More visually distinct icons for file filter buttons
Note: This is unrelated to the existing requests for different icon for file statuses.
The filter buttons in the file list which allow a user to determine whether or not the list should include unchanged files, non-version controlled, ignored files, etc. are currently very similar, visually, and it's hard to tell at a glance what each of them does.
These are the icons I refer to:
In fact, it's easier to try and memorize the position of the buttons, rather than what icon matches which button. The worst offender by far is the "assume unchanged" icon which has a tiny icon highlighted pink and is only three pixels different from another icon!
At present these icons display a file icon with a small glyph to differentiate them. I think it would be better if the glyphs were much larger and covered the file, rather than a small item in the corner.
I have created a mockup using aha-soft's small application icons (available under a creative commons attribution share-alike license) altered slightly. The design goals for this was to have icons distinct by shape and colour.
I'd be happy to discuss alternative solutions and also happy to share icon files if you'd just like to use these - though you would need an attribution notice somewhere in the software.
Customer support service by UserEcho
> This is unrelated to the existing requests for different icon for file statuses.
I disagree, because we use the exact same symbols for the toolbar as well as for the file (status-based) icons.
Ah my apologies then, Thomas - is there some way that we can trivially merge this issue with that one?
My suggestion for the file icons remains - larger glyphs centred on the files rather than tiny glyphs at the corners.
Though with a larger set of icons needed the desire to have distinct colour per icon may need to be reconsidered
With reference to https://smartgit.userecho.com/communities/1/topics/528-more-distinct-colored-file-statuses, I understand not wanting to frustrate users with changes, but I really think that, at the very least, the skip-worktree icon should change to be more visually distinct from the unchanged file icon. These icons look nearly identical, especially on some monitors or in certain lighting conditions. Something like a small glyph containing a symbol like ⏩ would be suitable, I think.
Personally, I think the small glyphs on the file icons should be clearer in general - I'd go with a larger 8x8 glyph overlaying the file icon rather than a coloured box containing 12 pixels or whatever it is at present