[Deskbar] shelf width has space only for 3 icons

[diver]

Currently deskbar' shelf have spase only for 3 icons, but have more space which is wasted. If you enable "24 Hour clock" settings 4 icons could take it place in one row.
See screenshot:

[leavengood]

I think this is just the nature of the Deskbar when it is in that position. I assume by logging this bug you think 24 hour mode should be the default setting? I don't think that is a good idea.

Even if it was changed the limitation before the shelf goes multi-line would be 4 instead of 3 icons. Not a great improvement.

[Meanwhile]

ATM, there's room for a top row of: 3 icons -> using AM/PM time with seconds, 4 icons -> using AM/PM time without seconds, 4 icons -> using 24 hour mode with seconds, and: 5 icons -> using 24 hour mode without seconds.

[Meanwhile]

So, in fact it's 5 versus 4 instead of 4 versus 3. Still one icon difference. However, if you imagine the -no doubt- bell curve shaped diagram with its y-axis showing the numbers of icons used in the top row and its x-axis showing the percentage of users using that amount of icons (in the top row), it can very well be more than "not a great improvement" in the amount of users you're pleasing by widening the vertical slice that you can cover as a result of taking one more icon into account.

BTW, maybe the Locale Kit can take much of this '24h. - AM/PM difference' into account, if it doesn't do so already. It may follow -for example- the Windows list of countries that use either one, seen here: ​http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24-hour_notation#Computer_support

For a generic/international English version, I think using 24 hour notation as default is the more user friendly choice.

[pulkomandy]

The locale kit can indeed format time in the proper format for the selected country. Integration of this feature is part of my working plan, but I'm not there yet. Please be patient... or do it yourself :)

[Meanwhile]

Thanks, I'll be patient. Good to read it's already in the works.

• And my diagram description should have the x and y axis reversed or it can't be drawn :D -

[diver]

I don't think that Locale kit can fix it. This is about waste of space seen in the first image, which should be enough to accommodate volume replicant. Thoughts?

[Meanwhile]

Replying to diver:

I don't think that Locale kit can fix it. This is about waste of space seen in the first image, which should be enough to accommodate volume replicant. Thoughts?

Maybe the Deskbar can be adapted to have a narrow AM/PM replicant to the right of the time indication. Of course it would have to have two varieties (AM and PM) and be able to change between them at the appropriate times. That's the best I can think of.

[Meanwhile]

Quick mockup

[leavengood]

Hi diver,

You are a fantastic tester and you know I fix most of your issues, but I kind of think this one should be closed.

While I like your idea Meanwhile I'm not sure if it is worth the trouble and it looks a bit strange.

pulkomandy: is the Locale Kit capable of fixing this yet?

If not maybe we can have the discussion of whether 24 hour should be the default time format, but that still doesn't fix this issue for people who choose to use 12 hour time.

Basically with the current Deskbar design there is a point where the number of tray icons makes it start wrapping. I'm not sure changing things slightly just to eke out one more icon is worth the effort.

[diver]

Well I think that if #4971 is going to be implemented one day, this ticket could be closed as #4971 sorta solves this problem in a different way. Thoughts?

[pulkomandy]

Now that app icons in BeskBar can be made wider, this can be used to get the few extra pixels needed to fit the 4th replicant there. As mentioned, #4971 would make this even better. No need for this separate ticket anymore then.