4 This development plan sets a specific set of milestones for future
5 versions of glabels. Although subject to change, milestones leading
6 to version 2.0 are fairly well defined.
8 Basically the goal of version 1.90 is to port all current
9 features/capabilities to the GNOME 2.0 platform, clean up the architecture,
10 and create a bonobo-mdi shell.
12 The goal for version 1.92 is to improve several user interface capabilities
13 and add drawing capabilities.
15 The goal for version 2.0 is to realize the fully developed template feature
16 set, add tools for creating and downloading new templates, and add inline
17 images to glabels files.
19 The goals for version 2.2 and beyond is to add sophisticated text effects
20 and support vector images.
26 VERSION 1.89: Development testbed for VERSION 1.90
32 - Port to Gnome 2.0 Platform
34 - Create a new MDI shell based on bonoboMDI (see gedit2).
36 - Migrate to a more faithful MVC architecture:
37 - Migrate models (labels, label objects, and templates)
39 - Views should track models
41 Label File format changes:
42 - <object type="text" ...> rather than <Text ...>
44 - a label should include a template or "Sheet" tag instead
45 of just the name of the media type, so that obsolete names
46 don't render the label file useless. this should be created
47 and parsed by functions from the template module.
49 - compatibility with old file formats
51 - make sure that the format does not preclude the additions
52 planned in future releases and that these additions do
53 not break labels created with this version. Namely, image
54 filenames from merge data, inline images, object rotation,
55 object flipping, text effects, and rounded rectangles.
58 - Add preferences options:
60 - object defaults (colors, line widths, fonts)
62 [*] These only need to be supported through gconf.
65 - Support all paper sizes that gnome-print knows about
70 VERSION 1.91: Development testbed for VERSION 1.92
75 - Allow multiple layouts per label type. This will support
76 odd labels that are not layed out in a grid. For instance
77 one oddball label, or label laid out in a running-bond:
87 This is not multiple label types per sheet. (see below)
89 - Add invisible markup to templates, e.g. folds or other
96 - mode and parameters (size and origin during creation)
98 - Undo, Redo capability
100 - Image filenames from merge fields. When adding inline
101 image date in the next version, this capability must
105 - object rotation and flipping functions.
106 - configurable grid. Also add a "snap-to" capability.
107 - object alignment capabilities.
108 - resizing of barcodes on canvas. (Must keep barcodes
109 within "legal" limits)
111 - Add rounding option to rectangles
113 - Place property dialogs in a single dockable window (1 per
114 MDI/app window). Move dialogs associated with view,
115 when a new MDI/app window is created.
117 - Change label types on-the-fly. This should probably be
118 some form of property of the label. Perhaps, a right-click
119 away from any selection.
123 VERSION 1.93: Development testbed for VERSION 2.0
127 Label File format changes:
128 - external images should be put inline somehow so that the
129 label file will not be rendered useless if on a different
130 machine or the original image file is renamed, moved or
134 - Create a druid for creating new label templates.
135 As part of the druid allow test sheets to be printed
136 and the new labels e-mailed to me (at the user's request).
137 Include a mini-preview, as the label is constructed.
139 - Along those same lines, create a druid to download new
140 templates from a central repository, much like in GBonds.
142 VERSION 2.1: Development testbed for VERSION 2.2
146 Template File format:
147 - Allow multiple label styles per template. For instance
148 a sheet may contain a CD label, and cover label. This
149 may cause problems for document merges -- labels could be
150 considered grouped for document merges when their numbers
151 match or they could have document merge applied to them
152 independently but in parallel. Arrange in a tabbed
153 notebook, or as multiple canvases arranged in view?
155 - support for the import of vector graphics formats such as EPS or SVG.
157 - Text effects. (follow contour, shadows, ...)
161 Odds and ends WISHLIST for future versions:
163 - Ability to select/unselect individual records during a merge-print.
165 - Add additional "merge" backends. Candidates include:
168 freedb (CDDB) for CD labels
170 - Capability to edit text in-place.
172 - Add facility for tweaking output (origin). This should really be
173 part of the underlying print system but is currently difficult to
174 accomplish, so I may want to add the hack.
176 - Make text items rich. I.e. allow multiple characteristics to
177 exist within a single object.
179 - Add a mini style preview for barcode properties (possibly text too?).
181 - Eye candy: Create a custom widget to replace spin buttons for
182 positioning and sizing that have arrows in the proper direction.
183 Really bad ASCII art: