IDLE: Improve zoomheight doc and behavior.

[terryjreedy]

BPO	37039
Nosy	@terryjreedy, @taleinat, @aroberge, @serhiy-storchaka, @csabella, @miss-islington
PRs	bpo-37039: IDLE - zoomheight fixes #13576 [3.7] bpo-37039: IDLE - zoomheight fixes (GH-13576) #13602 bpo-37039: Make IDLE's Zoom Height adjust to users' screens #13678 [3.7] bpo-37039: Make IDLE's Zoom Height adjust to users' screens (GH-13678) #14167 [3.8] bpo-37039: Make IDLE's Zoom Height adjust to users' screens (GH-13678) #14168
Files	image.png image.png image.png

^{Note: these values reflect the state of the issue at the time it was migrated and might not reflect the current state.}

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GitHub fields:

assignee = 'https://github.com/terryjreedy'
closed_at = <Date 2019-06-17.20:17:35.114>
created_at = <Date 2019-05-25.01:15:52.063>
labels = ['3.8', 'expert-IDLE', 'type-bug', '3.7', '3.9']
title = 'IDLE: Improve zoomheight doc and behavior.'
updated_at = <Date 2019-06-17.20:32:18.338>
user = 'https://github.com/terryjreedy'

bugs.python.org fields:

activity = <Date 2019-06-17.20:32:18.338>
actor = 'taleinat'
assignee = 'terry.reedy'
closed = True
closed_date = <Date 2019-06-17.20:17:35.114>
closer = 'terry.reedy'
components = ['IDLE']
creation = <Date 2019-05-25.01:15:52.063>
creator = 'terry.reedy'
dependencies = []
files = ['48358', '48359', '48360']
hgrepos = []
issue_num = 37039
keywords = ['patch']
message_count = 26.0
messages = ['343450', '343468', '343469', '343490', '343507', '343517', '343518', '343521', '343526', '343528', '343534', '343545', '343565', '343689', '343690', '343702', '343703', '343711', '343751', '343963', '343965', '345891', '345895', '345899', '345900', '345902']
nosy_count = 6.0
nosy_names = ['terry.reedy', 'taleinat', 'aroberge', 'serhiy.storchaka', 'cheryl.sabella', 'miss-islington']
pr_nums = ['13576', '13602', '13678', '14167', '14168']
priority = 'normal'
resolution = 'fixed'
stage = 'resolved'
status = 'closed'
superseder = None
type = 'behavior'
url = 'https://bugs.python.org/issue37039'
versions = ['Python 3.7', 'Python 3.8', 'Python 3.9']

[terryjreedy]

Restore Height restores to default, not previous size. This is a bit surprising, but is documented. "Toggles the window between normal size and maximum height. The initial size defaults to 40 lines by 80 chars unless changed on the General tab of the Configure IDLE dialog." AFAIK, this has always been the case.

The switch from 'normal size' to 'initial size' might make this a little less clear than sticking to 'normal'. Also, only height, not width is relevant. It could be noted that 'normal' != 'previous'.

This entry is above the code context entry in the doc, but the changed menu entry is below the code context menu entry (at my request, I believe). Both were moved from the Window menu in bpo-22703. The doc entry needs to be moved down.

Side note: this is an example of where a popup menu hint would be helpful.

I will make a PR.

[aroberge]

As reported on the idle-dev list, on my system (Windows 10, display resolution 3200 x 200, scaling of text at 200% as recommended), the Zoom Height changes the height of the window and Idle's status bar is no longer visible. Clicking on Restore Height does nothing: Idle's window does not return to the default (the size it had when it was open); it stays the same with the status bar either hidden behind the task bar.

[aroberge]

I have tried on another computer (Windows 10, screen resolution 1920 x 1080, text scaling 100%) and it works as expected: clicking on Restore Height restores the window's height to its original value.

Back to the computer where I reported the problem: changing the scaling from 200% to 100% (which makes everything nearly unreadable) does not solve the problem.

Both tests were done with Python 3.7.3 (32 bit).

