Thread View: comp.sys.acorn.tech
7 messages
7 total messages
Started by Andrew Hersee
Wed, 11 Nov 1992 17:52
Re: Sprite dragging/New Filer/Replacement ToolSprites
Author: Andrew Hersee
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 17:52
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 17:52
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This article should be read after Nick Smith's article concerning the joint
PD Filer and other 'little bits'. Depending on the news system you may get
this first. Who knows?
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From the number of options that we are likely to add it sounds as though a
application will be required to allow easy settings of variables. And it
should broadcast a message when they are changed so the Filer and anything
else can alter it's variables. This will save us having to add several menus
on the filer for new options etc. It also allows the other aspects to be
included into the project easily. ie It can set the toolsprites, solid drag
and other options.
Regarding longer filenames in the filer:
We could take the approach that Sun's file manager takes. ie find the widest
filename (up to a configurable maximum) and use that as the column width when
'formatting' the filer window.
Hot Keys In The Filer
I also suggest adding some hot keys to the filer.
Ideas are:
Ctrl-X delete (I often do this but it does not work surprise surprise)
Maybe it should be configurable so that it asks for
confirmation or another Ctrl-X to avoid the vary dangerous
oops I did not want to delete that!
Ctrl-F File Search
Ctrl-T SetType
Ctrl-S Stamp
Ctrl-I Info
'Edit' scrolling
When scrolling a window in Edit you will notice that it always aligns the
line nearest to the icon you pressed (up or down) so that it is completely
visible. Adding this would allow you to keep your place in a list of files
easily by selecting small icons and adjusting the window so that it contains
one column of files. Then you can step through files one at a time by clicking
on the scroll down icon.
Two stage icons.
Anyone like the idea of being able to define another sprite when an icon
is clicked on? eg an open file and closed one. (Just an idea :-) a little
impractible but may please certain people)
Improved settype menu
Allow the user to define a menu of commonly used types which could be
selected. Also allow recursive SetTypes.
??? File Tree ???
I have had mail from people suggesting that we add a tree structure to
the display options. I think this is too much for a hack and would require
a total rewrite. In fact I doubt it would materialize.
Improved FilerAction or is that another project :-)
Add a percentage to many operations. (How about altering the pointer
into an hourglass when over the FilerAction window)
Add a button for CLOSE when you get the error 'File Open'
New templates and sprites for many apps.
I already have a module which implements the following commands:
*RegisterFile <Filename1> <Filename2>
This registers the file 'Filename1' with the resource filing system as file
'Filename2' thus you can alter the templates that Draw uses by executing:
*RegisterFile MyTemp Resources.Apps.DrawApp.Templates (I can't remember
the exact path name.)
*DeRegisterFile <Filename>
This will deregister a file added by *RegisterFile and reallocate the memory.
With this I have designed new templates for Draw so that it's toolbox is
the same width as a scroll bar and it's icons designed to match those that I
use for the window boarders.
If we are going to start redesigning sprites perhaps we should also think
about the look of other apps. This module will allow us to alter the sprites
that are used by paint etc in it's windows.
I know a similar module was posted to NewCastle but that supplied no commands
it simply allowed you to 'compile' a module containing the files.
Perhaps this project should be called RISCOS 4 :-)
We need your views to implement a Filer (etc) with features you wish Acorn
had included.
Andrew Hersee
Re: Sprite dragging/New Filer/Replacement ToolSprites
Author: Michael Williams
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 23:00
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 23:00
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Being able to rename a file by editing the filename a la Macintosh would be nice too, oh, and how about using a saveas dialogue to move files in the same way as you can to copy? Finally, a "nice" feature would be if it could allow spaces in filenames (on renaming, copying etc.) and convert them to hard spaces in the software before telling FileSwitch what to do. Mike. -- ____________________________________________________________________________ \ / / Michael Williams Part II Computer Science Tripos |\/|\/\ MJW19@phx.cam.ac.uk University of Cambridge | |(__)Cymdeithas Genedlaethol Traddodiad Troi Teigrod Mwythus Ben I Waered
Re: Sprite dragging/New Filer/Replacement ToolSprites
Author: Mik Davis
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 09:51
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 09:51
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As this project would seem to involve altering the filer in a fairly major
way, how about allowing directories to have sprites anyway (rather that having
to use up one of your characters labelling it) I don't know whether this would
be anything like possible realy though.
