Fullscreen - default tool and related ideas

[rakunavi]

[topic split by admin from original discussion area: viewtopic.php?t=47670 ]

Hello Daniel, thank you for your comment.

Even in full-screen mode, you can use the "Select Text tool" if Presentation mode is disabled. However, even if you select the "Select Text tool" as the default tool in the Preferences dialog, it will not be selected by default in full-screen mode.

If, like Daniel, many users find the "Select Text tool" more useful than the "Hand tool", it might be more appreciated by them if the default tool setting in the Preferences dialog were reflected even in full-screen mode.

Best regards,
rakunavi

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, rakunavi

Im not so sure if that would be the case for use in fullscreen mode. The reason select text is more beneficial in normal use is becuase I am usually zoomed in, and so I can easily grab the text I am looking at, while the middle click/drag allows me to "pan" through the page.

In fullscreen mode, it is less common that you are zoomed in and panning around to begin with. Instead, the "hand" tool, in presentation mode, allows for "left/right click" to operate as "next/previous page", as is fairly common for such modes.
In that area, I think the current handling is about as should be expected. I will bring it up for discussion, but I cannot say I expect a change here.

Kind regards,

[rakunavi]

Hello Daniel, thank you for contacting developers.

To reiterate, I am discussing the scenario when Presentation Mode is disabled. I am not referring to the default setting where Presentation Mode is enabled. When Presentation Mode is disabled, left/right clicks do not function as switches to the previous/next page. Users who disable Presentation Mode likely also enable the "Keep current page layout and zoom when switching to/from Full Screen mode" option.

• figure.png

Users who configure settings this way do so for a wide variety of reasons, such as:

• They find the constantly visible title bar and toolbar distracting and want them removed from the screen.
• They want to maximize the screen's drawing area by even a single pixel.
• They want to prevent unintended touch interactions from causing unintended actions on UI elements like scroll bars.

For users who disable Presentation Mode and use Full Screen Mode for these reasons, I believe Daniel's assumptions are entirely irrelevant. They likely expect seamless operation whether in Normal Mode or Full Screen Mode. It's simply inconceivable that a user who finds no value whatsoever in the Hand tool in Normal Mode and deeply loves the Select Text tool would suddenly change their mind and start loving the Hand tool the moment they switch to Full Screen Mode.

In fullscreen mode, it is less common that you are zoomed in and panning around to begin with.

If differences in user behavior exist between normal and full-screen modes, it's because current PDF-XChange Editor imposes limitations that force this distinction. It's more accurate to understand that users aren't choosing these behaviors out of preference, but rather out of necessity. Even among PDF applications, tools like Drawboard PDF handle normal mode and full-screen mode seamlessly without distinction. Apps introduced with Windows 8 in the Metro style apps (now UWP apps) initially used full-screen mode as the default. Smartphone applications also default to full-screen mode. Given this reality where full-screen mode is widely accepted, the moment you perceive full-screen mode as some special mode, you're likely missing out on potential customers.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message.

Best regards,
rakunavi

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, rakunavi

I split this section of our cnoversation out from the original topic as it was somewhat migrating away from the main topic of that thread.

In this scenario, I cannot deny that you are correct, in choosing to make fullscreen as a presentation mode, not intended for anything more, we have actively closed off a number of avenues. I am sorry that this is the current outcome, but it is where things stand at the moment. I cannot promise anything will come of it, given the history of this feature, but I will raise these points with the Dev team for consideration, when they can find time.

As you well know by now, Development time does come at a premium these days, so it may be quite a while before anything here is touched on.

Kind regards,

[rakunavi]

Hello Daniel, thank you for splitting the topic.

Since we're at it, I'll list two topics regarding constraints in full-screen mode for those who may later find this topic through search.

• RT#5810: FR: fullscreen per monitor
  viewtopic.php?p=155340#p155340
• RT#7278: Bug: Small display artefact when using cross doc links
  viewtopic.php?t=45197

The issue mentioned in the former RT#5810—where elements of windows on the display not in full-screen mode become non-functional—has been a persistent problem for me since I started using PDF-XChange Editor.

I fully understand that development resources are limited. I also fully understand that fundamentally reworking full-screen mode would require an enormous amount of work. If the same level of effort is required, I respect the CEO's decision to allocate development resources to browser-based application development, as it was judged to be more effective for attracting casual users.

However, I mentioned this because I find it hard to imagine that simply adhering to the default tool setting—choosing either the "Hand tool" or the "Select Text tool" first when Presentation mode is off—would require significant code changes or cause widespread impact.

To reiterate, I personally continue to prefer using the Hand tool to avoid the issue reported in the previous topic. All my posts are intended for those who, like Daniel, prefer Select Text Tool.

Best regards,
rakunavi

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, rakunavi

Well, In regards to both inheriting the active tool, or something similar for fullscreen mode, AND in general offering a more, shall e say "full featured" fullscreen option, I have raised these for discussion. As always, I cannot make any promises, but I will let you know if anything good comes of it.

Kind regards,