Reading tip: "Why Does Software Spoil?"

[admin]

No, I just meant a little reference list for looking up a number in case you forget.

Sounds like a variant of the 'dictionary' that I had just mentioned...
I could envison this as another method that could aid in creating a script, so you could pick functions from list/dictionary and assemble them...sort of similar to how one adds a built-in function to formulas in Excel..

Well, maybe... I want to keep scripting as hardcore as possible, because it can be dangerous... I will explain tomorrow. Gotta keep the noobs out... (I don't mean you, Jeff, I only learned that word from you.)

[admin]

I thought about it again, and now I find it not such a good idea. It actually might lead to forum bloat! To get higher ranks people will begin writing superfluous mini-posts like "Thanks" -- "You're welcome" -- "You, too" -- etc.

I certainly wouldn't disagree with this, but maybe we could find some appropriate graphic to indicate that jacky is the wiki-master and that I'm the blog-editor? For any of those who haven't figured that out already..

Okay, I have thrown two more badges (not extremely cute -- but my creative muscle is tired today) onto the bonfire of vanities. Not sure if I like it. It's a bit distracting...

[j_c_hallgren]

Okay, I have thrown two more badges (not extremely cute -- but my creative muscle is tired today) onto the bonfire of vanities. Not sure if I like it. It's a bit distracting...

I think you're right about the distraction aspect! Personally, I'd be happy enough with just the text identifier line...however, a badge sized similar to a typical RSS feed button would probably be easier on the eyes and also take less room vertically, if you choose to go that way...

Addendum/Update:

Well, maybe... I want to keep scripting as hardcore as possible, because it can be dangerous... I will explain tomorrow. Gotta keep the noobs out...

Ok, so it can be dangerous...and...that's a problem?
I think some aspects of scripting could easily be used by noobs if done in a way that's easy to follow...and that was the main point: that even if hardcore intended, it can still be convenient to use and understand.

[admin]

@DON: Can you please give me the first version of tracker you released?? I would love to see how it looked/worked 10 years back.

Okay, just for fun I uploaded Tracker/XYplorer 1.0! Note that in the beginning it was done purely for personal needs. At that time (June 1997) there was no software existing that could search files by Created Date! I needed this function bad, so I had to do it myself... It's funny that you can recognize a number of things that are still in XYplorer today. Have fun...

Note also that I did not test this version, but it seems to work... don't come with bug reports!!

Note further that it was originally done with VB4, but today I recompiled the original sources with VB6 to make it Vista compatible. Yep, it is Vista compatible!

BTW: The startup time is clearly faster than the one of XY 6.80. If that's important to you here's the good news: XYplorer 1.0 is FREEWARE!

[jacky]

Okay, just for fun I uploaded Tracker/XYplorer 1.0! Note that in the beginning it was done purely for personal needs. At that time (June 1997) there was no software existing that could search files by Created Date! I needed this function bad, so I had to do it myself... It's funny that you can recognize a number of things that are still in XYplorer today. Have fun...

Note also that I did not test this version, but it seems to work... don't come with bug reports!!

Note further that it was originally done with VB4, but today I recompiled the original sources with VB6 to make it Vista compatible. Yep, it is Vista compatible!

BTW: The startup time is clearly faster than the one of XY 6.80. If that's important to you here's the good news: XYplorer 1.0 is FREEWARE!

wow! That's some oldie, history even! the very first version ! Even older than the v1.50.0013 I had, which had seen the birth of the panel, only on the left then. Oh and, it was shareware so I can't really use it
And yeah, even on such early release we can see things that are still around today, they "just" grew & evolved...

From searching files by Created Date to the best file manager, that's pretty impressive!

[serendipity]

Thanks Don!! The tracker then is just a info panel tab now. You pretty much built everything around it. thats impressive. nice. this will remain with me as a memorablia.

[inghamc]

Don't ever add a fancy do-it-all FTP to make everyone happy, but a simple basic one that would keep most users happy, and if something like that could be handled mostly as optional module, then it might be even better.

A generalized rule-of-thumb (that Don is obviously aware of) would be:

Don't duplicate the edit functionality of 3rd-party utilities (e.g. Archive/Tag/Image editors); the greatest value of a file manager is to display enough read(-only) information that invoking a 3rd-party utility is only required for editing or other more-detailed tasks, and that this invocation be as intuitive and effortless as possible.