Powertoys: [Settings V2 UX] Improve logical groupings of the general page

[niels9001]

The current General settings page could use some improved structure for the various settings as discussed in #2676.

Here's a proposal:

Running as .. (Title)

• Always run as administrator..... (Checkbox)
• Run at startup (Checkbox)
• Restart as admin (Button)

Appearance (Title)

• Choose settings color (Radiobutton group)

About PowerToys (Title) (In the side panel)

• Version x.xx.x (clickable link to release notes)
• Download updates automatically (Checkbox)
• Check for updates (Button)

• Various links

@htcfreek Please add your proposal of splitting the update section. I like that idea.

[htcfreek]

@niels9001 Do you know a WYSIWYG-Editor for XAML/WinUi3?

[niels9001]

You could try Blend (it comes with Visual Studio), but most WYSIWYG editors won't give you code that's of high quality imo. Or you can try one of the toolkits for various design tools (e.g. Figma, Sketch or Adobe XD) but that won't give you code obviously.

[htcfreek]

In the following pictures you can see my proposal on the structure of the general settings page.
I did my best to respect the Guidlines for app settings.

Some of the ideas are my own and the other ideas are based on the issues #1482, #889, #964, #2354 and the comment form @niels9001 in this issue.
The idea adding a link to the privacy settings is stolen from the MS Edge settings. 😉

👉 The setting "Check for updates automatically" is not implemented in PT at the moment. But I think we should implement them.
👉 The link to the Github project page is not implemented at the moment. But I think we should implement it.

Settings run as user & system telemetry off

_Mock up image generated with MS Word and screenshots._

Settings run as administrator & system telemetry on

_Mock up image generated with MS Word and screenshots._

[niels9001]

Nice, I like this!

My thoughts:

• We have a ' Learn about Admin mode' button in the latest build-features branch. I'd add that under the Restart as Admin button.
• What are your thoughts around the 'Check for updates automatically' option? By default the app already does this, right? Not sure why we would like to disable this option, it could result in users being stuck on (very) old versions simply because they forgot to check manually?
• I like the addition of adding a link to the GitHub read me. Maybe we can add a oneliner to point out the fact that this tool is open source?

@laviusmotileng-ms What are your thoughts?

[htcfreek]

We have a ' Learn about Admin mode' button in the latest build-features branch. I'd add that under the Restart as Admin button.

Why as button? I think a link would be better and more standardized.
The link could be shown betwen User Informationen and Restart Button. But only if PT is running as user.

What are your thoughts around the 'Check for updates automatically' option? By default the app already does this, right? Not sure why we would like to disable this option, it could result in users being stuck on (very) old versions simply because they forgot to check manually?

For example if PT is installed in companys on clients or servers, where the user had no rights to install software and the software gets updated by SCCM or other tools. (For this scenario normal users shouldn't be able to change the sittings.)
An other scenario would be an user who wants to check only manually every x days.

I like the addition of adding a link to the GitHub read me. Maybe we can add a oneliner to point out the fact that this tool is open source?

Great idea. I like it.
We should add this in the sidebar. We could have this in the "related links" section as a link to https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Source.

[niels9001]

Yep.. that's what I meant with 'button', a 'learn more' HyperlinkButton ;).

Right, I see - you might want to start a new issue for that. Please add the context you just described there as the 'user need'.

I think the oneliner only needs to describe the fact that this project is open source. The button could lead to this repo (with maybe a label like 'Contribute to this project' or something like that :)!

[enricogior]

For example if PT is installed in companys on clients or servers, where the user had no rights to install software and the software gets updated by SCCM or other tools. (For this scenario normal users shouldn't be able to change the sittings.)
An other scenario would be an user who wants to check only manually every x days.

These type of choices need to be reviewed, please consult with @crutkas before making any change.

[htcfreek]

For example if PT is installed in companys on clients or servers, where the user had no rights to install software and the software gets updated by SCCM or other tools. (For this scenario normal users shouldn't be able to change the sittings.)
An other scenario would be an user who wants to check only manually every x days.

These type of choices need to be reviewed, please consult with @crutkas before making any change.

I have mentioned @crutkas in the new issue.

[htcfreek]

I have updated my mock ups to

• be more in line with the official settings app.
• add some missing elements.
• make some small text changes.

👉 Link to window's feedback settings: ms-settings:privacy-feedback
👉 On black theme the red lable must be yellow.

[Update 2020-05-07 22:43] Fixed some text mistakes in the mock up and changed the layout of the open source notice.
[Update 2020-05-07 23:12] Added info about metered connections.