[terryjreedy]

Andre Roberge reported on idle-dev that Restore Height has no effect for him with Python 3.7.3, 32 bit, on Windows 10. Since it works for me on Win 10, 3.7.3-32 bit local debug build and 3.7.3-64 bit installed and ditto for 3.8, I am initially baffled.

Andre, the only way I know to debug this is for you to add debug prints to zoomheight.py and start IDLE in a console, to see the print output, with 'py -m idlelib' (add -3.7 if needed). The first thing I can think of is 'print(geom)' and 'print(newgeom)' in zoom_height() after they are fetched and defined near the top and bottom.

[terryjreedy]

I have a 27" 2560X1440 screen.  For me:
>>> import tkinter; tkinter.Tk().tk.call('tk', 'scaling')
1.333...

I presume 3200x200 should be 3200x2000 and that the diagonal size is small enough that the screen is a HiDPI screen, making tk's scaling above 1.4, so that run.fix_scaling() adjusts font sizes.

I am not sure what you mean by 'scaling at 100%/200%' other than tk scaling <, >= 1.4 or HiDPI no/yes, or how you changed the scaling. I grepped idlelib for 'scaling' and only found references to the function and the tk call.

In any case, tcl/tk does not properly support HiDPI screens. Serhiy Storchaka contributed fix_scaling to make IDLE readable on a HiDPI Linux laptop. The 1.4 and .75 values are empirical. With help from Windows experts, I added the SetProcessDpiAwareness call near the top of pyshell when a Windows user with a HiDPI screen reported a problem on idledev. I believe that the call tells Windows that IDLE already makes a scaling adjustment, so it should not also do so.

zoomheight.zoom_height() restores by calling top.wm_geometry('').
https://www.tcl.tk/man/tcl8.6/TkCmd/wm.htm#M42 says
"If newGeometry is specified as an empty string then any existing user-specified geometry for window is cancelled, and the window will revert to the size requested internally by its widgets."

This works for normal screens but somehow not for your HiDPI Windows screen. Can you do the print experiment I suggested previously?

I will experiment to see how much '22' needs to be increased for Windows to accomodate the task bar. What is really needed is to determine the size and orientation of the taskbar, or rather the remaining 'full-screen' height.

Serhiy, do you still have a HiDPI screen? If so, does Options => Zoom/Restore Height work for you? Do Linux desktop managers have bottom panels or taskbars that can cover part of a zoomed window?

Ignore any task bar over status bar issue.)

[terryjreedy]

Tal, how is zoom/restore height working on your Mac?

On my updated Macbook Air Mohave, the zoom bottom margin of 88 is too large. Since IDLE starts fully zoomed on this small screen, I determined this by shrinking Shell and then zooming it. The result leaves a margin between IDLE and the app panel, which goes away when restoring to initial state. But I want to know if 88 is too large on other machines before I change it.

[terryjreedy]

The current patch fixed the hidden status bar on Windows. I just had to increase the margin reserved for the taskbar from 76 to 114. This will also work if the taskbar is moved to the top of the screen. If the taskbar is moved to either side or if it is less high for previous versions of Windows, a visible margin is better than a hidden status bar.

[aroberge]

Thanks.

I did a quick check. 114 solves the problem of the Restore Height not
working, but the status bar is still hidden. To me, the crucial part of
the problem was the restore height not working, so I'd be happy with this.

At 164, I can see parts of the status bar
[image: image.png]

At 180, there is a tiny gap

[image: image.png]

178 seems to be just touching.

[image: image.png]

With the vertical resolution of my screen being 2000 px, tiny gaps are
essentially invisible. Because of this huge resolution, most display
elements (text, icons ... and the taskbar) are set up to be twice as big -
this is the 200% factor I was referring to. So, in pixel terms, the taskbar
on my computer is likely twice as high as yours.

Using a measuring tape, the physical size of my screen is 183 mm; the
taskbar is 8 mm high.

I can add these comments (and screenshots?) on the bug tracker if you'd
like.

Thanks for finding the solution to this problem.

André

P.S. I *just* started using IDLE again as I want to use it as a basis for
my project. The last time I had used IDLE was with Python 2.4 - I quickly
moved on to using other editors. There's been tremendous progress since and
I want to thank you for all your work.

