Terminology quibble

[jimventola]

In the Shapes menu you can allign a bunch of things along the top, right, etc.

To line things up horizontally, you must choose "vertical center." I chose horizontal center" at first, which of course lines things up vertically.

Is it just me, or are these terms backwards in the menu?

[pherbrick]

Hi Jim,

Finding the right way to phrase these actions succinctly is dificult, and changing the menu text may not be the best solution. Let's compare KoolMoves with the industry standards:

KoolMoves uses Align - Horizontal Center / Align - Vertical Center

Microsoft uses Align - Center / Align - Middle

Open Office uses Alignment - Centered / Alignment - Center

All three are equally ambiguous, the only difference being that MS and OO have illustrative images in their sub menus. KM has room in the Alignment sub menu for images, as illustrated by the images in the Draw and Add Interface Component sub menus.

Bob, I think adding illustrative gifs to the sub menus would enhance the usability of these features and increase user satisfaction. To facilitate your image research I've attached png captures of the alignment images used by MS and OO. Of course, prioritization of this change and go/no go are up to you.

Just my (long winded) two cents.

Peter

[Bob Hartzell]

Thank you.

[necromanthus]

Do not forget about the most important one: Adobe Flash 8

[pherbrick]

Thanks Remus, that makes the comparison complete . Looks like Adobe Flash 8 has a toggle, to set aligning/distributing relative to the stage - that's a nice feature, saves setting up duplicate commands, and I could have used that a few times.

Distributing commands, I don't know. I've never had the need, but they are in MS and OO, as well - I could see them being useful in form creation. Match size and Space, I have no idea what those commands do.

[jimventola]

Just my (long winded) two cents.

Peter

Very interesting. Thanks for the info. I like the looks of your solution.

[ant_Z]

Theyre matching size and space :] if youve got 2 lines, one i short and second one is long, after matching size they both will have size of first selected one.
What about spaces - youve go for example 3 lines - one is near to second, and 3rd is on the other side of screen. after matching spaces they will have all spaces beetween them just like spaces beetwen the two first selected ones :]:]

[necromanthus]

Match size and Space, I have no idea what those commands do.

Useful if you select a group of shapes.

Match size: is a kind of autoscale according to the stage size (can be done on H, V or on both directions.

Space: it means equal distribution on the stage (the same distance between 2 sequential shapes).

I don't use them, because I'm not very interested in "flash artwork".
But probably can be useful for real artists ...

[bobgodwin]

Alignmet & spacing are great for the kind of web sites I build. Great for quickly lining up navigation buttons, photos in a gallery, image & text. 'Bout the only thing I could do faster in Flash MX than in KoolMoves. But I not very good with MX, either.

[pherbrick]

Thanks all for the clarification .