R2013b IDE nonsense. The story continues.

This is NOT a question but a point that I would like to raise. I suggest to comment my post and/or add additional and justified observations that you might have about R2013b's IDE.

Preamble

Trends clearly show that wide monitors are dominating the market share and will continue to do so (source http://gs.statcounter.com/#resolution-ww-quarterly-200901-201303):

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If you like stats you can check a static snapshot from another source here: http://www.rapidtables.com/web/dev/screen-resolution-statistics.htm.

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MY POINT

When working on large projects the number of .m files grows very quickly and to cope with them I keep a two-sided view of the Editor on full screen (having Workspace, and Variables Editor on a second screen) with the tabs on a side.

This layout has many benefits and fits optimally (IMO) into a wide display. However, on R2013b this layout has been crippled.

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How it was before on R2013a

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Now on R2013b

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R2013a:

• One bar with tabs for both sides of the editor
• Each side clearly outlines the path?me of the file
• Could close one specific side at a time

R2013b:

• Additional tabs bar per each view. Total waste of screen real-estate! After wasting vertical space with the ribbon, now that I found my optimal wide layout, here you go: "You thought it would be easy, eh?!".
• You can hide the tabs, but now how do I know at a glance what's the file I am working on?
• How do I close a document?

Finally:

[Image Analyst]

My tabs with filenames on them are on the top of the editor windows. I'm not sure why yours or on the side. Did you try moving them or finding a preference that lets you adjust that?

[Oleg Komarov]

That's my layout, I keep the tabs bar on the side to have 15+ files open at the same time and be able to read their names. If you keep it on top you can have only 6-7 (depending on name length).

Also, if you consider that the release notes specifically list this as an improvement, it sounds like bad joke to me.

I personally think that they should dedicate resources to supporting Dual(/Multiple) Monitor configurations (I am not posting stats for now, but you get my point) rather than figuring out the sex of the angels in their IDE.

[Image Analyst]

OK - that must be a 2013b feature which I didn't know because I haven't upgraded yet.

Angels in their IDE? Is that an Easter egg

[Oleg Komarov]

No, it's an Italian saying.

[Oleg Komarov]

I am currently sticking with R2013a, since at the moment of writing this, I have 22 tabs (and space for more) in vertical mode vs max 9 in horizontal mode.

[nanren888]

Have to agree. The I have only portrait monitors & still hate to loose the height. Changing tab behaviour is one of the most off-putting things in recent times.

Cluttering ribbons that seemed aimed at easing the learning curve for new-entrants are just a pain to be turned off.

I complained in the past about the tabs moving, so closing be each tab's X was a pain, compared to previous when the last one stayed right-justified, now that's gone completely. It hides the tabs & left-justifies, so even worse.

I was used to left-to-right scrolling, even if painfully slow. Now that's gone, my spatial memory of where files are is awash. Anyone know if I can turn off the animated mega-scroll when I select from the drop-down list?

[Jasper]

I've been looking for a solution as well :-(. It's even worse than you say: Now to find a file I have to look into two lists of open files. Whoever had this idea probably never used multi-tile views.

[dpb]

I have to agree fullheartedly on not only the specific issue but that of all the poorly-conceived changes to the UI and help files done, seemingly, primarily for the reason of "change for change's sake" instead of actual designed better usability. It reminds me of "New, Improved!!" ad campaigns for household detergent and the like. :(

Back to the subject of programming editors and real estate. IMO, the whole concept of tabs and gui layout is focused on the wrong ideal. One should be able to split a window whichever direction one wishes, horizontal or vertical, and subdivide those as well and at any fractional size. The UI needs not be duplicated other than the minimal of displaying the file name and the changed indicator character. Requiring toolbars and all to get access is a waste of both real estate and efficiency; everything should be directly accessible via the keyboard and keymapping.

There have been such programming editors in existence since the early days of DOS (my personal favorite and my development tool of choice still happens to be Brief) which has all the above and more. What it lacks that is useful is the color-coding syntax matching available with the full graphics screen instead of character screen before, but the loss of other functionality just doesn't come even close to make up for the prettified views.

It seems incredible to me that professional developers don't have better tools than what are widely marketed these days when the outline was there 20+ years ago.

[per isakson]

@dpb +1

@Image Analyst, I have the filename-bar to the right in R2013a and in several releases before that. Just point at the dotted area (grip area) and drag.

Answer 1

[Sean de Wolski]

Two little things that could help a little:

• Shrink the tab width by dragging it over a little bit (while vertical).
• Check the "Shrink Tabs to Fit" option in the editor's view tab and use horizontal, it'll get you a few more.

I'll make sure Dev sees your question, Oleg.

[Oleg Komarov]

Thanks, appreciated.

Answer 2

[Matthew]

I having a related issue. Let's say you have program 1 on the left and program 2 on the right. Used to be able to drag the program 2 over to the left. But now when you drag it, it creates a vertical split instead of placing it on the left. Did not want a new vertical split. Thx Matt

[Jasper]

If you drag it to the middle of the window it works. It takes a bit more precision though (you can see what will happen by looking at the blue boundaries during dragging).