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I am liking 8 but hating the toolbox especially the big green move cursor so, I changed it. And reverted the text link cursors. And stole the picture content from the help menu. Just goes to show, the simplest of things sure makes a difference – listen up Quark!!! (Click the image to see larger)

 Me I am not fond on the fact thatwe cannot edit this tollbox... I liked having the Chain tool ALWAYS available.

 In Windows and Mac, if you hold down shift and control, then click and drag to the tool you want on the tool bar, it will stay persistent (adding another element to the toolbar).

 

 

 

In QXP7.31 they're known as sticky tools - any tool with the key clicked pressed before clicking will remain on that tool. Very useful if you have 100s of text boxes to link. In QXP8 - they're all sticky but, if you hold down the CTRL key on a fly out button it becomes part of the toolbox. (Also in QXP7).

Hi, Ace,

actually you can adjust the toolbar.

Like in older versions of QuarkXPress (4, 5, 6, 7) click any tool in a flyout (like the link tool) with the CTRL key pressed (the same way you also get it back into a flyout).

Enjoy!
Matthias

Thanks Matthias - I think I covered that one!!! Enjoy! ;-)

Dave,

true. Apologies. It's late. Getting old. ;-) Also I hate this Safari issue putting hundreds of characters in one line. :-(

Thanks
Matthias

Hi Matthias, Yes it is late and I am busily designing a souvenir in QXP 8 and actually enjoying it. I have to say that I am liking what new changes I have found. Good work - you must be knackered answering all these posts - go on holiday is my advice! :-) dave

Hi, Dave,

not yet, still lots to do. September.

davewalsh:

...designing a souvenir in QXP 8 and actually enjoying it. I have to say that I am liking what new changes I have found. Good work

Thanks, will pass it on to the team. So what do you like BEST then?

Good night
Matthias

P.S.: And I save my post of how to change the color scheme for later then.

There are many changes I like, the A sizes at document start up which is great relief as I also design large format, alt and shift for duplication dragging, the interface in general, baseline grids is a HUGE improvement and loving the thumbnail size increases for navigation.

Matthias Guenther (Quark):

And I save my post of how to change the color scheme for later then

No, no! All tips are appreciated :-) unless of course you're talking about the pasteboard colouring? Cheers, dave

davewalsh:

I am liking 8 but hating the toolbox especially the big green move cursor so, I changed it. And reverted the text link cursors. Just goes to show, the simplest of things sure makes a difference – listen up Quark!!! (Click the image to see larger)

Nice. Do you have the icns to share? I did a similar thing with the Convert Point tool. I'll post my updated tool shortly. Actually, I find a few of the tools a bit odd. The Picture Content tool looks like a postage stamp to me and the Freehand Drawing tool looks like a tampon (of all things!).

Hi, Dave,

question about your icons, did you replace the icons in the resources inside QuarkXPress and have a different tool bar now? Never tried it myself, so I am curious whether that works. Or did you just assemble the screenshot in Photoshop?

Actually, icon design (like any design) is probably a perfect discussion topic with lots of emotions. We commissioned the design to a famous Brazilian icon design studio and overall I am very happy with the new look. Like with all changes - especially UI changes - it is always risky, as we all tend to get used to things. When I have to work with QuarkXPress 7, that now feels strange to me. Or when I move around furnitures in my flat, it first looks strange.

So besides emotional feedback (which we want to hear), we are also interested in feedback about usability. The Pfeiffer report points out huge producivity gains in 8 for common tasks. As everybody's common tasks are different though, where do you (all) feel we could still improve the usability?

davewalsh:

No, no! All tips are appreciated :-) unless of course you're talking about the pasteboard colouring?

I meant the background color of the palettes, stuff like that. Kind of an Easter Egg R&D implemented. Probably nothing you are interested in, right? 

Best
Matthias

LTD:

The Picture Content tool looks like a postage stamp to me

Developer change of mind? - if you go to the help menu under QXP select Tools you will see different icons for the Text and Picture tool.

Matthias Guenther (Quark):

I meant the background color of the palettes, stuff like that.

Hi Matthias, Oh I am always interested in making my UI more easy to work with so please, post that hint :-)

Matthias Guenther (Quark):

did you replace the icons in the resources inside QuarkXPress and have a different tool bar now

Yes I did - I created the icons in PS and then replaced the .icns files - obviously keeping the originals in case of anything distastrous. My next tool will probably be the 'postage stamp' picture content tool as I noticed there are different representations under the help menu > tools section. I like that one. Must of been on the designer's sketch pad though and not got the seal of approval. Overall though, I am not afraid of change and welcome these after working with black and white from the early days of 3.32 - even InDesign is still working as B&W! Cheers, dave

Hi, Dave,

maybe along with the tip I should start a little competition, who creates the most exciting or who the most disruptive alternative design?

Thanks
Matthias