Wouldn't it be simpler and more consistent to just use the
textHighlightColor rather than adding another preference?  It actually
should be renamed to "selectionColor", so that selections, be they in
lists or text, are consistently rendered.

On 7/8/07, Sebastian Sastre <ssastre at seaswork.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hi there,
>
>     I wanted to share a couple of simple and cheap customizations I've made
> on my daily Squeak image that I feel improves (phisical) ergonomy. I suggest
> those guys that make that customized images take a look and ofcourse the
> official Squeak to see if, triviality aside, this is cool enough.
>
>     To install, 1) evaluate in a workspace the code in Preferences.text
> attached file and 2) install the ListItemColorPreferences.1.cs changeset
> file.
>
>     The changeset with 2 method modifications that make the lists use the
> preferences instead of harcoded colors for highlighting. The preferences
> code is in the other attached file.
>
>     Criteria was: minimalism, a better Fitts law score and better contrast.
>
>     Minimalism. No splitter handlers and pollute the windows with scrolls
> only when rigorously necessary.
>     Fitts. Make the scrolls wider to reduce the time aiming the pointer
> device (mouse or whatever) before the click.
>     Contrast. Take care on contrast making it better for items selected in a
> list.
>
>     I encourage to use better contrast for highlighting in selected list
> items. Try to read from 1 meter of the screen with the default red over
> lightgray (low contrast) and then customize it to a better contrasted
> version. I liked the readability of cyan over dark blue but is so different
> from the main theme that I choosed a not that radical one (like the one I've
> put in the preferences file).
>
>     As developers parsing the low contrast symbols hundred of times a day
> ofen for hours at that low contrast can wastely "raise the temp of our
> graphic cards", this is, unecessary visual stress.
>
>     Who knows.. everything to save a couple of headaches :)
>
>     all the best,
>
>
>
> Sebastian Sastre
>
> PD: when I had some more time for this I plan to make a preference of
> opening menues and submenues with a click (like it is now) or only with a
> mouse over. This can save hundreds of clicks a week and so the clicker
> finger join.
>
>
>
>