The current PRV Track (List) Pane design introduced in X2 is one of a few areas I'm not so happy about GUI-wise, so I'm thinking of sending in a feature request (actually I've done it once, but I wasn't very specific and also attached no image).
 
Is there any reason you don't like the following changes in the pane? In the FR I'm posting a link to this thread so if you like these improvements, showing your support will probably make bakers seriously consider the request.
 
The changes are:
 
1. The strips can be color-coded partly or entirely (depending on the "Show strip colors" setting in Preferences) just like the track/bus strips in the TV/CV. The colors the note icon buttons currently show aren't easily distinguishable.
 
2. The strips can be either double-row (just like it is now) or single-row. Switching to the latter can obviously double the number of tracks visible in the pane.
 
3. The (default) size of track names is smaller than now, and the color of the text can be changed. Also, the track name background of the current track is highlighted (just like it is in the TV/CV).
 
4. The track number has its own column, which shows a user-defined color when the track is selected (just like the TV/CV track/bus strips).
 
5. The width of the pane can be changed but the MSR buttons are fixed on the far right (so that the track name field can be wider/narrower as desired).
 
6. [IMPORTANT] Quick Grouping works on all buttons, including the "Enable/Disable Track Editing" button.
 
 
In short, it's just a good copy of the Track View strips. :p
And ideally it should look like this:
 

 
 
What do you think?
 
Thanks

I think I could go for that. Nice work. I've already submitted an FR that the track name should highlight to show focus like the Track and Console views - a simple oversight I assume.

+2    Nice one, Jlien.   To have that area look and behave like a mini-Track View would be ideal.  
 

Thanks both. And, unlike the strips in the Track View, the track name field has no minimum size limitation so it can be completely hidden (for the Track pane to take less space in the PRV).


 
The instruments are still identifiable because they have their own colors, but then we don't know where to click when we just want to move the focus to another track. I think the track list pop-up below would be the solution.
 

 
This pop-up is very nice but currently it only appears under certain conditions. I think it should appear whenever you press the wheel button (together with the tool box that currently pops up) or it should be integrated into the right-click menu so that we can even move the focus to Track No.50 without scrolling down the Track pane on the right (selecting the track in the pop-up list automatically scrolls down the Track pane.....did you know that?).
 
OK, maybe it's just my dream, but I hope the improvements will be done in......X4 maybe. 
 
Thanks

Submitted.

Jlien, as I was reading your requests 1- 6 I was looking at your image and telling my self "Ain't that the way it is?" And then I saw "And ideally it should look like this:" and realized .....duh!
 
I went back and opened up some projects that had lots of Midi trks and realized that after reading your suggestions and seeing the picture, it really hit home. I could use those features/views.
 
And what about this feature: the ability to show/hide clip outlines for "only" the selected track/tracks?
 
I find that I want to show the out line of a track's clips, but when I select "Show Clips Outline" all of the tracks clips show and it becomes one big gray mess. Am I missing something here? Is there a way to do what I want now and I just don't get it/see it?

Jlien can you explain this better?
 
" 3. The (default) size of track names is smaller than now, and the color of the text can be changed. Also, the track name background of the current track is highlighted (just like it is in the TV/CV)."
 
I am finding it hard to understand. Do you mean "The (default) size of track names would be smaller than it is now" or the default size of the track names are now smaller in this version of X3? Just not clear to me.

Jlien X
 
5. The width of the pane can be changed but the MSR buttons are fixed on the far right (so that the track name field can be wider/narrower as desired).
 

How about adding this to #5:
"In both single row view and double row view" that way these buttons stay on the right most side of the pane all the time with the track name size changing/going away when pane is resized.

IMHO, there are much greater design and behavior inadequacies with the PRV than the ones listed by OP. Specificlaly:
 
* Non-MIDI tracks appear in the track list (if, for example, one presses CTRL+A, then opens the PRV). There is no way the content of these tracks so, why do they appear in the PRV?
 
* The PRV has its own grid setting that, once it goes out of sync with the smart grid, cannot be brought back into sync. If the PRV grid is set to follow the smart grid, all the other settings should disappear.
 
After all the frustrations I've been experiencing this past week with the instability, unpredictability, and design incompetence in X3, the very notion of putting more lipstick on this reeking pig is infuriating.

yevster
 
...the very notion of putting more lipstick on this reeking pig is infuriating.

Yep your frustration is showing.