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 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 rich text objects,
20 add sophisticated text effects 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 SDI shell based on bonobo (no more MDI!).
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:
59 - object defaults (colors, line widths, fonts)
61 - Support all paper sizes that gnome-print knows about
66 VERSION 1.91: Development testbed for VERSION 1.92
71 - Allow multiple layouts per label type. This will support
72 odd labels that are not layed out in a grid. For instance
73 one oddball label, or label laid out in a running-bond:
83 This is not multiple label types per sheet. (see below)
85 - Add invisible markup to templates, e.g. folds or other
92 - mode and parameters (size and origin during creation)
94 - Undo, Redo capability
96 - Image filenames from merge fields. When adding inline
97 image date in the next version, this capability must
101 - object rotation and flipping functions.
102 - configurable grid. Also add a "snap-to" capability.
103 - object alignment capabilities.
104 - resizing of barcodes on canvas. (Must keep barcodes
105 within "legal" limits)
107 - Add rounding option to rectangles
109 - Place property dialogs in a single dockable window (1 per
110 window). (Maybe, still thinking on this one)
114 VERSION 1.93: Development testbed for VERSION 2.0
118 Label File format changes:
119 - external images should be put inline somehow so that the
120 label file will not be rendered useless if on a different
121 machine or the original image file is renamed, moved or
125 - Create a druid for creating new label templates.
126 As part of the druid allow test sheets to be printed
127 and the new labels e-mailed to me (at the user's request).
128 Include a mini-preview, as the label is constructed.
130 - Along those same lines, create a druid to download new
131 templates from a central repository, much like in GBonds.
133 VERSION 2.1: Development testbed for VERSION 2.2
137 Template File format:
138 - Allow multiple label styles per template. For instance
139 a sheet may contain a CD label, and cover label. This
140 may cause problems for document merges -- labels could be
141 considered grouped for document merges when their numbers
142 match or they could have document merge applied to them
143 independently but in parallel. Arrange in a tabbed
144 notebook, or as multiple canvases arranged in view?
146 - support for the import of vector graphics formats such as EPS or SVG.
148 - Make text items rich. I.e. allow multiple characteristics to
149 exist within a single object.
151 - Text effects. (follow contour, shadows, ...)
155 Odds and ends WISHLIST for future versions:
157 - Ability to select/unselect individual records during a merge-print.
159 - Add additional "merge" backends. Candidates include:
162 freedb (CDDB) for CD labels
164 - Capability to edit text in-place.
166 - Add facility for tweaking output (origin). This should really be
167 part of the underlying print system but is currently difficult to
168 accomplish, so I may want to add the hack.
170 - Add a mini style preview for barcode properties (possibly text too?).
172 - Eye candy: Create a custom widget to replace spin buttons for
173 positioning and sizing that have arrows in the proper direction.
174 Really bad ASCII art: