proposed spec: File Open/Save/Save_as_Copy only work on .xcf - all other formats must use File Import/Export.[1] Add File/Import and Export to handle alien formats. File/New and File/Import would be very similar: they both create a new image with various attributes. New gets the the attributes from the dialog, Import gets them from the image file. Currently, File/New, OK, file/Close does not produce a nag. (good.) File/Import, File/Close would not nag. File/New currently does not name the image. That gets asked for on save. The same would apply to File/Import: it would not inherit the name. File/Save would default the name to Import name, but using .xcf instead of ext of Import. File/Export would default to the Imported name.ext and type. (example: File/Import foo.gif, File/Save prompts for name, defaults to foo.xcf. File/Export defaults to foo.gif) command line usage would still work with any format. but that only applies to 'loading' the file, not what it's name is. (i think all save/export cases are covered above) The only nag will be when trying to close a touched image that has not been "saved" (which by #1 would always be as .xcf) File/Preference option to turn off the "you will loose info" nag. Possibly some options to tune it, like "Only nag if not saved in any format." (I have a feeling that is more confusing than it is worth, but would be easy enough to implement, and would save my ass when I accidentally close the wrong image window.) I am pretty sure there is a usability law that says an app should always warn before discarding data, so I am pretty sure there should always be the "Save the changes to 'Untitled' before closing?" nag. </proposed spec> I think this would remove the need for all nags except "save unchanged?" It would add steps when using gimp to edit an alien format. current: gimp foo.gif, (or launch gimp, Open foo.gif), edit, Save, Close. proposed: gimp foo.gif, (or launch gimp, Import foo.gif), edit, Export, Hit Save button (filename defaulted to foo.gif)[2], Close, hit Don't_Save in respose to "Save Unchanged...?" Damm... there is still something that I am not sure how to handle: When Exporting, should it nag when you are overwriting an existing file? I think the answer is 'yes' which will add another step. I can see gimp being intelligent about this and doing the obvious thing (don't nag if using the default) but that might be crossing a line into automagic. maybe another Preferences option. One question: should gimps 'normal' behavior make it easy (minimum nags) to edit A) alien formats, or B) gimps native format? I am kinda liking the idea that gimp makes it easy to edit/save gimp images, and alian formats are derivatives, not the primary storage for images. Did I mis anything? Carl K _______________________________________________ Gimp-developer mailing list Gimp-developer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx https://lists.XCF.Berkeley.EDU/mailman/listinfo/gimp-developer
