Interface Improvements for PC/Tablet Hybrids like the Surface Pro
Thomas Seaford
Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
I have noticed a few interface quirks when using Logos Desktop on a Surface Pro 7.
- When viewed in a portrait orientation, the toolbar/shortcuts across the top of the interface are cut off. (screenshot attached) It would be helpful to have the ability to scroll the toolbar or to drop it down to access those controls.
- When in detached keyboard mode, activating a text box causes the entire interface to flash. I believe this is due to the program recalculating available screen space when the on screen keyboard is activated. This can be particularly annoying when switching between notes and bibles/books. Each context switch activates either the note itself, the note search bar, or the reference text box on the book/bible, inadvertently resulting in an interface flash and or the on screen keyboard. It could help to just not have the text box activate until it is physically clicked on.
- Using a surface pen to navigate the interface can also cause friction. There are times, usually after the above mentioned interface flash or after changing a workspace layout, that the Logos interface stops responding to pen "clicks" altogether. The pen can still be used elsewhere in Windows. Using the pen to "x" the program does successfully close Logos for instance, so it doesn't appear to be an OS or pen issue. It's almost like there's an invisible layer within Logos preventing it from receiving the pen interaction. Restarting the program resolves the issue.
- Certain interface components are difficult to work with in tablet mode due to being too small or due to the program not knowing how to respond to a pen. Anchors and Tags in notes are both small and the suggested text references and tags in particular are difficult to touch. Tab closure x's are likewise difficult. Scrollbars are also difficult to click and drag due to their narrow size and often result in resizing the window/pane instead of scrolling. This is especially a problem in Notes, since dragging in the wrong place will reorder the notes instead of scroll the window. Switching between "Yours" and "Store" in the library is difficult since tapping one or the other causes the whole library pane to close. Other drop down menus, such as the triple dots throughout, as well as Docs, Guides, and Tools may also have the same problem.
I would suggest improving the usability of the interface for tablet hybrids.
- When viewed in a portrait orientation, the toolbar/shortcuts across the top of the interface are cut off. (screenshot attached) It would be helpful to have the ability to scroll the toolbar or to drop it down to access those controls.
- When in detached keyboard mode, activating a text box causes the entire interface to flash. I believe this is due to the program recalculating available screen space when the on screen keyboard is activated. This can be particularly annoying when switching between notes and bibles/books. Each context switch activates either the note itself, the note search bar, or the reference text box on the book/bible, inadvertently resulting in an interface flash and or the on screen keyboard. It could help to just not have the text box activate until it is physically clicked on.
- Using a surface pen to navigate the interface can also cause friction. There are times, usually after the above mentioned interface flash or after changing a workspace layout, that the Logos interface stops responding to pen "clicks" altogether. The pen can still be used elsewhere in Windows. Using the pen to "x" the program does successfully close Logos for instance, so it doesn't appear to be an OS or pen issue. It's almost like there's an invisible layer within Logos preventing it from receiving the pen interaction. Restarting the program resolves the issue.
- Certain interface components are difficult to work with in tablet mode due to being too small or due to the program not knowing how to respond to a pen. Anchors and Tags in notes are both small and the suggested text references and tags in particular are difficult to touch. Tab closure x's are likewise difficult. Scrollbars are also difficult to click and drag due to their narrow size and often result in resizing the window/pane instead of scrolling. This is especially a problem in Notes, since dragging in the wrong place will reorder the notes instead of scroll the window. Switching between "Yours" and "Store" in the library is difficult since tapping one or the other causes the whole library pane to close. Other drop down menus, such as the triple dots throughout, as well as Docs, Guides, and Tools may also have the same problem.
I would suggest improving the usability of the interface for tablet hybrids.
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Comments
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I just noticed that the degree to which the toolbar across the top is hidden while in a portrait orientation is not consistent. Attached is another screenshot showing that now the docs, tools, and guides menus are completely hidden, while the search bar takes up a majority of the wasted space.0
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The way the interface works with touch is in desperate need of some love.
I use a Surface Pro 8 and so I want to use touch all the time even when the keyboard isn't folded back or detached. The 3 biggest pain points are:
1) It is impossible to use any of the button/features in the top bar. This means you can't select a layout, or guide or a tool. Touching the icon will open the selector window, but you can't scroll it or touch anything inside it. This is a HUGE pain. Please fix it. (I think this is similar to the OP's 3rd bullet)
2) Several of the panels don't work with touch at all. The home screen, notes, Factbook all fail to work without using the scrollbar which is nearly impossible to use with touch.
3) When clicking into an input to enter a passage, the soft keyboard appears, the app appears to shrink for a second and then the keyboard closes. I always have to remember to manually open the soft keyboard before tapping inside an input or I get frustrated. (I believe this is the OP's 2nd bullet)
If these 3 things got fixed, Logos desktop would be a LOT more usable on a Surface.0
