pgAdmin III Bugs/Feature Requests

First off, thank you Dave, et. al. for continuing your work and creating
pgAdmin III. Below are some Bugs/Feature requests.

Font name and size settings in help: bug reporting: options dialog are not
saved between uses

HTML help/documentation broswer does not allow setting/saving font name/sizes

Generally speaking, all controls on all dialog boxes are too small, and fonts
are too big, thus rendering it very difficult to guess what the control is
for, or in some cases, making it impossible to use a control at all.

Fonts and sizes used in treeview and listview cannot be set.

File->Options->Query->Font... settings are not saved until pgAdmin is closed

Main toolbar icons are too large

In data grid, double-clicking column header separator should expand column
width to auto-fit column contents, don't you think?

In the treeview, when I have `Tables` highlighted, then right-click on
`Views`, the popup menus should allow me to make a new View, not a table.
Alternately, expand the `New Object` submenu to offer items for all main
objects (aggregates through views).

Most of these issues likely stem from the fact I am working at 1280 x 1024 on
a 19" monitor.

System Info:
AMD Athalon XP 2400
1 GB RAM
SuSE Linux 8.2
KDE 3.1.1
PG 7.3.2

Installed from: pgadmin3-0.9-20030806.1386.rpm

Regards,
Mark

Hi Mark,

Mark A. Taff wrote:

>Font name and size settings in help: bug reporting: options dialog are not
>saved between uses
>
Can't reproduce this, works for me. Is ~/.pgadmin3 write protected or
sth like that?

>HTML help/documentation broswer does not allow setting/saving font name/sizes
>
Do we need that?

>Generally speaking, all controls on all dialog boxes are too small, and fonts
>are too big, thus rendering it very difficult to guess what the control is
>for, or in some cases, making it impossible to use a control at all.
>
Shouldn't be, sounds like you use a version with wxWindows 2.4. There
have been major fixes for correct font sizing in 2.5.

>Fonts and sizes used in treeview and listview cannot be set.
>
By design.

>File->Options->Query->Font... settings are not saved until pgAdmin is closed
>
This is for the sql tool window only, to obtain monospaced display for
Latin languages, and other for non-Latin. It's effective as soon as the
options dialog is closed with OK.

>Main toolbar icons are too large
>
It's a matter of taste; IMHO you're right. Are there other votes about
this? Who contributes other bitmaps?

>In data grid, double-clicking column header separator should expand column
>width to auto-fit column contents, don't you think?
>
This is a problem, because the grid fills on-demand, so we don't know
which size we will need until a row is actually displayed.

>In the treeview, when I have `Tables` highlighted, then right-click on
>`Views`, the popup menus should allow me to make a new View, not a table.
>Alternately, expand the `New Object` submenu to offer items for all main
>objects (aggregates through views).
>
This is a misleading gtk behaviour I also noticed. For win32, a right
click will also mark the underlying node, gtk doesn't. I'll change this.

>Most of these issues likely stem from the fact I am working at 1280 x 1024 on
>a 19" monitor.
>
I don't think so, we all prefer big desktops.

>System Info:
>AMD Athalon XP 2400
>1 GB RAM
>SuSE Linux 8.2
>KDE 3.1.1
>PG 7.3.2
>
>Installed from: pgadmin3-0.9-20030806.1386.rpm
>
>
>Regards,
>Mark
>
>---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
>TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ?
>
> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faqs/FAQ.html
>
>
>

It's rumoured that Mark A. Taff once said:
> First off, thank you Dave, et. al. for continuing your work and

You're welcome.

> Font name and size settings in help: bug reporting: options dialog are
> not saved between uses

I'll have to check that.

> HTML help/documentation broswer does not allow setting/saving font
> name/sizes

The browser is not written by us unfortunately, but by the wxWindows
people. I don't think we can easily change it's settings.

> Generally speaking, all controls on all dialog boxes are too small, and
> fonts are too big, thus rendering it very difficult to guess what the
> control is for, or in some cases, making it impossible to use a
> control at all.

That sound's like the metrics on your system are a little odd. The
controls are generally sized to take the text from any of the languages we
support (in theory). I assume you're using English, which should fit fine.
Any chance of a screen shot?
> Fonts and sizes used in treeview and listview cannot be set.

Again, I'll have to check when I have the source to hand (I'm on my
daughter's PC right now).
> File->Options->Query->Font... settings are not saved until pgAdmin is
> closed

No, most settings are not saved until program close. I intend to tidy that
up.
> Main toolbar icons are too large

They should be the standard size for your window manager - can you get a
screen shot please.
> In data grid, double-clicking column header separator should expand
> column width to auto-fit column contents, don't you think?