If we must have a 'special character' to mark a directory which has an icon
then can we have somethin unobtrusive like '-' NOT '*' or '?' etc. "~' might
be quite usefull...
comments?
--
___________________________________________.
Mik Davis at Aston University, Birmingham | . . __ .
| |\/| | \ _,_ _ _
E-Mail: davism@uhura.aston.ac.uk | | |. |_/ |_| \/ |/_'
Re: Sprite dragging/New Filer/Replacement ToolSprites
Author: Ian Palmer
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 10:04
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 10:04
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In article <1992Nov11.175231.9297@dcs.warwick.ac.uk> ahersee@dcs.warwick.ac.uk (Andrew Hersee) writes:
>
>We need your views to implement a Filer (etc) with features you wish Acorn
>had included.
>
>Andrew Hersee
>
One thing that I would find useful would be if the filer could
remember your current 'faster' setting for copying, etc.
It's a mega-pain to have to keep setting 'faster' every single time
you copy something when you want it in a hurry (but don't really want
to resort to RO2 type copies).
Ian
--
E-mail : ijp@doc.ic.ac.uk
___ __ Snail mail : Department of Computing, Huxley Building,
/ _ _ /_/ _ / _ _ _ _ Imperial College, 180 Queens Gate,
_/_ (_|_| ) / (_|_(_| ) )_|/_) London. SW7 2BZ. England.
Re: Sprite dragging/New Filer/Replacement ToolSprites
Author: Ian Palmer
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 11:17
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 11:17
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In article <1992Nov12.095100.18123@aston.ac.uk> davism@uhura.aston.ac.uk (Mik Davis) writes:
> If we must have a 'special character' to mark a directory which has an icon
>then can we have somethin unobtrusive like '-' NOT '*' or '?' etc. "~' might
>be quite usefull...
>
If you have to have a special character, there's nothing to say that
the filer *has* to display it. The only problem with *not* displaying
it would be that people might not realise it's there, and forget it
when using the command line, etc. but in that case you could have an
option to not display the character (for those who are linkely to
remember), and what's more you could even extent that to including not
displaying the '!' for application dirs as well.
Failing that, for extra confusion, you could make the special
character a hard space - err... perhapse not! :-)
Ian
--
E-mail : ijp@doc.ic.ac.uk
___ __ Snail mail : Department of Computing, Huxley Building,
/ _ _ /_/ _ / _ _ _ _ Imperial College, 180 Queens Gate,
_/_ (_|_| ) / (_|_(_| ) )_|/_) London. SW7 2BZ. England.
Re: Sprite dragging/New Filer/Replacement ToolSprites
Author: S.R.Mansfield
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 11:51
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 11:51
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It sounds as if there is going to be alot of additional features added to Acorn's Filer module in the coming months. I have only one request... Could you please ensure that all *extras* are configureable, ie the ability to enable/disable each function. This would allow users to have just the functions they want implemented, instaed of either - Acorn filer or fully extended filer. This I feel would also increase the audience for the code. I'm, like most people, picky on what gets added to my RISC OS Desktop. Stephen Mansfield. P.S. Is it worth supporting RISC OS 2 with this code?
Re: Sprite dragging/New Filer/Replacement ToolSprites
Author: Kjetil Torgrim Homme
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 15:13
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 15:13
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In article <1992Nov12.095100.18123@aston.ac.uk> davism@uhura.aston.ac.uk (Mik Davis) writes: > As this project would seem to involve altering the filer in a fairly major >way, how about allowing directories to have sprites anyway (rather that having >to use up one of your characters labelling it) I don't know whether this would >be anything like possible realy though. If the file is a directory, see if there's a _<dirname> sprite or sm_<dirname> sprite in the pool. No need for a special character, or !Sprite files in each directory. Kjetil T. (still hoping the Norwegian distributor will get RO 3.1 soon!)
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