✨ Option to collapse discover/search/filter alphabet topbar to button

[vella9]

Skin section

Other

Feature description

I do not know if this is possible or not, but I was thinking if the row of letters (including the backspace and cancel/clear buttons) in the Discover Hub can be compressed behind a button with an icon. Once this button is pressed, the row of letters would expand/slide to the right and compressed if pressed again.

Why is this feature needed? Please justify and explain.

I think that it would be cleaner esthetically not having a row of letters at the top in my opinion.

Screenshots and Additional Info

I was thinking as follows;

Filter Icon = open filter
Abc Icon (or any other icon) = row of letters, backspace and cancel/clear (This button would expand/compress the row of letters, backspace and cancel/clear if pressed)
Keyboard Icon = open keyboard

Checklist

• I have opened a separate discussion for each feature I am requesting.
• I have searched the discussions and this feature has not been requested.
• I am using the most recent skin version.

[vella9]

Is this something that can be achieved @jurialmunkey?

Thanks.

[jurialmunkey]

I tried with a button to toggle but I found it was a bit too hidden to understand to a layperson, so I went with automatically expanding when the filter area gains focus. 39a27ca

[vella9]

I think this will be confusing when you move right from the filter to attempt to access the other buttons.

Yes, you are right, since it expands automatically, it will not "behave" properly.

Although the case would be different if it required a button press to expand/collapse, but as you said, it might be a bit hidden for now. Maybe until a proper icon is made?

I think that with the right "abcd" icon [you press "abcd" to toggle between expand/collapse and focus would remain on same button when pressed], and 4 icons would be the ideal solution.

Thank you @jurialmunkey

[L0bsang]

Automatically expanding works well, and new icon is nice as well.

However I think the filter icon and the keyboard icon should be swapped when not focused so filter is first.
Reason being that when you focus it filter is first, but when you unfocus then keyboard is first, which does not seem congruent.

[jurialmunkey]

However I think the filter icon and the keyboard icon should be swapped when not focused so filter is first.

It's actually changed a fair bit since last release in terms of appearance.

I had the same thought about ordering but the icon I made originally didn't look great in the middle hence why I shifted it left. I ended up making a completely different icon because I wasn't happy with it once I tried it out in the loungeroom.

New icon is much clearer to what its purpose is (and also looks more consistent with the rest of the skin because its using the fontawesome assets that the skin uses elsewhere rather than the old iconmonstr ones from AH1).

[L0bsang]

Nice! Agree it looks better and more consistent.

[vella9]

thank you @jurialmunkey!