Wow! So many things happens while I was out of forum.
It's funny to see that raised long time ago issue (simplify and reorganize UI) now come to life. I'm happy on that.
Unfortunately I'm heavy loaded and so can't pay as much attention as would like. But something was almost implemented in my home build... And some ideas was documented.
a) Menu could have basic and advanced mode. In advanced mode it should look as before. In basic mode most rare used items are hidden and menu reorganized.
Difficulty was reorganize on fly. But now in reorganized version it is close to that i would like to see.
So this will affect now mostly "Overrides" section changes proposed below.
b) Most used by me is overrides section. Even on my advanced S95.
And it is uncomfortable that each parameter have at least two control item ( on-off, multiplier, value).
What is already implemented in my home build (changes are small in code):
- In advanced mode most items in overrides menu become hidden and only value fields are visible
- New mode is added: press SET toggle on/off "edit" mode. In this mode jog dial and all arrow are involved. In addition to legalized multiplier (by zoom) system, this allow to quick change value in wide range without any multiplier fields. Left/right arrow in regular mode change value by one as before.
- Press ERASE in edit mode toggle value to special value "Off" and back again to previous value.
Pro:
- overrides menu become short & plain
- more comfortable operation (because jog dial, etc)
- you free to operate as before ("advanced mode")
Con:
- unobvious "edit" mode. Solution: display brief help on first start. This also will notify about zoom leverer
- No ERASE button on some cameras. Solution: Use Half-press as secondary shortcut.
c) Simple Profiles.
Add several configuration profiles. Each profile is just independent pack of settings (cfg file). Names and number of profiles are configured in simple text files. Switch between profiles made using simple combo menu item.
This will allow to separate camera between peoples (me, wife). And organize some kind of quick scene mode.
Easy to implement. Important background to the next idea (because i really share my camera with my family and would like to simplify their usage + isolate from my environment)
d) Advanced Profiles
Profile could have text configuration file. If such file exist - it will replace regular chdk menu. Some kind of advanced user menu.
Why this for?
- I could make my own menu items and assign script to it.
So I could have my own shortcuts to own scene (and reconfigure in one click whole chdk). Example: twilight, night, night sport, day backlight, etc.
With this feature I could configure my camera to provide whole chdk power even to my wife
- One click access to different configurations of script (and human friendly name): time-lapse sunset, night time-lapse, etc
This feature will require infrastructure to temporary run script (without influence on current script), which I propose some time ago. It was rejected.
Temporary script runing feature was implemented as intermediary feature to reach this "advanced profiles" feature.