[Settings V2 UX] Improve logical groupings of the general page

[niels9001]

The current General settings page could use some improved structure for the various settings as discussed in #2676.

Here's a proposal:

Running as .. (Title)

• Always run as administrator..... (Checkbox)
• Run at startup (Checkbox)
• Restart as admin (Button)

Appearance (Title)

• Choose settings color (Radiobutton group)

About PowerToys (Title) (In the side panel)

• Version x.xx.x (clickable link to release notes)

• Download updates automatically (Checkbox)

• Check for updates (Button)

• Various links

@htcfreek Please add your proposal of splitting the update section. I like that idea.

[htcfreek]

@niels9001 Do you know a WYSIWYG-Editor for XAML/WinUi3?

[niels9001]

You could try Blend (it comes with Visual Studio), but most WYSIWYG editors won't give you code that's of high quality imo. Or you can try one of the toolkits for various design tools (e.g. Figma, Sketch or Adobe XD) but that won't give you code obviously.

[htcfreek]

In the following pictures you can see my proposal on the structure of the general settings page.
I did my best to respect the Guidlines for app settings.

Some of the ideas are my own and the other ideas are based on the issues #1482, #889, #964, #2354 and the comment form @niels9001 in this issue.
The idea adding a link to the privacy settings is stolen from the MS Edge settings. 😉

👉 The setting "Check for updates automatically" is not implemented in PT at the moment. But I think we should implement them.
👉 The link to the Github project page is not implemented at the moment. But I think we should implement it.

Settings run as user & system telemetry off

Mock up image generated with MS Word and screenshots.

Settings run as administrator & system telemetry on

Mock up image generated with MS Word and screenshots.

[niels9001]

Nice, I like this!

My thoughts:

• We have a ' Learn about Admin mode' button in the latest build-features branch. I'd add that under the Restart as Admin button.
• What are your thoughts around the 'Check for updates automatically' option? By default the app already does this, right? Not sure why we would like to disable this option, it could result in users being stuck on (very) old versions simply because they forgot to check manually?
• I like the addition of adding a link to the GitHub read me. Maybe we can add a oneliner to point out the fact that this tool is open source?

@laviusmotileng-ms What are your thoughts?

[htcfreek]

We have a ' Learn about Admin mode' button in the latest build-features branch. I'd add that under the Restart as Admin button.

Why as button? I think a link would be better and more standardized.
The link could be shown betwen User Informationen and Restart Button. But only if PT is running as user.

What are your thoughts around the 'Check for updates automatically' option? By default the app already does this, right? Not sure why we would like to disable this option, it could result in users being stuck on (very) old versions simply because they forgot to check manually?

For example if PT is installed in companys on clients or servers, where the user had no rights to install software and the software gets updated by SCCM or other tools. (For this scenario normal users shouldn't be able to change the sittings.)
An other scenario would be an user who wants to check only manually every x days.

I like the addition of adding a link to the GitHub read me. Maybe we can add a oneliner to point out the fact that this tool is open source?

Great idea. I like it.
We should add this in the sidebar. We could have this in the "related links" section as a link to https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Source.

[niels9001]

Yep.. that's what I meant with 'button', a 'learn more' HyperlinkButton ;).

Right, I see - you might want to start a new issue for that. Please add the context you just described there as the 'user need'.

I think the oneliner only needs to describe the fact that this project is open source. The button could lead to this repo (with maybe a label like 'Contribute to this project' or something like that :)!

[enricogior]

For example if PT is installed in companys on clients or servers, where the user had no rights to install software and the software gets updated by SCCM or other tools. (For this scenario normal users shouldn't be able to change the sittings.)
An other scenario would be an user who wants to check only manually every x days.

These type of choices need to be reviewed, please consult with @crutkas before making any change.

[htcfreek]

For example if PT is installed in companys on clients or servers, where the user had no rights to install software and the software gets updated by SCCM or other tools. (For this scenario normal users shouldn't be able to change the sittings.)
An other scenario would be an user who wants to check only manually every x days.

These type of choices need to be reviewed, please consult with @crutkas before making any change.

I have mentioned @crutkas in the new issue.