not understand a lot of what people say.

[Dan Dixon]

What does Motion relative do?

Start here, then read the following two posts:
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,483.msg3196.html#msg3196

[Chaotic Cow]

Thanks Dan. Now I know.

My first idea for an icon would be a Planet with a smaller one with a trail.

With like an Eye in the center or looking at the smaller planet.


Let's see..names...

Orbits Relative To - I like that better than Motion

[Naru523]

What is the teapot button?