Make "dynamic buttons" feature disabled by default

[kempelen]

In my opinion this feature make JOSM unusable, and I asked some people: none of them use this feature. I don't know any software that hides clickable elements and shows only when mouse is "near enough".

Computer users do not work this way. If my eye learns - in 1-2 days - that a property-add button is first button at bottom of the list of properties, I can very quickly identify the direction to move the mouse to and then hit "Add". And those buttons are very often used, hundred times in a mapping session, so they are always needed and must be a good target for mouse clicks.

Currently, you must target the properties dialog first, so you end up in that dialog SOMEWHERE. Then button appears, and need to go for another target, move the mouse again, and arrive at the desired place. This requires several extra steps in "thinking".

This is a very serious usability problem, and worst of all, this is enabled by default. I'm afraid this will make many beginners very annoyed in a few minutes and they stop OSM immediately.

Please, remove this feature, unless you can back this up with serious usability research and examples in other software.

Thank you.

[stoecker]

Please, remove this feature, unless you can back this up with serious usability research and examples in other software.

We are happy to accept donations for the required usability research.

[skyper]

I like this feature !

You can always en/disable this feature for each toggle dialog individually with the "eye" button in each toggle dialog's panel or disable it for all through preferences.

[kempelen]

Yes, thank you, I know. But beginners won't find that option easily, and it will make the GUI pretty difficult for them where no buttons are available for pressing. If not completely removing, please make this feature OFF by default, and work like any other software: items don't require mouse proximity for appearing. For beginners shake.

-thank you- keep up the good work, JOSM is the best editor, I even made a portal for promoting it. ;-) (osmtippek.hu)

[malenki]

Lion, you can disable dynamic buttons in settings.
Though I would not prefer the dynamic behaviour as the standard one for the reasons you pointed out.

Additionally I find it annoying when there is e.g. a layer I want to unselect at the bottom of the stuffed layers window. When I go there to unselect, the buttons pop up and hide the layer entry which was shown before so I have to scroll down to see that layer again...

[Don-vip]

In 6727/josm:

fix #7633 - Make dynamic buttons features disabled by default

[Don-vip]

Forgot to deal with dialog.dynamic.buttons preference.

[Don-vip]

In 6752/josm:

fix #7633, see #9264 - fix dynamic side buttons broken in r6727 + many small enhancements