New playhead toggle button to go with new ones recently added to version 9

Community Ideas for Ardour
#1

In past I got slightly snipped at for making request posts for version 9, although some were added.
I know that no new features are being considered in RC versions which worked out great…
Do not make posts while in alpha, and now RC versions are available but no more requests being considered.
So, not much of a window (which I knew was going to happen, which is why I tried to make request posts before RCs were released).

I understand that there is a lot going on with the project at the moment, but I have a suggestion that is closely related to new button/icons that have been added to version 9 that maybe someone will be willing to hear me out. I feel would make more sense to be added in 9 with these other new buttons, but if not then maybe in 9.1?

SUGGESTION
Two new buttons have been added to the toolbar in Editor window.
Scroll automatically to keep playhead visible
Playhead follows range tool clicks and range selection

The new button
Playhead follows range tool clicks and range selection
deals with clicks and range selection (Range Mode)

I am suggesting to add a third similar button that works with Grab Mode.
This new button will be offered as a toggle as well.
When activated, when user uses Grab Mode to select a region, the playhead will be moved automatically to the beginning of that region selected.
If multiple regions are selected, then the playhead would be moved to the region beginning that is furthest to the left (closest to 00:00:00).

As mentioned this would be offered as a third button and would be a toggle on/off.
This way user can choose which combination of playhead functionality they desire to use.

Hopefully this was helpful
Thank you to anyone who reads this

P.S.
There are also no “Keyboard Shortcuts” available for these 2 and possibly 3 actions if my suggestion is added.
Might be worth adding these before release as well, if anyone agrees.

(If either of these are agreed with let me know if I should report on Mantis)

#2

In the distant past, “Playhead follows range tool clicks and range selection” was not limited to the Range tool; it also jumped to the start of the Region. This led to a problem, particularly for new users: the user selects a region whose start is offscreen. Then the playhead either disappears (if Follow Playhead is off) or they jump to an entirely different part of the song without any reference to what happened (if FP is on). So we relaxed this rule to only follow Range selections since range selections (by definition) always get initiated somewhere on the visible screen.

I’m not against adding a button that locates playhead to the beginning of the selected region. (or selected midi note…?) But it’s one of those things: there’s the danger of adding so many (nice) features and options that you are in button-hell. Or you hide the button in prefs, and developers forget to test all the combinations that users may (knowingly or unknowingly …especially if there’s a shortcut) engage.

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