[+][SUG][ED] Show file name | Next/Previous Button

[heart66]

I am very pleased with the editor. Big improvement.

Just a tiny request, can you:
1- Make the file name.nxkv show on the screen.
2- next file --- Edit button
3- previous file --- edit button.

Thanks a lot. You work is mostly appreciated.

[WillLem]

Thanks for your request and your kind comments.

Just to confirm I've understood the screenshot:

1) You wish for the filename to be displayed somewhere (status bar / menu bar / window caption would all be OK, I assume?)

2) You wish for there to be buttons to navigate between files, cycling through them and opening them in the Editor one by one as the buttons are clicked. (An "Edit" button would be unnecessary, since the editor is always in "Edit" mode. Perhaps you mean something else here...?)

But yes, a way to quickly move to the next/previous level in the folder for editing would be a great addition. I'll add this one to the list.

[WillLem]

OK, got the filename displayed and added working Previous/Next buttons.

The buttons wrap around when the first and last file in the folder are reached. Note that if you want the buttons to actually mean 'Previous' and 'Next' as per their intended positions in the level pack, the level files should be named in such a way that their order is correct within the folder itself (which is good practice anyway IMHO).

One question is where to put the buttons. The position shown in the screenshot in the OP is already taken by the status bar. I suggest that we put them at the top right, just underneath the _ [] X buttons. This keeps them always accessible without interfering with any other controls:



If desired, we can also label them with 'Previous' and 'Next' rather than << arrows >>. I've tested these for a little while and they're so useful, it's surprising that this hasn't been suggested before.

Another question is: do we want to display the full file path, or just the name of the level file?

[heart66]

Excellent job. Simplicity is best way to perform any task. Just the file name will do.
Do whatever convenient for you.
I am looking forward to use the editor with the modified version ASAP.
Thanks again.

[Simon]

'Previous' and 'Next' rather than << arrows >>

Neither says of what it will be the previous/next. You can print the filename next to these buttons. Or you can caption the buttons with "Level <<" or "Previous Level" or similar.

actually mean 'Previous' and 'Next' as per their intended positions in the level pack, the level files should be named in such a way that their order is correct within the folder itself (which is good practice anyway IMHO).

With this implementation, there are now three meanings of "next level" in the NL ecosystem:

• Next filename by lexicographical order, presumably wrapping back to first in same directory
• Next level by level-ordering file, wrapping back to first in same directory
• Next level by level-ordering file, proceeding to first level in the next directory

The discrepancy between #2 and #3 appears in the NL game application: Left/right arrow keys on preview screen do #2, and the next-level button on the after-play results screen does #3. It's not in the editor. I should file that as a separate issue. This discrepancy has annoyed me a few times and I had to open the level selector that shows the entire level tree.

The concern for the editor: Do you really want a third way #1? Which of #2 and #3 makes more sense?

-- Simon

[WillLem]

You can print the filename next to these buttons. Or you can caption the buttons with "Level <<" or "Previous Level" or similar.

There isn't enough room to print the filename next to the buttons (the status bar uses this space), but we can certainly label the buttons with "Previous Level" and "Next Level", or [<<] Level [>>] where the word 'Level' is a simple label between the two buttons, to save space.

With this implementation, there are now three meanings of "next level" in the NL ecosystem:
...
The concern for the editor: Do you really want a third way #1? Which of #2 and #3 makes more sense?

For the Editor, there will always be scenarios where a level is opened from within a folder of levels which may not yet have been compiled into a pack. In this scenario, the user may still want to navigate between all of the levels in that folder.

Even after ordering them (using the levels.nxmi), the Editor should arguably still order the levels by their appearance in the directory. Reason: Grabbing the order from levels.nxmi - which could at any point be incorrect/incomplete - introduces unnecessary complexity to a feature which, at its core, should simply be 'grab the previous/next available level and load it'. For instance, an author may be working on 11 or more levels with the intention of compiling the best 10 into a pack. They may have already made a levels.nxmi, but still require access to all levels for editing. The feature shouldn't need to care about this sort of nuance.

Perhaps avoiding the words 'Previous' and 'Next' on the controls themselves is necessary, then. We'll prefer [<<] Level [>>] instead. We also have the status bar control hints, which can explicitly say 'open the previous/next available level in the current directory' to clarify the feature's purpose.

If someone wants to make a strong case for supporting levels.nxmi, I'm not ruling out by any means. I just think that we should try and live with directory-only ordering and see if it suffices.

SIDE NOTE: You can navigate between groups/ranks (as well as levels) from the Preview screen, but levels will always wrap around per-group. If this should be different, we can address it in a separate topic.

[heart66]

İf you want to edit by levels.nxmi, you can currently use the player itself(edit level).
By the way, if you use  "Edit Level" the editor shall open and you make the necessary changes. Save .... Exit
When you return to the player the changes will not show. You have to exit the player and run it again.

[WillLem]

Quick update.

We currently have this:



It seems to work nicely. I'd be happy to expand the functionality to support levels.nxmi if we later think it's necessary.

[WillLem]

By the way, if you use  "Edit Level" the editor shall open and you make the necessary changes. Save .... Exit
When you return to the player the changes will not show. You have to exit the player and run it again.

Are you using NeoLemmix CE? When I tested this, 1.1.1 does update the level as expected.

[Simon]

They may have already made a levels.nxmi, but still require access to all levels for editing.

Ah, if the levels.nxmi system will hide unlisted levels instead of implicitly sorting them at the end, you have a counterargument.

levels.nxmi, I'm not ruling out by any means. I just think that we should try and live with directory-only ordering and see if it suffices.

Yes, ship it with the lexicographical order. Get feedback from heart66 and the established authors. Can always change it later. And a nice idea by heart66 in the first place!

-- Simon