I agree that the current highlight of the lower band doesn't do a good job of denoting that there's more information hidden to the top and bottom of the main data band. As well, I don't think you can even count on the bottom summary band being thick enough to accurately show the total amount of information. You can't even count on a summary band being there at all! As data becomes more dynamic, it becomes more difficult to estimate what's going to happen.
I think a typical vertical scroll bar at the right (or left) of the main data band would work perfectly. I would allow users to use that scroll bar to actually scroll vertically. Allowing vertical scrolling anywhere within the timeline is probably not necessary, although it is a nice feature. - John ************************************************** John Callahan Geospatial Application Developer Delaware Geological Survey, University of Delaware 227 Academy St, Newark DE 19716-7501 Tel: (302) 831-3584 Email: [email protected] http://www.dgs.udel.edu ************************************************** David Huynh wrote: > Jon Crump wrote: > >> On Sat, 21 Mar 2009, David Huynh wrote: >> >> >> >>> Because I'm counting on most timelines having one severely dominant >>> dimension... >>> >>> David >>> >>> >> Love the new dragging functionality! I take your point about timelines in >> general privileging the linear dimension: and this is as it should be. The >> exploration of that linear dimension _is_ the utility of a timeline. >> Having said that, however, It might be helpful to subvert the linear view >> just a little, and a two dimensional summary might be a way to do it as >> David Karger has suggested. >> >> At the very least, I think there ought to be some sort of indication that >> there is more above or below the line. Making your existing indicator, the >> 'scroll' bar on the right, permanently visible wouldn't take up much room >> and would provide the necessary prompt. >> >> Thanks for the further innovations. >> >> >> > I've made the highlight of the lower band reflect the vertical visible > portion of the upper band, and I've made the vertical scroll bar visible > all the time (if scrolling is possible). > > http://simile-widgets.googlecode.com/svn/timeline/trunk/src/webapp/examples/compact-painter/compact-painter.html > > I personally don't think the highlight of the lower band does a good job > of looking like an overview, at least in its current implementation. > Unlike a world map, which immediately looks like an overview unless > you're from another planet, any rectangle in the lower band with a few > pixels shaved here and there doesn't immediately suggest that it > reflects the vertical scrolling state of the upper band. > > Larry also suggested to just use a native scrollbar. Would you prefer that? > > David > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SIMILE Widgets" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/simile-widgets?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
