Option to Display Full Border in Split Panes

[aaron-613]

Option to Display Full Border in Split Panes

Having a highlighted border around the active pane is very useful. However, when using only two panes, the "border" is simply a highlighted line between them. At a glance, it is very difficult to tell which is the active one (if I can't readily see the cursor). I've often resorted to Alt-Left Alt-Right, or Alt-Up Alt-Down, a few times so the line wiggles a bit so I know which one I'm on. (Could also click, but I avoid the mouse).

Proposed technical implementation details (optional)

I think it would very useful and help improve productivity if the active border was a complete rectangle border around the whole active pane. Or at least, an option to toggle it like that. Even with more than just two panes, I still think it would visually help a lot to know which pane is active.

Thanks very much for working on Terminal! I think it's great and use it every day. 👍🏼

[zadjii-msft]

Huh. That's not a bad idea. If you look very closely, you'll note that there's an "inactive" line on the other side of the border, to indicate the other pane isn't active. Would you imagine that border around all panes at all times, and then just changing the color when it becomes active, or only the border around the active pane(s)?

If we do the second, it would cause a slight resize when changing the active pane, which could be minorly annoying.

[aaron-613]

@zadjii-msft Either way, I guess..? Obviously I didn't even notice the "inactive" border. Or perhaps I thought it was a drop-shadow..?

As long as it would end up looking something like this, that'd be awesome.

But I agree: having the text jiggle/resize if just switching which pane is active would be annoying.

Thanks!!

[Rosefield]

As an implementation detail, a lot of the infrastructure is already there to support this since it is used for multiple pane focusing

e.g.

[zadjii-msft]

@Rosefield that was exactly the work I was thinking of 😉