Neal, I agree with Rick's email below. The screen system Jack developed is a major feature of DxBase; one I would consider a major requirement and feature of DxBase. I have to work with software at work with floating screens, and hate it. It's a major selling point of DxBase for me.
Ron / NU1U -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rick Kourey Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 11:45 PM To: Neal Campbell Cc: [email protected] Subject: [Dxbase] DXBase Desk Top Concept Neal, I am unable to visualize the screens you have proposed in your last email. But one of the things a number of us has liked about DXBase 2007 is its simpe GUI with all information being shown in different panes that come together in one large desk top pane that fits on screen. Please, please don' t change this concept and have floating screens on top of each other that fit nowhere. I encourage you to continue to use the concept that Jack developed and that is having the user select additional informational panes that are listed under the "DX Info" screen (i.e. spots, messages, grey line etc.). You could add to this existing list and then place another choice of panes under the "QSL Info" screen. The point is everything really fits on the desk top and nothing is really floating unless the user wants it this way. I have other log programs where the screens do not fit totally on the desk top and they float. I will not use these log programs since the floating screens often hide other pertinent data and all I seem to do is move the screens around so I can see the data I want. Unfortunately if you have not designed the next generation screen set, what I think I am reading in your comments is you are not very far along with its feature design or programming. Rick Kourey (K4KL) Marvin/Charlotte, NC Hi guys Sri abt the absence on the list, my computer business is having one heck of a final kick this month and I have been 7 S 12 for the last 3 weeks. I can tell you that you will know when a beta test phase is imminent (and its not). While there is a lot from the Updater that was snagged from the beta, you could tell how slowly I turned the Updater around so its obvious I am one incredibly slow programmer. What I thought would take 1-2 weeks took 2 months (for stealing time away from my business). Thats a factor of four in case you missed my estimation talent. I should not have put a deadline before and I won't make the mistake again. I will take the suggestion of the gentlemen who ruffled my feathers a few months ago, however, and publish some pictures of the user interface for comment. There are 3 different philosophies on how the UI can look. One is to merely break out the current scheme which limits the information 'panes' to residing within the overall program window. So, total floatable windows on the desktop. Second is to make it look similar to, say, DM780 from Ham Radio Deluxe's package where its one big window but the panes are collapse-able and pin-able and usage of tabs for large displays. Additionally, this approach lets you re-arrange the one big window to see which panes you like in which side/corner of the window. The third is a task/menu approach similar to the latest Microsoft Office. No 'ribbon' but the tabbed menu approach. I have been doing a lot of work with Access 2010 and can tell you I really like the way it looks and feels. Its hard to visualize these (its hard to describe them) so a few pictures will help to judge your reactions. So, no new dates but hopefully a bit more transparency into my progress. 73 Neal Campbell Abroham Neal Software www.abrohamnealsoftware.com (540) 645 5394 ______________________________________________________________ Dxbase mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/dxbase Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Dxbase mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/dxbase Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