Yes, eventually it should. I would also like sorting by clicking on the
column headers in some cases.
> In the treeview, when I have `Tables` highlighted, then right-click on
> `Views`, the popup menus should allow me to make a new View, not a
> table. Alternately, expand the `New Object` submenu to offer items
> for all main objects (aggregates through views).

That is the intended behaviour. You click a view (left or right) and
that's what it tries to create.
> Most of these issues likely stem from the fact I am working at 1280 x
> 1024 on a 19" monitor.

I run 1600 x 1280 on a 21" monitor!

Regards, Dave

On Friday 08 August 2003 12:01, you wrote:
> It's rumoured that Mark A. Taff once said:
> > First off, thank you Dave, et. al. for continuing your work and
>
> You're welcome.
>
> > Font name and size settings in help: bug reporting: options dialog are
> > not saved between uses
>
> I'll have to check that.
>
> > HTML help/documentation broswer does not allow setting/saving font
> > name/sizes
>
> The browser is not written by us unfortunately, but by the wxWindows
> people. I don't think we can easily change it's settings.

Could we perhaps then allow a custom doc browser? Konqi can do a fine job, if
I could tell it to open all docs with Konqi instead of the wxWindows browser.

>
> > Generally speaking, all controls on all dialog boxes are too small, and
> > fonts are too big, thus rendering it very difficult to guess what the
> > control is for, or in some cases, making it impossible to use a
> > control at all.
>
> That sound's like the metrics on your system are a little odd. The
> controls are generally sized to take the text from any of the languages we
> support (in theory). I assume you're using English, which should fit fine.
> Any chance of a screen shot?

Certainly. However, I don't have web-publishing capabilities right now, so I
will send them directly to anyone who wants them (yours are on the way,
Dave).

>
> > Fonts and sizes used in treeview and listview cannot be set.
>
> Again, I'll have to check when I have the source to hand (I'm on my
> daughter's PC right now).
>
> > File->Options->Query->Font... settings are not saved until pgAdmin is
> > closed
>
> No, most settings are not saved until program close. I intend to tidy that
> up.

Cool. Thanks.

>
> > Main toolbar icons are too large
>
> They should be the standard size for your window manager - can you get a
> screen shot please.
>
> > In data grid, double-clicking column header separator should expand
> > column width to auto-fit column contents, don't you think?
>
> Yes, eventually it should. I would also like sorting by clicking on the
> column headers in some cases.
>
> > In the treeview, when I have `Tables` highlighted, then right-click on
> > `Views`, the popup menus should allow me to make a new View, not a
> > table. Alternately, expand the `New Object` submenu to offer items
> > for all main objects (aggregates through views).
>
> That is the intended behaviour. You click a view (left or right) and
> that's what it tries to create.

Yes, I agree, but that's my point, it _doesn't_. :o I first need to highlight
the item and then right click to bring up the popup menu, when simply
right-clicking (regardless of whether it was highlighted or not) it out to
do, yes?

>
> > Most of these issues likely stem from the fact I am working at 1280 x
> > 1024 on a 19" monitor.
>
> I run 1600 x 1280 on a 21" monitor!

Hmmm....Am I being a wimp? Maybe I should increase my resolution....:)

FYI, I am using wxGTK(Windows) version 2.4. I'll have to compile my own if I
want 2.5.

Regards,
Mark
>
> Regards, Dave
>
>
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 9: the planner will ignore your desire to choose an index scan if your
> joining column's datatypes do not match

On Friday 08 August 2003 12:01, you wrote:
> Hi Mark,

Hi Andreas,

>
> Mark A. Taff wrote:
> >Font name and size settings in help: bug reporting: options dialog are not
> >saved between uses
>
> Can't reproduce this, works for me. Is ~/.pgadmin3 write protected or
> sth like that?

I can repreduce. All can read it, I (`mark`) can write to it.

>
> >HTML help/documentation broswer does not allow setting/saving font
> > name/sizes
>
> Do we need that?

I think so, IMHO. Either that or allow alternate doc viewers. I paid for
this large monitor and video card so I could have more screen real estate,
and it kind of defeats the purpose to have such huge (relatively) font sizes
used.

>
> >Generally speaking, all controls on all dialog boxes are too small, and
> > fonts are too big, thus rendering it very difficult to guess what the
> > control is for, or in some cases, making it impossible to use a control
> > at all.
>
> Shouldn't be, sounds like you use a version with wxWindows 2.4. There
> have been major fixes for correct font sizing in 2.5.
>
> >Fonts and sizes used in treeview and listview cannot be set.
>
> By design.

Why? Smaller fonts work better for me, and allow me to make the most of my
screen real estate.