Settings run as user & system telemetry off

Settings run as administrator & system telemetry on

[mdtauk]

Are you applying an order of importance to these layouts. Common and important settings at the top.

There is a SystemErrorText ThemeResource you can use so the text is Red in Light and Yellow in Dark

[htcfreek]

Are you applying an order of importance to these layouts. Common and important settings at the top.

I think is the best order in relation to how important the settings are. But I am free for other ideas.

Please have in mind that these are only image mock ups.

There is a SystemErrorText ThemeResource you can use so the text is Red in Light and Yellow in Dark

Great tipp.

[niels9001]

Is the Telemetry options in the spec? Not seeing it in the latest build-features?

[htcfreek]

Is the Telemetry options in the spec? Not seeing it in the latest build-features?

See #964.

[htcfreek]

@niels9001
I think we should have the "Learn more about admin mode" under the setting "Always run as administrator" and should don't hide them. Then the users can read about it before enabling the setting "Always run as administrator".
What du you think?

[niels9001]

@crutkas @laviusmotileng-ms

Do you agree (for the settings that we have at the moment)?

Should be a minor task with just some XAML changes. I can pick this up.

[crutkas]

Go nuts

[htcfreek]

@niels9001
If we change the color setting into a dropdown/select menu button, we should do this on all settings pages, to have the same look and feel everywhere.
I am not shure about which pages are affect. It could be good to have a seperate issue for that.

[niels9001]

I'd stick to the radiobuttons since it reduces cognitive load (vs. combobox) since there are only 3 options (that we won't extend). And it is inline with how the W10 Settings app does it.

Nice background info:
“Radio Buttons UX Design” by Nick Babich https://link.medium.com/8Ato02qql6

[htcfreek]

I'd stick to the radiobuttons since it reduces cognitive load (vs. combobox) since there are only 3 options (that we won't extend). And it is inline with how the W10 Settings app does it.

The default without choosing "Custom" is only a dropdown field.
See https://winaero.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Windows-10-Choose-Color-Mode-_.png

[htcfreek]

@crutkas Whats your thoughts about the following ideas/changes for the general page?

General settings page > Updates

• We should add a text hint that auto download only works when running in admin mode and not using a metered connection.
• User should not be able to change auto download setting when PT run as user and then setting then must be disabled. (#2354)
• If the setting is disabled we should have the hint "Only available when running as admin." in a seperate line above caption and control (see Guidlines), without brackets and in red/yellow.
• What about having a seperate "Release Notes" link under the "check update" button instead having the number as link? - That would look more like official settings app.
  

General settings page > Side panel

• What about split side pannel in three sections:

About PowerToys
PowerToys is open source software.
Learn more
Github project page

We collect Telemetry data.
But we respect your privacy.
Privacy statement

Request a feature
Report a Bug

[htcfreek]

@crutkas Whats your thoughts about the following ideas/changes for the general page?

General settings page > Updates

• We should add a text hint that auto download only works when running in admin mode and not using a metered connection.
• User should not be able to change auto download setting when PT run as user and then setting then must be disabled. (#2354)
• If the setting is disabled we should have the hint "Only available when running as admin." in a seperate line above caption and control (see Guidlines), without brackets and in red/yellow.
• What about having a seperate "Release Notes" link under the "check update" button instead having the number as link? - That would look more like official settings app.
  

General settings page > Side panel

• What about split side pannel in three sections:

About PowerToys
PowerToys is open source software.
Learn more
Github project page

We collect Telemetry data.
But we respect your privacy.
Privacy statement

Request a feature
Report a Bug

@crutkas Can you please give us a feedback on this. Especially the about section changes. Thank you.

[htcfreek]

@niels9001
What about changing the toggle switch title "Download updates automatically" to "Download updates automatically when running with administrativ permission and I don't use a metered internet connection"? Then the user knows everything what is important and we don't need an explanation text under the toggle switch?

_Moved to the issue that we can discuss it here!_

[crutkas]

@htcfreek, Lets pause and have single items here. We are going to merge the main item here. This issue will be closed out for the the pending PR.

At this point, tweaks should be individual tracked issues so they can be discussed at their own merit.

Single issue, single topic, single PR

[htcfreek]

@htcfreek, Lets pause and have single items here. We are going to merge the main item here. This issue will be closed out for the the pending PR.

At this point, tweaks should be individual tracked issues so they can be discussed at their own merit.

Single issue, single topic, single PR

@crutkas, @niels9001
I will create the issues later and we can merge the existing PR if no critical changes needed anymore.