Here are some responses below...
On Jan 1, 2005, at 6:33 PM, François Van Emelen wrote:
1)I have a 'UNKOWN' folder that doesn't contain any object. I tried to add one in this folder(as I did in 'APPS') but QDT prompted a warning window '.. aborted.. . QDT doesn't allow to delete the folder either telling me the folder isn't empty.
In this case it is empty due to the limits of the demo. In the full version, any executable that is not found in the database but found on your search path will be placed here, up to the limit of 100 objects. Then you can decide if you want to keep them or delete them.
The reason you can't add anything is again the limits of the demo. The limits are both for a single folder plus overall limits. If you delete something from one of the other folders or the desktop, then you will be able to try adding one in this folder.
2) A folder's window should be closed once an object is executed.
The executable folder (not enabled in the demo) will be kind of like this. This is a folder that when its object is clicked on it will execute a program (normally within the folder) and not open the folder itself. Or you can from the menu open the folder.
I may in the future be adding an option to close a folder when opening a new folder or executing something - user configurable. It is on the wish list at this point.
3) I miss an 'ESC' button in the 'About windows' and a 'Close/ESCP/ Quit' button in some 'dropdown menus'.
Will be adding a specific ESC button. For now, just hit escape to close it. I fell into a mental trap and followed a very bad example from the PC world with many About windows.
I am considering an option for future drop down menus to allow a single click close of them. Will also consider a separate icon or method. But for now, please also use ESC to abort from any drop down menu. This will likely not be in the full release but would be added in one of the free updates.
4) The icons are, of course, outstanding. Why not keep the same high quality standard for the icons/sprites in the folders/warning/About windows? (for example the JDH logo,ESC,?(help), W(warning),...
These are being worked on along with some other cosmetic improvements - just did not make it in time for the demo.
5) All 'Icons/Folders/ About/Warning have the same names( Object icon/ Folder icon/ Wait/ About). This is not a good idea in case one would hang or crash: I woundn't know which one to 'rjob'.
Will look into name differentiation for future updates. For actual errors, additional more specific information is added to the qdt.log file (but never enough it would seem :) ).
Will also be releasing as a future update a separate job manager that will allow you to block out all the QDT items if desired (each object on the desktop, icon or open folder, is a separate job).
6) If you delete an object in a folder and add a new one the space left by the deleted object remains empty. If you that a few times you will have to resize the folder's window to see the new added object.
This isn't quite true but for some reason the first space in a folder is not being used in the placement algorithm.
The algorithm for placement of new objects is based on a preset grid. I am currently doing some much needed tuning for icon placement but the theory is that if any object is within a grid square it will not be reused for a new one for automatic placement. Currently there are a few locations not being used properly in the demo but this will be correct in the full release.
Of course, you can always move any object around so if you want to pack things tighter or spread them out, no problems.
All the above comments would change my opinion about QDT: It's a great piece of software. If it had been around 10-12 years ago this list would have a few hundreds of active subscribers instead of a few tens.
Timing seems to be everything. But to tell the truth, if we have hundreds of active subscribers I would spend all my time monitoring this list and not getting anything done on the QDT release :)
If available at the QL metting in Eindhoven (March?),I will buy it, together with QWORD( Dutch and French versions).
Happy New Year to all of you.
At this point in time QDT development is my full time job (took a mini-sabatical from the work force to finish this and a few other projects) So it will definitely be shipping this month. I understand that Jochen and Roy are both taking orders at this time. We will announce final shipping dates when I get a bit closer to the golden release copy.
Again, thanks for excellent feedback.
Jim JDH Software Technologies _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
