Jump To function streamlined (Discussion thread)

The Request

Remove the current "Jump To" dialog box as it is, and let the user enter a destination timecode in either

a) the transport timecode/big clock display with the "Jump to" action or double-clicking in the transport & big clock timecode display, or if the transport is not present

b) bring up a streamlined dialog box as shown below.

Simpler design with standard elements :

Cursor Left/Right jumps between data entry fields, except for Bars and Beats which requires TAB'ing.

Making it all workable with the keyboard shouldn't be hard.


Rename the function to "Go to". Would make it much easier to find.

Why

The current "Jump To" dialog box requires the user to type in the timecode delimiter characters. The dialog box has to explain itself through elaborate text that leaves a small area in a small font for entering what is supposed to be precise information.

This is flexible but complicated and laborous.

Solution in detail

Speed
Timecode entry needs to be quick, and here we can draw on the experiences from using other DAWs. The quickest and easiest to use all have a one-handed approach. It is up to the user to pick the access method (Protools uses the Num* key), but at the very least Reaper needs to let the user enter any timecode one-handed, which is the domain on the numeric keypad.


Keyboard Focus
Focus is displayed with inverted data entry fields.

There are two approaches here. The first focuses on the first left-hand data entry field, and is the preferred for all timecode formats that have variable numbers of data-char that can be entered.

For example, the first of the three Measures and Beats(Bars and Beats) data fields can be of arbitrary length, from 1 to any integer number. SMPTE Timecode however is completely static. hh:mm:ss:ff . Only this format can support the second approach, which is to start on the right-most data field and push completed entries to the left by one data entry field. This method lets the user start over at any time, while the approach of start on the left-most data entry field and working your way to the right always has to start on the left. Protools uses the second approach on the SMPTE timecode entry at the least. In that second approach, all data fields are selected.

I propose to start with the first approach. It will be less confusing. Later the second approach can be added for static formats. The user could choose to limit the timecode char lengths to use this approach for Measures and Beats as well as Minutes and Seconds. 001-999 Measures for example.


Navigation
Here is where speed comes in to play. The project time ruler will be the timecode format chosen by default, but users may still wish to change it.

The cursor keys are a good choice because they're amongst the easiest keys to find visually, and by touch.

Left/Right jumps between data entry fields. Going right on the right-most data entry field jumps to the left-most data entry field.

Up/Down changes timecode formats and resets the focus to the first data-entry field.

Timecode could show the project frame rate in brackets.

Additional shortcut keys can be used to quick-jump to timecode formats. 'm' for minutes and seconds, 't' for smpte timecode and 'b' for bars and beats for example.


Increasing/Decreasing entries
The numeric keys "+" amd "-" could be used to increase and decrease entries by one unit.


Transport field entry
The question is, what happens if the user wants to enter a timecode in a format different from the project time ruler in the transport area without changing the time ruler format of the entire project ?

And the answer is, the change is temporary for the duration of entering the timecode. The timecode format is indicated by name where the transport state is shown on the transport GUI for the duration of timecode entry, and by the simple existence of the delimiter chars.