I agree with the basic concepts described here by John. I have previously communicated my general wish list to Neal, so I won't repeat all those specifics here; however, I think a "classic" option for those who are satisfied with the current GUI would be a good compromise, if possible. But, personally, I'm looking for an updated "look and feel" for the program and a "logger" screen for data input.
73, Carl N8VZ -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Pelham Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 10:10 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Dxbase] [DxBase] DxBase Desk Top Concept Neal, So many opinions on one side of this issue, so I too have to weigh in. Way back in 2002, and then again in 2003, I said this on this reflector: " I would like DXbase windows to work like Macromedia Dreamweaver or Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Visual Basic. That is, I want all the windows that make up the program to float on my screen with my desktop underneath, and not need to stay inside the main DXbase window. In this scenario the main DX base window would just be a menu bar." When DXbase for Windows first came out I was annoyed at all the space wasted by each window having its own full size title bar, and the fiddly difficulty of arranging the windows I wanted on-screen most efficiently inside a rectangular space, and having to go through that process each time I upgraded the software and each time I upgraded my PC and each time I needed to reinstall from scratch for whatever reason. Thinking about this issue again, I realize: Why would it be necessary to choose one approach over another? The logging program CommCat allows the user to select whether he wants windows to float or to be constrained inside the main window. (Unfortunately it doesn't allow this choice for all the program's windows, just some.) Adobe Photoshop allows most of its windows to be placed anywhere on the monitor (or multiple monitors) and it remembers everything - all window positions, docking selections, etc. So, it's possible to "pretend" that all the windows must go inside the main window just by making the main window big, and putting all the child windows inside. You don't ever have to know that you can have floating windows if you don't want to. I'm tired of looking at a user interface that looks like it was designed for Windows 3.1. The newer UIs and functionalities don't just look pretty, they work better too. 73, John, W1JA -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Merv Schweigert Sent: Tuesday, 21 December 2010 9:00 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Dxbase] [DxBase] DxBase Desk Top Concept I dont usually jump into the pile with my opinion, but going to have to side with Rick and Ron, the current type screen system for DXbase is one of the reasons I use it, I have many other logging programs and while several do as well as DXbase none have the screen features that I prefer, so if it changes to "floating" which I also hate then there is no longer incentive to stay with DXbase, too many others for free. (that I dont like either) 73 Merv K9FD / KH7C > 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 > ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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