>
> >File->Options->Query->Font... settings are not saved until pgAdmin is
> > closed
>
> This is for the sql tool window only, to obtain monospaced display for
> Latin languages, and other for non-Latin. It's effective as soon as the
> options dialog is closed with OK.

Doesn't do that for me... :o I've checked again, and it doesn't apply until
after pgAdmin is closed and reopened.

>
> >Main toolbar icons are too large
>
> It's a matter of taste; IMHO you're right. Are there other votes about
> this? Who contributes other bitmaps?

I wouldn't mind, but my time is extremely limited right now. Debugging is
about the most time I can spare.

>
> >In data grid, double-clicking column header separator should expand column
> >width to auto-fit column contents, don't you think?
>
> This is a problem, because the grid fills on-demand, so we don't know
> which size we will need until a row is actually displayed.

MS Access 2000 handles this by autofitting to the width of widest *currently
viewable* column data. Whether this is "The Right Way" or not is left as an
excercise for the reader.

>
> >In the treeview, when I have `Tables` highlighted, then right-click on
> >`Views`, the popup menus should allow me to make a new View, not a table.
> >Alternately, expand the `New Object` submenu to offer items for all main
> >objects (aggregates through views).
>
> This is a misleading gtk behaviour I also noticed. For win32, a right
> click will also mark the underlying node, gtk doesn't. I'll change this.

Awesome! You rock.

>
> >Most of these issues likely stem from the fact I am working at 1280 x 1024
> > on a 19" monitor.
>
> I don't think so, we all prefer big desktops.
>
> >System Info:
> >AMD Athalon XP 2400
> >1 GB RAM
> >SuSE Linux 8.2
> >KDE 3.1.1
> >PG 7.3.2
> >
> >Installed from: pgadmin3-0.9-20030806.1386.rpm

FYI, also using wxGTK(Windows) 2.4

Regards,
Mark

> >
> >
> >Regards,
> >Mark
> >
> >---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> >TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ?
> >
> > http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faqs/FAQ.html
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 1: subscribe and unsubscribe commands go to majordomo(at)postgresql(dot)org

It's rumoured that Mark A. Taff once said:

> Could we perhaps then allow a custom doc browser? Konqi can do a fine
> job, if I could tell it to open all docs with Konqi instead of the
> wxWindows browser.

I'll need convincing on that. What real benefit would you get other than
the font size in the dialogue?
>> That is the intended behaviour. You click a view (left or right) and
>> that's what it tries to create.
>
> Yes, I agree, but that's my point, it _doesn't_. :o I first need to
> highlight the item and then right click to bring up the popup menu,
> when simply right-clicking (regardless of whether it was highlighted
> or not) it out to do, yes?

Ahh, I see. Sorry, I misunderstood what you said.

>> > Most of these issues likely stem from the fact I am working at 1280
>> > x 1024 on a 19" monitor.
>>
>> I run 1600 x 1280 on a 21" monitor!
>
> Hmmm....Am I being a wimp? Maybe I should increase my resolution....:)

Well, 1280x1024 is a bit low. I used to run that on my XT ;-)

> FYI, I am using wxGTK(Windows) version 2.4. I'll have to compile my
> own if I want 2.5.

Ahh, there's 90% of your problems then. wx2.5 has vastly improved sizing
code in it. I would seriously consider taking a look - you will find our
patched snapshot of wxWindows on our ftp servers. Installation
instructions are in unix_compilation.html in the pgAdmin docs.
Regards, Dave.

On Saturday 09 August 2003 01:59, Dave Page wrote:

<snip>

> >>
> >> I run 1600 x 1280 on a 21" monitor!
> >
> > Hmmm....Am I being a wimp? Maybe I should increase my resolution....:)
>
> Well, 1280x1024 is a bit low. I used to run that on my XT ;-)
>
> > FYI, I am using wxGTK(Windows) version 2.4. I'll have to compile my
> > own if I want 2.5.
>
> Ahh, there's 90% of your problems then. wx2.5 has vastly improved sizing
> code in it. I would seriously consider taking a look - you will find our
> patched snapshot of wxWindows on our ftp servers. Installation
> instructions are in unix_compilation.html in the pgAdmin docs.
> Regards, Dave.

