LeftBar - make it more dynamic

[Stefan Schlechter]

Hello,

I like this plugin (using version2.1.4).

The width of the sidbar is defined in 'Controlpanel> Settings> Leftbar' .

This is static. If the content of the LeftBar is small, you have is a lot of 'empty' space between LeftBar and Story.

I would like to have this dynamic:

small content of LeftBar --> Story became bigger (+ Offset between windows)

The max width of LeftBar should be configured in 'Controlpanel> Settings> Leftbar'

Thanks

Stefan

[Mat]

Hi Stefan.

I'm happy to hear that you like LeftBar ( http://leftbar.tiddlyspot.com/ )

Unfortunately two things prevents me from developing this further: 

- the closing of TiddlySpot has left me in a bit of a vacuum. I don't know how to publish anything anymore. (In case you don't know; the old things, such as LeftBar, is still available there but new things cannot be added/edited).

- my professional work load is very heavy for at least another semester. (I just had a breather over the holidays but not enough to dig into anything).

I think that what you request would require a fundamentally different CSS than how LeftBar is currently designed. Currently, it does not intrude in the TW core layout more than merely changing the "Story Left position" and "Story Right" (that are intended to be user set), so LeftBar just "makes room" for itself by changing these values to a static value. For the size to adapt dynamically one would either have to calculate the new width based on content (which I don't think can be done) and use this calculated value as the "story left position" OR there would need to be a change how the story river flows out (like how it interacts with the right sidebar) so this is about redesigning (overwriting) the core css. Not at all impossible, maybe not even overly difficult, but it is a big enough task that I unfortunately cannot deal with it for quite some time.

BUT

Maybe you could use a more manual approach? I'm thinking that it should be possible to e.g put a e.g RangeWidget or RadioWidgets at top or bottom of the LeftBar to easily and dynamically (but manually) change the width value, i.e to change this value:

$:/plugins/TWaddle/LeftBar/Stylesheet!!width

or, perhaps it has to be the value that is put into Ctrlpanel > Appearance > ThemeTweaks > StoryRight which is created in $:/plugins/TWaddle/LeftBar/Toggle via some ActionSetfield widgets.

<:-)

[Stefan Schlechter]

Hi Mat,

I wasn't successful - but thank you for the feedback.

Than I use the LeftBar with hover effect...

Regards

Stefan