On Sat, May 25, 2019 at 7:11 PM Terry J. Reedy <report@bugs.python.org>
wrote:

Terry J. Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> added the comment:

The current patch fixed the hidden status bar on Windows. I just had to
increase the margin reserved for the taskbar from 76 to 114. This will
also work if the taskbar is moved to the top of the screen. If the taskbar
is moved to either side or if it is less high for previous versions of
Windows, a visible margin is better than a hidden status bar.

----------

---

Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org>
<https://bugs.python.org/issue37039\>

---

[terryjreedy]

Thank you. Along with your path browser report, things are much
clearer. With variable pixel densities and custom settings, we cannot
use fixed pixel or even mm numbers. 114 is right for me because I have
Display Setting "Change the size of text, apps, and other apps, and
other items" to 125%. My taskbar is 11+mm high. 78 or something near
that is right for 100%. 150% would need more than 114.

Under 'Advanced scaling settings', one can enter a custom scaling size.
Is this what you meant when you said you set scaling to 200% or 100%.

No need to post what you wrote. Let me summarize the numbers I want
along with mine for comparison.

What I need to do now is examine the tk screen sizing system and
functions and see if the needed numbers (max usable height for zoom) are
available. If not, I might add a 'Calibrate screen' item under Options.

On 5/25/2019 6:42 PM, Andre Roberge wrote:

Andre Roberge <andre.roberge@gmail.com> added the comment:

Thanks.

I did a quick check. 114 solves the problem of the Restore Height not
working, but the status bar is still hidden. To me, the crucial part of
the problem was the restore height not working, so I'd be happy with this.

At 164, I can see parts of the status bar
[image: image.png]

At 180, there is a tiny gap

[image: image.png]

178 seems to be just touching.

[image: image.png]

With the vertical resolution of my screen being 2000 px, tiny gaps are
essentially invisible. Because of this huge resolution, most display
elements (text, icons ... and the taskbar) are set up to be twice as big -
this is the 200% factor I was referring to. So, in pixel terms, the taskbar
on my computer is likely twice as high as yours.

Using a measuring tape, the physical size of my screen is 183 mm; the
taskbar is 8 mm high.

I can add these comments (and screenshots?) on the bug tracker if you'd
like.

Thanks for finding the solution to this problem.

André

P.S. I *just* started using IDLE again as I want to use it as a basis for
my project. The last time I had used IDLE was with Python 2.4 - I quickly
moved on to using other editors. There's been tremendous progress since and
I want to thank you for all your work.

On Sat, May 25, 2019 at 7:11 PM Terry J. Reedy <report@bugs.python.org>
wrote:

>
> Terry J. Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> added the comment:
>
> The current patch fixed the hidden status bar on Windows. I just had to
> increase the margin reserved for the taskbar from 76 to 114. This will
> also work if the taskbar is moved to the top of the screen. If the taskbar
> is moved to either side or if it is less high for previous versions of
> Windows, a visible margin is better than a hidden status bar.
>
> ----------
>
> _______________________________________
> Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org>
> <https://bugs.python.org/issue37039\>
> _______________________________________
>

----------
Added file: https://bugs.python.org/file48358/image.png
Added file: https://bugs.python.org/file48359/image.png
Added file: https://bugs.python.org/file48360/image.png

---

Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org>
<https://bugs.python.org/issue37039\>

---

[aroberge]

On Sat, May 25, 2019 at 9:49 PM Terry J. Reedy <report@bugs.python.org>
wrote:

Terry J. Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> added the comment:

Thank you. Along with your path browser report, things are much
clearer. With variable pixel densities and custom settings, we cannot
use fixed pixel or even mm numbers. 114 is right for me because I have
Display Setting "Change the size of text, apps, and other apps, and
other items" to 125%.

Yes, that's the settings I was talking about (my OS is in French, so I
couldn't quote you the exact text.)

Mine is set at 200%, as recommended by Windows - and which makes the text
just large enough to be readable for me.

My taskbar is 11+mm high. 78 or something near

that is right for 100%. 150% would need more than 114.

Under 'Advanced scaling settings', one can enter a custom scaling size.
Is this what you meant when you said you set scaling to 200% or 100%.

