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Replace active tool indicator with a Tool Info panel #7

Description

@McoreD

Summary

Replace the current icon-only active tool indicator in the annotation toolbar with a distinct Tool Info panel that is visually separated from the main tool/action buttons and shows the current tool or selected annotation type together with relevant properties such as color, thickness, font, effect strength, and dimensions.

Problem

  • The current leading icon in the second toolbar row reads like a button even though it is informational.
  • The phrase "Active Tool" is misleading when Select mode is active but a rectangle, text box, or other annotation is selected.
  • Important context is split across picker controls and tooltips, so it is hard to quickly read what the current tool or selection is configured to do.
  • The current placement makes status/context compete visually with editing actions.

Proposal

  • Replace the icon-only indicator with a non-clickable Tool Info panel.
  • Visually separate that panel from the main toolbar buttons.
  • Show only the metadata relevant to the current tool or selected annotation.
  • Include live width/height or bounds readouts while drawing and when an annotation is selected.
  • Keep the main toolbar focused on tool selection and actions.

Suggested scope

  • Tool icon + title
  • Stroke/fill/text color summaries when relevant
  • Thickness, corner radius, font size, or effect strength when relevant
  • Text style state when relevant
  • Dimensions/bounds when drawing or selecting annotations
  • Compact Select state when nothing is selected

Non-goals

  • No command or history changes
  • No rendering or persistence redesign
  • No removal of existing picker controls in the first iteration

Notes

I also drafted a local IEIP in the XerahS repo for the same idea:
docs/proposals/ieip/IEIP0002-replace-active-tool-indicator-with-tool-info-panel.md

Activity

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