[TC9b3] Ugly and unnecessary line on classic theme

[MVV]

Which line? Non-tabbed panel looks properly in classic theme, just like in 8.x.

[Dalai]

2MVV
I mean the difference between tabbed and non-tabbed mode which is still confusing when themes are disabled. Or, to put it another way: When themes are enabled, the lines/frames around the panels are always there, but when themes are disabled, it depends on whether there are tabs.

I just want it to be consistent, either remove the lines/frame around the panels (which I think is not going to happen since it would look not good on Aero and stuff) or always show them.

Regards
Dalai

[MVV]

No, there must not be any additional frames except panel border in non-tabbed mode! I don't bother at all how it looks with themes but it looks properly with classic theme. In flat style borders mean nothing but in classic style borders form relief so border between two areas of same depth is odd. So is only a question should we have a border around tab control or not. Also it is strange why this border is cropped at the bottom when status bar is enabled. It would be really better not to have it at all than to have it cropped. And maybe it will look better with some kind of buttonbar instead of tab headers...

BTW it looks weird when themed and status bars are disabled (especially with dark panel background): there is a white line between panel and bottom border.

[Dalai]

OK, I'll illustrate it once more:
No tabs, Aero theme
Tabs, Aero theme
The frame around the panels are always there, although the color and position is slightly different between the two cases, but that doesn't really matter.

No tabs, Classic theme
Tabs, Classic theme
No frame around the panels when there are no tabs. Do you think that makes sense? Why show them with themes, but not without themes? It looks really weird, especially when you have tabs in only one panel.

That's why I opened this thread in the first place, trying to get Ghisler to remove this line/frame, which apparently didn't work out. So, I'm trying to get him to show it instead, just like it was in TC8.

Regards
Dalai

[MVV]

I'm trying to get him to show it instead, just like it was in TC8.

That frame wasn't there in 8.x. 9.0 currently looks almost like 8.x:
* there was raised tab control in 8.x with cropped bottom line - 9.0 now already has it;
* there was no borders w/o tabs in 8.0 - 9.0 does the same, and there is no any need in adding them.

However splitter lines were changed:
* nice 8.x 3D lines have been changed to weird flat ones in 9.0.
* when command line is hidden, 9.0 shows no separator line at all between panels and F-keys while 8.x have separator line there (and it looks odd now).

Also some child window positions have been changed (larger drive buttons, thicker separator), and border around path header in tabless mode was removed.

[Dalai]

* there was no borders w/o tabs in 8.0 - 9.0 does the same, and there is no any need in adding them.

Yes, there were/are. It may not be the frame around the panels but the upper border of the F-buttons, but that doesn't really matter.

* nice 8.x 3D lines have been changed to weird flat ones in 9.0.

True, but since the button bar is the same flat design (as it was in all betas IIRC), it's at least consistent.

* when command line is hidden, 9.0 shows no separator line at all between panels and F-keys while 8.x have separator line there (and it looks odd now).

Exactly that's what I'm talking about! As I already said, it doesn't matter which part exactly is missing (frame around the panels or upper border of the F-buttons). Fact is, it's inconsistent compared to the design with themes, and it looks really weird and worse than it was in TC8.

Regards
Dalai

[Sob]

Judging by current location of this thread, you'll need some really strong arguments if you want to win author's attention. And MVV's "Too flat interface" thread got sacked too, so it's good bye to nice 3D lines, it seems. :(

I'm starting to suspect that the man might not like Classic theme as much as we do... ;)

[MVV]

Exactly that's what I'm talking about! As I already said, it doesn't matter which part exactly is missing (frame around the panels or upper border of the F-buttons). Fact is, it's inconsistent compared to the design with themes, and it looks really weird and worse than it was in TC8.

BTW that separator was here up to 9.0b5 where it was removed.
Perhaps we should add a suggestion to get it back for classic theme when status bar and F-buttons are visible but command line is hidden.
And another one for old good 3D separator lines for classic theme. I doubt that anyone with classic theme will like new flat ones more that old classic ones.