[Dxbase] DXBase Desk Top Concept

[Rick Kourey]

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