"all windows" button

Registered by qweru

Hi.
This is an idea of a neutral button which is on the start or the end of the applet which can be used for the "all
 windows" actions of dockbarx like: "minimize/maximize all windows" "compiz scale all" "opacify all (peek ;)" on hover or select next window when scroll (not only of one group).

Blueprint information

Status:
Not started
Approver:
None
Priority:
Low
Drafter:
None
Direction:
Needs approval
Assignee:
None
Definition:
Discussion
Series goal:
None
Implementation:
Not started
Milestone target:
None

Related branches

Sprints

Whiteboard

Matias: Interesting idea. Could be quite a useful feature. I'll let it grow a while until I know how to implement it in a good way. Please share any ideas on how this. Should it have a popup window, what should it contain? What options should be configurable from preference dialog? And so on. /Matias

qweru: OK my first idea was this:
preference:

-hover: opacify all,

-left/right/middle-click: compiz scale/shift all, close all windows, show desktop (first click hides all windows second unhide), show desktop compiz?

-scroll: select next/previous window, select next/previous group, select next/previous viewpoint (with open windows?)

-drag n drop: drop a launcher on the button which first executes the application (if its not running) and then asks for the class name and adds a new launcher in dockbar

-popup window: show all open windows, show all open windows in current viewpoint
if "only show windows in current workspace" is enabled the omni button popup shows still all open windows on every workspace

look:
perhaps like this (the button after home folder): http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=110993

other ideas:
-drag n drop: drop a launcher on the button which first executes the application (if its not running) and then asks for the class name and adds a new launcher in dockbar

Lev: It should be themable, preferably separate from the other buttons. Something like <if type="omni_button"></if>

sfantu: How about this would be an applet? that way it can be placed wherever you want it on the pannel

Lev: An applet that was part of DockbarX, but still able to be move independantly would be an interesting, if tricky solution.

I think the general idea should be to mimic most features of Windows 7's show-desktop button, but make it better. Qweru's initial ideas listed above add a great deal of useful functionality not present in Windows 7.
Perhaps a good course of action would be to implement the button in a basic form, and ask for feedback.

qweru: I saw this awesome video on vimeo http://vimeo.com/11534414 and i think the features of the the zeitgeist applet would be perfect for the omni button. Even the implementation of the common most and recent used files would be good but to open a recent file with an application that didn't used it before would be nice.

(?)

Work Items

This blueprint contains Public information 
Everyone can see this information.