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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: Include alphanumerical icons
From:       Henrique Pinto <stampede () uai ! com ! br>
Date:       2003-11-20 18:30:08
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On Thursday 20 November 2003 15:22, Sebastien Laout wrote:
> There is a good way to do this (IMHO).
>
> First, take a point of the actual solution :
>
> * All apps that want an icon call a class method and don't get icons
> directly by loading file with hardcoded path !!!
> * With KDE 3.2, icons will can be in SVG format : only one file and
> icons will be GENERATED for different sizes : apps doesn't see this.

The code for supporting SVG icons is present in KDE 3.1. The main reason 
not to use a SVG icon theme as default is that rendering SVG icons is way 
slower than using png.

That's probably why default icons in 3.2 are still PNG (unless I missed 
some update in kdelibs). SVG sources are, of course, included, so unusual 
icon sizes can be generated.

> So, I propose :
>
> * To have a special KIcon::Number category that will GENERATE the icons.
> * Icon themes can go with theire own Number icons, that can be :
>   - PNGs as now (or SVG in KDE 3.2)
>   - Better, provides 16*32 images with only [0,9] numbers (and
>     then image will be centered for [0,9] asked icons
>     or combinated side by side for [10,99] asked icons)
>     (16*32 in the 16x16 directory, 8*16 in the 16x16 directory, etc...)
>   - Can be PROGRAMS (plugins...) as KWin styles are !
>     KIcon will then call the IconNumberFactory program according the
>     current style (provide a KDE default IconNumberFactory if style
>     hasn't Number icons : this factory could take care of current
>     fonts ! )

Is this really worth? People find it very complicated to develop native 
window decorations, I'm sure they won't like having to code icon themes in 
C++.

> * Then, icons can be cached for faster next asks ; and we haven't to
> provide all 100 icons : just 10 or those they are needed...
>
> To summarize, I don't think number icons is a bad idea if they are
> GENERATED (KSVG already generate icons, so why not numbers icons),
> * according font (very simple : no specific icons per theme (as now) is
> needed : default factory is used insteid of recreate the wheel for each
> apps need number icons)
> * or according the icon theme (if this theme provide custom icons)
> * or the both in same time (if themes provides programs that generate
> icons with current font AND icon theme) !

Anyway, the idea of having number icons is not really bad, even though I 
still haven't found a use for them.

-- 
	Henrique Pinto
	stampede@uai.com.br

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