Yes, see above.

No need to post what you wrote. Let me summarize the numbers I want
along with mine for comparison.

What I need to do now is examine the tk screen sizing system and
functions and see if the needed numbers (max usable height for zoom) are
available. If not, I might add a 'Calibrate screen' item under Options.

I think that would possibly work out best - people could customize to their
liking. With so many different display, including 4k monitors, it makes
sense to just make it user-configurable.

André

On 5/25/2019 6:42 PM, Andre Roberge wrote:
>
> Andre Roberge <andre.roberge@gmail.com> added the comment:
>
> Thanks.
>
> I did a quick check. 114 solves the problem of the Restore Height not
> working, but the status bar is still hidden. To me, the crucial part of
> the problem was the restore height not working, so I'd be happy with
this.
>
> At 164, I can see parts of the status bar
> [image: image.png]
>
> At 180, there is a tiny gap
>
> [image: image.png]
>
> 178 seems to be just touching.
>
> [image: image.png]
>
> With the vertical resolution of my screen being 2000 px, tiny gaps are
> essentially invisible. Because of this huge resolution, most display
> elements (text, icons ... and the taskbar) are set up to be twice as big

> this is the 200% factor I was referring to. So, in pixel terms, the
taskbar
> on my computer is likely twice as high as yours.
>
> Using a measuring tape, the physical size of my screen is 183 mm; the
> taskbar is 8 mm high.
>
> I can add these comments (and screenshots?) on the bug tracker if you'd
> like.
>
> Thanks for finding the solution to this problem.
>
> André
>
> P.S. I *just* started using IDLE again as I want to use it as a basis for
> my project. The last time I had used IDLE was with Python 2.4 - I
quickly
> moved on to using other editors. There's been tremendous progress since
and
> I want to thank you for all your work.
>
> On Sat, May 25, 2019 at 7:11 PM Terry J. Reedy <report@bugs.python.org>
> wrote:
>
>>
>> Terry J. Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> added the comment:
>>
>> The current patch fixed the hidden status bar on Windows. I just had to
>> increase the margin reserved for the taskbar from 76 to 114. This will
>> also work if the taskbar is moved to the top of the screen. If the
taskbar
>> is moved to either side or if it is less high for previous versions of
>> Windows, a visible margin is better than a hidden status bar.
>>
>> ----------
>>
>> _______________________________________
>> Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org>
>> <https://bugs.python.org/issue37039\>
>> _______________________________________
>>
>
> ----------
> Added file: https://bugs.python.org/file48358/image.png
> Added file: https://bugs.python.org/file48359/image.png
> Added file: https://bugs.python.org/file48360/image.png
>
> _______________________________________
> Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org>
> <https://bugs.python.org/issue37039\>
> _______________________________________
>

----------

---

Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org>
<https://bugs.python.org/issue37039\>

---

[terryjreedy]

Andre, we need to severely trim quotes when posting by email. A summary with added info.

Andre: 2000 pixels / 183 mm = 10.9 pixels / mm
Terry: 1440 pixels / 336 mm = 4.3 pixels / mm
Andre: Windows Display setting text size, custom scaling = 200%, 200%
Terry: " " = 125%, none
Andre: 8 mm tall taskbar needs zoom 'margin' of 178.
Terry: 11 mm tall taskbar needs zoom 'margin' of 114.

I don't see now to get from px/mm, settings, and bar height to the needed zoom correction.

Conclusion 1: The previous Windows zoom margin of 78 is likely better for people with stock Windows (text size = 100%), making the change to 114 in PR 13575 wrong for them.
Conclusion 2: No value is right for all Windows users. I assume this is also true for Linux and Windows.

Conclusion 3: We need to somehow calculate a specific correction from information available from tkinter. If necessary, add a 'Configurtion' button to the Options menu or Settings dialog. Display a maximized text window, have user verify that it fits properly, and get geometry.

[serhiy-storchaka]

I do not have "Zoom/Restore Height". I have only "Restore Height" which maximizes the height. The result looks identical with and without PR 13576 applied. There is no overlapping nor gap between the IDLE windows and the bottom panel.

