Hi All,
Julien, who created the new Rainbow Stone theme (OFBIZ-6843), privately asked
me (translation from French):
<<Last time you said you like the theme Tomahawk. So I was wondering out of curiosity
what makes you like this theme?>>
Actually the question for me is more why I prefer Tomahawk(and its predecessors) over Flat Grey. I put apart the Bizzness time theme because, in my
opinion, it has still some issues (OFBIZ-2398). I know certain persons prefer it.
I somehow already answered this question at
http://markmail.org/message/hpfgweo4v34glptq
The main point is it's often easier to read text of narrow lengths. For instance that's why (with other reasons) newspapers have multi-columns. And
also why TV prompters show few words by line. For prompters I guess the idea is also not to have journalists/presenters eyes moving (it's coupled with
rolling down text).
At least it's my opinion: it's easier to read a column of options than a line of options. Especially if the number of options is significant. Also
because the words forming the options are not a sentence and we (at least in LTR languages) are used to read sentences from Left to Right. And reading
words w/o relations between them in line confuses your brain. So I don't know you, but it causes me headaches to find menu options in line like in
Flat Grey. When I find it easier in menu options in column like in Tomahawk, where I spot them almost instantly.
This said I think Julien already answered somehow to this point of view.
Because his new theme integrates a mix of features we had so far:
* tabs for 1st web apps (like in the 1st "theme" OFBiz had initially) and
sub-menus
* Drop-down menus for some of the (others) web apps
Thanks for the effort Julien: impressive!
You also asked
<<Do you have tracks that would allow me to take the best of what exists to put it in
my theme?>>
Yes, there are some points we could improve in this new theme:
* Actually having too much options in a vertical menu is almost as confusing
as having menu options in a line. I like how main web apps were
initially separated from others in the Bizzness time theme[1]. This way
still exists in Tomahawk and I miss it in Rainbow Stone. Maybe we could
have all the main web apps in tabs? I think the screens widths now allow it
(OK not in pads or smartphone, but this is more about backend which I
guess is most used on wide screens). Maybe, as you did, keep only few tabs
and have 2 dropdown menus?
* Where are shown the "Last system notes" ?
This said we still miss to have (an option?) the tabs sorted alphabetically (in
each language) ;)
Also you should remove your avatar from the theme images provided ;) Is there a way for users to set their own? Also how can contributors from missing
countries propose their own flag? Ha, when you change to some languages nothing appears (like ES or NL).
There are certainly other trivial things I missed...
As a last note, I finally think choosing a them is more a subjective thing and, like Flat Grey, Rainbow Stone has the great advantage of supporting
RTL, a good mix really!
Sorry for the long post :)
Jacques
[1] Actually in R09.04 the specialpurpose web apps where in the footer.
