Preventing the game from opening duplicate windows qol

[Franss22 (OP)]

I dont know if its been asked before, and if its easily feasible, but it would be nice that if i open the minerals view, then go back to the system map, then open minerals again (using the buttons from the map) it wouldnt open a new, separate minearas window, but just focus on the one i had already open. Tis might have some extra complexity because some of the buttons open the same window, but on a different category (mainly the colony window, with minig, science, industrym etc), so the game would have to choose between opening a separate window if i open mining then science, or keep the same window but change the category open. (i personally prefer the second but we'd have to see)

[Froggiest1982]

Some were buggy, like the research one and Steve, already fixed it with only one possible to be opened.

I am sure he will review all of these QOL later on, you should post a suggestion on the relative suggestion thread and he may check that out for you

[Father Tim]

I dont know if its been asked before, and if its easily feasible, but it would be nice that if i open the minerals view, then go back to the system map, then open minerals again (using the buttons from the map) it wouldnt open a new, separate minearas window, but just focus on the one i had already open. Tis might have some extra complexity because some of the buttons open the same window, but on a different category (mainly the colony window, with minig, science, industrym etc), so the game would have to choose between opening a separate window if i open mining then science, or keep the same window but change the category open. (i personally prefer the second but we'd have to see)

It was a QoL improvement to allow opening multiple copies of the same window -- primarily to allow drag-and-drop between them.  If this changed back, almost every window would need to be expanded to include a multi-function 'drag-and-drop' space in which one would 'park' an item while switching from its origin to its destination view.

[Alsadius]

It was a QoL improvement to allow opening multiple copies of the same window -- primarily to allow drag-and-drop between them.  If this changed back, almost every window would need to be expanded to include a multi-function 'drag-and-drop' space in which one would 'park' an item while switching from its origin to its destination view.

What things can you drag and drop between windows?

[Cocyte]

I dont know if its been asked before, and if its easily feasible, but it would be nice that if i open the minerals view, then go back to the system map, then open minerals again (using the buttons from the map) it wouldnt open a new, separate minearas window, but just focus on the one i had already open. Tis might have some extra complexity because some of the buttons open the same window, but on a different category (mainly the colony window, with minig, science, industrym etc), so the game would have to choose between opening a separate window if i open mining then science, or keep the same window but change the category open. (i personally prefer the second but we'd have to see)

It was a QoL improvement to allow opening multiple copies of the same window -- primarily to allow drag-and-drop between them.  If this changed back, almost every window would need to be expanded to include a multi-function 'drag-and-drop' space in which one would 'park' an item while switching from its origin to its destination view.

I can see two way of solving this conundrum :
 - Adding a configuration switch (similar to the "keep Tactical in Background" checkbox)
- Using a key combination (for example : pressing "shift" when opening a view will open a new window, while not pressing shift will set the currently opened window on the foreground)
- Both of the above (default behaviour set by the configuration, the other behaviour being still accessible thanks to a specific key configuration)

[amram]

I dont know if its been asked before, and if its easily feasible, but it would be nice that if i open the minerals view, then go back to the system map, then open minerals again (using the buttons from the map) it wouldnt open a new, separate minearas window, but just focus on the one i had already open. Tis might have some extra complexity because some of the buttons open the same window, but on a different category (mainly the colony window, with minig, science, industrym etc), so the game would have to choose between opening a separate window if i open mining then science, or keep the same window but change the category open. (i personally prefer the second but we'd have to see)

It was a QoL improvement to allow opening multiple copies of the same window -- primarily to allow drag-and-drop between them.  If this changed back, almost every window would need to be expanded to include a multi-function 'drag-and-drop' space in which one would 'park' an item while switching from its origin to its destination view.

I can see two way of solving this conundrum :
 - Adding a configuration switch (similar to the "keep Tactical in Background" checkbox)
- Using a key combination (for example : pressing "shift" when opening a view will open a new window, while not pressing shift will set the currently opened window on the foreground)
- Both of the above (default behaviour set by the configuration, the other behaviour being still accessible thanks to a specific key configuration)

Why not left click re-opens the current/most-recent window, right click spawns new copies, and a toggle somewhere to swap left/right, everyone wins.

[Person012345]

What? No. Sometimes I want more than one of the same window open. Have you heard of alt-tab?

[Alsadius]

What? No. Sometimes I want more than one of the same window open. Have you heard of alt-tab?

