Slider Size Problem

Question

Consider this simple code

Slider[0.5, ImageSize -> {Automatic, 50}]

We get

But if we add another option

Slider[0.5, ImageSize -> {Automatic, 50}, Appearance -> "DownArrow"]

The slider shrinks.

Is this a bug or the way the option works?

I use Mathematica 10.2 on Windows 10 64bit.

Answer 1

This is not an answer. I can't give one as I have no access to Windows. However, it describes an experiment that I think might cast some light on how each of your options is affecting the rendering of a slider.

When I run into a problem with the space allocated to a control, I find it useful to experiment with variations that have a frame drawn around each control. This gives me a better visual assessment of the problem. So to investigate your problem, I built a grid of framed sliders with the relevant option variations.

Grid[
  Map[
    Column[{Row[#, ", "], Framed @ Slider[0.5, Sequence @@ #]}] &,
    {{{}, 
     {Appearance -> "DownArrow"}}, 
     {{ImageSize -> {Automatic, 50}}, 
      {Appearance -> "DownArrow", ImageSize -> {Automatic, 50}}}},
    {2}],
  Alignment -> {{Right, Left}, {Bottom, Top}},
  Spacings -> {1, 2}]

I am running V10.2 on OS X, and on my system the above code gives

I conclude that

1. Changing the appearance of the slider thumb has only a slight effect on the height of the thumb and, thus, on the height of the allocated space.
2. The ImageSize option has no effect on the height of the slider thumb

These conclusions only apply to OS X and maybe only the specific version of OS X I am running. I suggest that you run my experiment or a similar one on your system and see if your results differ.