[EPIC] UI overhaul discussion thread

[originalfoo]

Summary of plans for UI overhaul.

TMPE button

The 'crown' button that toggles the TM:PE toolbar:

• The 'crown' is weird UI for a traffic mod - maybe change it?
• Right clicking this button should ideally open TM:PE settings screen (mod options).

Toolbar

I'd like to see a major overhaul of the toolbar (aka 'main menu'). See: #51 and #21

I think we can provide more functionality with 8 buttons than the current 12 buttons.

Lights button - see: #8

• Purely for timed traffic lights
  • The 'toggle traffic lights' feature is moved to Junctions button - see later
  • The 'manual traffic lights' feature becomes obsolete if we improve timed traffic lights
• Tool button:
  • Visible if 'timed traffic lights' enabled on maintenance tab
  • Left click = activate/deactivate tool
  • Right click = toggle persistent 'timed lights' overlay

Junctions button - see: #6

• Merge priority signs, junction restrictions and toggle traffic lights in to one 'tool'
  • Note: Crossings feature moved to Pedestrians tool - see later
• Tool button:
  • Visible if 'priority signs' and/or 'junction restrictions' enabled on maintenance tab
  • Left click = activate/deactivate tool
  • Right click = cycle through persistent junction overlay options

Overlays: As there are two applicable, right-click needs to cycle combinations (as applicable, depending on what's enabled on maintenance tab):

• None
• Priority Signs
• Junction Restrictions
• Both (Priority + Restrictions)

Pedestrian button - see: #40

• Dedicated tool for working with crossings
• Tool button:
  • Visible if (new) 'pedestrian crossings' enabled on maintenance tab
  • Left click = activate/deactivate tool
  • Right click = toggle (new) persistent 'transport routes' overly

Routing button - see: #41

• Merge lane arrows and lane connector features in to one tool
• Tool button:
  • Visible if 'lane connector' enabled on maintenance tab
  • Left click = activate/deactivate tool
  • Right click = toggle persistent 'lane connectors' overlay

Speeds tool - see: #84

Vehicles button - see: #42

• Enhances the tool with lane highlighting an eraser compatibility
• Tool button:
  • Visible if 'vehicle restrictions' enabled on maintenance tab
  • Left click = activate/deactivate tool
  • Right click = toggle persistent 'vehicle restrictions' overlay

Parking button - see: #47

I have some enhancement ideas which I'll post in separate issue

• Tool button:
  • Visible if 'parking restrictions' enabled on maintenance tab
  • Left click = activate/deactivate tool
  • Right click = toggle persistent 'parking restrictions' overlay

Eraser button

I'll create separate issue to describe this, but in summary:

Multi-purpose tool:

• Can delete customisations associated with active tool
  • For example, if lane arrows tool is already active, click eraser then click junction to erase the lane arrow/connection customisations for that lane
• When used on its own, shows additional buttons for despawning/clearing traffic, etc

[krzychu124]

I'll add new milestone with regards to User Interface changes.

Additionally I'm thinking about setting up few projects to group some of issues and easier progress tracking, but I'm not sure its worth time.

[originalfoo]

I imagine the UI updates will be spread across releases / milestones. It might be worth having a "UI" label or project though...

[originalfoo]

Simplification of tool / button names:

• Lights tool
• Junction tool
• Pedestrian tool
• Routing tool
• Speeds tool
• Vehicle tool
• Parking tool
• Eraser tool

Lights tool would then become obvious place to toggle traffic lights. Need to ponder how that would work.

Also, if user goes in to Eraser tool (whilst not in another tool), they could Ctrl+Click the other tool buttons to erase stuff associated with them (with confirm dialog to avoid disasters)?

• Eraser -> Vehicles = reset all vehicle restrictions to defaults
• Eraser -> Lights = reset all traffic lights to defaults
• Eraser -> Routing = reset all lane arrows/connectors to defaults
• etc...