Suggestion for Jubler user interface: enable 'snap-to' an adjacent subtitle on the timeline

[davidwhutton]

First of all, thanks to the developers for a very well-designed and reliable tool which is a pleasure to use! This is a suggestion for fine-tuning the interface.

When moving subtitles on the timeline it is very easy to create a small unintended (and unwanted) overlap, perhaps too small for the red warning colour to be visible. Also, moving the end of one subtitle often creates an overlap with the following one, which requires a second operation to correct.

My suggestion is to permit (optionally) another mode of operation where:

1. when the start or end of a subtitle is moved on the timeline, it may 'snap to' the closely adjacent subtitle instead of overlapping with it -- just like two magnets joining
2. further movement will result in the boundary between the two subtitles being moved, adjusting the timing of both subtitles at the same time and avoiding any overlap.

Besides making it easier to make adjustments affecting adjacent subtitles, this would also enable a style of editing where there is a continuous stream of non-overlapping subtitles, and the only work required is to place the boundaries between them correctly.

The user can control this behaviour in real time by overriding the snap-to with the cursor, effectively breaking the connection, like separating the magnets. This is a proven technique used by many other programs with a graphical interface operate, usually to help align or join objects accurately.

[teras]

Your suggestion is really valid and thank you. The only 'issue" is my personal luck of time to implement it. I'll have a deep thought on it though.