[terryjreedy]

When you start, it should say 'Zoom Height', then 'Restore Height' after you maximize. But if on a screen small enough that the initial height is the same as zoomed, IDLE might get confused. No change on Linux in the PR is the intention, so that is good.

[taleinat]

To get the maximum available height, does Tk's wm_maxsize() not work?

https://www.tcl.tk/man/tcl8.6/TkCmd/wm.htm#M54

Answering my own question above: No, it gives the total screen height, which doesn't ignore e.g. taskbars.

The best way to get the actual available height appears to be:

1. create a hidden window
2. maximize it with wm_state("zoomed")
3. get its height with winfo_height()

Testing on Windows, this does respect the taskbar, as well as scaling in the display settings. (Also note that Tk window heights appear not to include the window manager's title bar.)

I've yet to test on other OSs, but I've seen this method recommended before, and it has the potential to be robust.

Terry, would you like to see a PR with such an implementation?

[aroberge]

I volunteer to do some testing. In addition to the problem I noted on my
computer where the status bar disappeared behind the task bar, I noticed
that on my secondary 4k monitor (resolution: 3840 x 2160), clicking Zoom
Height resulted in a window stretched only about 2/3 of the maximum screen
height - so, the opposite "problem".

[terryjreedy]

New changeset df9b032 by Terry Jan Reedy in branch 'master':
bpo-37039: IDLE - zoomheight fixes (GH-13576)
df9b032

[terryjreedy]

Tal, please go ahead after updating your repository. I just merged PR 13576 after reverting the change from 72 to 114 that only works for me and adding Skip News. Include a blurb with your patch. It only needs to include something like "Fix zoom height calculation so that it should work on all monitors, regardless of resolution, pixel density, and display setting."

Besides replacing the newheight calculation, the patch will need a a reduced conditional expression
new_y = 22 if macosx.isAquaTk() else 0
unless we can get it also from the maximized window geometry.

"potential to be robust"> I hope so. Your suggestion is part of my 'Conclusion 3 above, but I feared that it might not work at all on a withdrawn window, let alone give us numbers that work. I was unaware of others trying it.

Andre, yes, before merging, we should test on multiple (different) Windows systems, as well as other OSes.

[miss-islington]

New changeset abdda3a by Miss Islington (bot) in branch '3.7':
bpo-37039: IDLE - zoomheight fixes (GH-13576)
abdda3a

[taleinat]

I haven't found a way to maximize a hidden window; being "zoomed" and "withdrawn" are both considered "states" by Tk, and apparently a window cannot be in both states simultaneously.

An alternative is, when zooming the height:

1. save the current window position and size
2. maximize the current window
3. set the horizontal position and width to their original values

There is a visual artifact when doing so - the window is seen to maximize and then return to its original width.

[taleinat]

See an implementation in PR #57887.

[aroberge]

As I wrote on Github:

On my computer (Windows 10, resolution: 3000 x 2000, scaling of UI elements
set to 200%), clicking on Zoom Height makes Idle go full screen. Clicking
on the same menu (now called Restore Height) does absolutely nothing: Idle
stays in full screen mode.

If I run the program on a secondary monitor (4k), the height only changes,
but nowhere enough to be equal to the height of the screen.

[terryjreedy]

New changeset 5bff3c8 by Terry Jan Reedy (Tal Einat) in branch 'master':
bpo-37039: Make IDLE's Zoom Height adjust to users' screens (GH-13678)
5bff3c8

[miss-islington]

New changeset 0f31a2d by Miss Islington (bot) in branch '3.7':
bpo-37039: Make IDLE's Zoom Height adjust to users' screens (GH-13678)
0f31a2d

[terryjreedy]

New changeset 4b68a8e by Terry Jan Reedy (Miss Islington (bot)) in branch '3.8':
bpo-37039: Make IDLE's Zoom Height adjust to users' screens (GH-13678) (GH-14168)
4b68a8e

[terryjreedy]

Thank you Andre for the reports and followup and Tal for the research. I can start using this now.

[taleinat]

Hey, I did the implementation too! :)

I'm really happy to see this fixed in time for 3.8.