I changed my resolution to 1600 x 1200, reduced my fonts globally to 8pt,
installed wxGTK 2.5, and the text/controls/forms are still sized such that
they are clipped, rendering the controls/forms difficult (in some cases,
nearly impossible) to use. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

Regards,
Mark

>
>
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 7: don't forget to increase your free space map settings

Mark A. Taff wrote:

>On Saturday 09 August 2003 01:59, Dave Page wrote:
>
><snip>
>
>
>
>>>>I run 1600 x 1280 on a 21" monitor!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Hmmm....Am I being a wimp? Maybe I should increase my resolution....:)
>>>
>>>
>>Well, 1280x1024 is a bit low. I used to run that on my XT ;-)
>>
>>
>>
>>>FYI, I am using wxGTK(Windows) version 2.4. I'll have to compile my
>>>own if I want 2.5.
>>>
>>>
>>Ahh, there's 90% of your problems then. wx2.5 has vastly improved sizing
>>code in it. I would seriously consider taking a look - you will find our
>>patched snapshot of wxWindows on our ftp servers. Installation
>>instructions are in unix_compilation.html in the pgAdmin docs.
>>Regards, Dave.
>>
>>
>
>I changed my resolution to 1600 x 1200, reduced my fonts globally to 8pt,
>installed wxGTK 2.5, and the text/controls/forms are still sized such that
>they are clipped, rendering the controls/forms difficult (in some cases,
>nearly impossible) to use. Any other suggestions? Thanks.
>
Mark,

please double- and triplecheck if you're really compiling and linking
against wxGTK 2.5. This bad metrics behaviour has only been observed
with 2.4, but never with 2.5. If you look at pgAdmin Makefile, LIBS will
reference the wx library.
BTW, I'm running 1152*864.

Regards,
Andreas

On Thursday 14 August 2003 01:28, Andreas Pflug wrote:
All,
I have finally been able to compile wxGTK w/o errors (I had to install some
more devel rpm's and become intimate with pkg-config). I also compiled
pgAdmin3 from cvs source just now. Per Andreas' suggestion, I am indeed
linking against wxGTK 2.5. However, I am still having the same display
issues, to wit:

Label fonts are too large, being cut off by other controls
Some controls likewise are cut off by the window edges

I also noticed a problem with CSS that may be relevent. Konquerer applies CSS
properly, displaying the documentation in traditionall Postgres blue, etc.
However the builtin help browser does not seem to apply the CSS. IMHO this is
the cause for the gigantic fonts in the help browser.

Could a CSS/XML issue be the root of my problem? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Mark

> Mark A. Taff wrote:
> >On Saturday 09 August 2003 01:59, Dave Page wrote:
> >
> ><snip>
> >
> >>>>I run 1600 x 1280 on a 21" monitor!
> >>>
> >>>Hmmm....Am I being a wimp? Maybe I should increase my resolution....:)
> >>
> >>Well, 1280x1024 is a bit low. I used to run that on my XT ;-)
> >>
> >>>FYI, I am using wxGTK(Windows) version 2.4. I'll have to compile my
> >>>own if I want 2.5.
> >>
> >>Ahh, there's 90% of your problems then. wx2.5 has vastly improved sizing
> >>code in it. I would seriously consider taking a look - you will find our
> >>patched snapshot of wxWindows on our ftp servers. Installation
> >>instructions are in unix_compilation.html in the pgAdmin docs.
> >>Regards, Dave.
> >
> >I changed my resolution to 1600 x 1200, reduced my fonts globally to 8pt,
> >installed wxGTK 2.5, and the text/controls/forms are still sized such that
> >they are clipped, rendering the controls/forms difficult (in some cases,
> >nearly impossible) to use. Any other suggestions? Thanks.
>
> Mark,
>
> please double- and triplecheck if you're really compiling and linking
> against wxGTK 2.5. This bad metrics behaviour has only been observed
> with 2.4, but never with 2.5. If you look at pgAdmin Makefile, LIBS will
> reference the wx library.
> BTW, I'm running 1152*864.
>
> Regards,
> Andreas

Mark A. Taff wrote:

>On Thursday 14 August 2003 01:28, Andreas Pflug wrote:
>All,
> I have finally been able to compile wxGTK w/o errors (I had to install some
>more devel rpm's and become intimate with pkg-config). I also compiled
>pgAdmin3 from cvs source just now. Per Andreas' suggestion, I am indeed
>linking against wxGTK 2.5. However, I am still having the same display
>issues, to wit:
>
>Label fonts are too large, being cut off by other controls
>Some controls likewise are cut off by the window edges
>
There's obviously a bad default font configured on your system. We had a
thread about how to fix this, unfortunately we didn't put this into the
FAQ immediately.

>
>I also noticed a problem with CSS that may be relevent. Konquerer applies CSS
>properly, displaying the documentation in traditionall Postgres blue, etc.
>However the builtin help browser does not seem to apply the CSS. IMHO this is
>the cause for the gigantic fonts in the help browser.
>
>Could a CSS/XML issue be the root of my problem? Any ideas?
>
The help browser doesn't support CSS, but that's not the reason for the
bad display. We implicitely use the system's font.

Regards,
Andreas