Select file first, then choose output format

[Philip-Scott]

I feel that the current UX and workflow is somewhat backwards to what other conversion tools have.

Usually, you first select the source file, then you choose the output format. With the current workflow, you need to first think of what the output is before you start selecting the file. You also can't add videos, pictures and music at once since the output format is selected before-hand.

[robertsanseries]

@Philip-Scott This current flow was based on the application format factory, which is one of the most used by windows users.

I would love it if you would point me to some tools with this new flow to analyze better! :D

[Philip-Scott]

This is a tool on Mac to convert. It has the instructions on the screenshot :)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smart-converter/id447513724?mt=12

There's also http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/mac_video_converter_freeware/tutorial.php

There's also Handbrake, where you pick the file first :)

Just by searching for the best converters on Mac gives me http://osxdaily.com/2013/06/20/free-mac-video-converter-apps/ which all apps let you pick the file first

[moqmar]

So, could we essentially get rid of the sidebar and the "Convert File" popup, and use a "Start"/"Start all" button instead? I think for format selection it would be the easiest to add a format dropdown to each file in the list, possibly with more options depending on the output format - Any Video Converter does that for example. There would need to be some way though to set a default format for new files, or change the format of all files (or multiple), and some way to manage videos, audio files and images together that way.

[LunkRat]

I had a very similar first-use experience to @Philip-Scott in which I stalled on what I should do with the sidebar. Now that I have used Ciano a bit, I am used to it, but the workflow still feels 'inverted' because the initial motivation for opening the program is to convert a specific batch of files, so instinctively the user feels like that selecting the files should be the first step.

Perhaps a good way to improve this is to create a context menu option in Files so that the user can Context click > "Convert with Ciano" and Ciano would open and ask for conversion format and output directory. Maybe a feature enhancement separate issue?