Here is an interesting experiment for those who do not understand what the problem is with the "Help" item in the toolbox: - start Gimp - resize the toolbox so that all tools are on a single column (approx. 30 x 750 pixels) - try to open a new image, or to do anything useful The problem is that Gtk draws the "right" menu items on top of evetything else. So in this case the help item occupies all the space available and it is not possible to access "Xtns" or even "File". And if your window manager does not put decorations on the toolbox, then you cannot even quit the Gimp without resizing it first. So the users who prefer the thin and tall toolbox will have some problems with the help menu. I just discussed that with a colleague who suggested that the menu bar should not be part of the resizable toolbox because the two features "being able to use the menu" and "being able to resize to toolbox" are simply incompatible with each other (in some cases). There are several solutions to that: 1. Use WM hints to ensure that the toolbox has a minimum width. This is a bad solution (IMHO) because it would prevent some users from using their favorite layout and it is hard to take font sizes into account. 2. Try to take corrective measures in the Gimp when it detects that the menu bar is too narrow (as I described in my previous mail). Unfortunately, in the extreme case of a single tall column, only the "File" menu would be visible. 3. Make it possible to split the toolbox in several independent windows (menu, tools, colors & stuff), or at least make it possible to detach the menu bar. 4. Use some tricks in Gtk to make sure that the full menu bar pops out as soon as the mouse passes over the visible menu area. The menu would be extended out of the toolbox window and would have the minimum size necessary so that all items are visible. I think that solutions 3 or 4 would be the best long-term solutions, but I doubt that we could have them in the next stable release. In the meantime, maybe solution 2 would be the best choice. -Raphael