I'm not saying this to be snarky, I'm genuinely curious - Why?

A lot of people seem to have asked for multi-windows as a QoL feature, and want to keep it. It sounds like you have some uses in mind for two windows of a kind, and people have mentioned drag-and-drop. But I don't know what you'd use it for, or what you'd be dragging and dropping. Can someone explain it, so I might use it?

[Person012345]

What? No. Sometimes I want more than one of the same window open. Have you heard of alt-tab?

I'm not saying this to be snarky, I'm genuinely curious - Why?

A lot of people seem to have asked for multi-windows as a QoL feature, and want to keep it. It sounds like you have some uses in mind for two windows of a kind, and people have mentioned drag-and-drop. But I don't know what you'd use it for, or what you'd be dragging and dropping. Can someone explain it, so I might use it?

Personally I use it for comparisons and checking things, or if I want to alter things in two nations at once without having to keep swapping back and forth in all the screens or if I want a window open displaying one thing at all times whilst simultaneously playing the game (for example to keep an eye on terraforming or construction progress, it's easier to alt-tab to an already open window than try to open a new window whilst the game is running).

[Steve Walmsley]

You can also drag and drop between windows - fleets, ground forces, etc.

[MarcAFK]

I had a problem with the way this worked because I was used to using the main toolbar for switching between windows. I moved my taskbar to the top of the screen and its helped. Though not ideal.

[skoormit]

What? No. Sometimes I want more than one of the same window open. Have you heard of alt-tab?

I'm not saying this to be snarky, I'm genuinely curious - Why?

A lot of people seem to have asked for multi-windows as a QoL feature, and want to keep it. It sounds like you have some uses in mind for two windows of a kind, and people have mentioned drag-and-drop. But I don't know what you'd use it for, or what you'd be dragging and dropping. Can someone explain it, so I might use it?

I will often want to monitor something over time on a particular tab of the Economics window.
I love having the ability now to open a new Econ window to address other things that occur while I am monitoring the first thing.

For example, say I want to switch a colony's population status to "Stable" as soon as it has reached a specific population.
Maybe it will take many months for the population to reach that target.

In VB6, since I could only have one Econ window, I just had to remember about this particular task as I respond to all the other things that need attention.
New ship built: go to Shipyard tab and queue new ones.
Build queue finishes: go to Industry tab and queue more.
Research finishes: go to Research tab and start next project.
Etc., etc., etc.
And all the time, I have to keep in the back of my mind this one thing I'm keeping an eye on, and go back and check the population of this colony every little while.

But now I can keep an Econ window open showing that specific colony summary screen.
I can attend to all the other necessary things in another window, and not disturb my "don't forget this" window.
In fact, I keep a small stack of Econ windows open in a specific place for things like this.
I think of it as my "string around the finger" list.

[swarm_sadist]

Shift click opens a brand new window, and a single click just brings the active sheet(s) to the top?

[TheDeadlyShoe]

Personally, I find the multi-windows extremely aggravating. I regularly have to go through and close 20 or 30 open windows because my habit is to hit the button to access a window rather than alt tabbing.  I would dearly love a way around it through toggle or separate click methods.

[smoelf]

What? No. Sometimes I want more than one of the same window open. Have you heard of alt-tab?

I'm not saying this to be snarky, I'm genuinely curious - Why?

A lot of people seem to have asked for multi-windows as a QoL feature, and want to keep it. It sounds like you have some uses in mind for two windows of a kind, and people have mentioned drag-and-drop. But I don't know what you'd use it for, or what you'd be dragging and dropping. Can someone explain it, so I might use it?

I use it to design active sensors and fire controls at the same time. That way I can match them much better in capability than having to design one and then design the other only to realize I need to change something on the first and have to go back. With two windows open, I can adjust simultaneously. Or I can design multiple fighters and a carrier at the same time. Create a carrier squadron with the complete overview instead of either having to pre-determine the settings and design them one at a time - or going back and forth in the dropdown menu of VB6, having to remember the parameters for each one at the same time while adjusting the design. Or I want to compare the minerals in two different systems to determine where to colonize next. This is only possible with multiple mineral search windows, since you either search in all systems or one system.

I suppose drag-and-drop between windows will become more useful when an empire expands to much that either fleets or ground forces required scrolling to go through the list. If you need to scroll through the list, then you can't really drag-and-drop from the top fleet to the buttom fleet unless you open two windows. Though this is only an expectation. I haven't had this need yet.