Folder Specific Settings Bugs

[PeterH]

So much posts - will reference none...

An example: if, for a referenced folder, I can save a changed attribute by clicking "save" (or so), I think it's normal that it's changed attribute will be lost, if I don't save! I.e. if for a folder showing thumbnails I just need a look in reverse search order, I will be glad if this is not remembered.

And if I'm in my "normal" folders, take a look at a thumbnail-folder, and then all "normal" folders will show thumbnails - no!

[jacky]

Thus, there isn't any software bug here but a written bug, in that doc's are not fully complete and could lead user to forget that this step is needed as it is for other similar .DAT files.

I guess it could have been mentioned (though mentioning the DAT file kinda implied it, true, only for users who know XY), but you know that it isn't required though : Save All Settings will of course include the new fss.dat, and that includes the automatic "Save settings on exit" obviously!

It's actually only required it you do not save all settings, but only some (INI, Catalog, CKS, etc) and then chances are you will see the new menuitem "Save Folder Specific Settings", so it's all good.

[j_c_hallgren]

jacky, you're 100% correct, but I was thinking of those people who may not be the "forum rats" that we are, and/or who read my blog for extracted change log info, so one line or so mentioning it (as info/reminder) would have been more than sufficient.

[graham]

Oh no, not trouble again

well actually no trouble, it all seems very logical and very useful

only minor bug so far is with the F tool button pressing it to loads message and if cancel is selected then the status reports Folder specifics Removed which is not the case

Very nice implementation - I now await the wiki to understand it better!

[jacky]

Some remarks about the new FSS :

Using "Save Settings As..." but not changing the folder seems to get XY to crash...

I find the ctxt menu (TB button) rather confusing. I mean the item "Remember Current Settings", which is the same as "Save Settings" (or "Remove Current Settings"). Even more confusing because that's NOT the first item we have on menu View|FSS, even though other than that it's the same menu. (Also, I feel it should be there as well)

I don't know, maybe it seemed better to put the default action always at the same place, but it feels very odd/confusing to me.

Also, I think there's a terminology problem. First, because it's sometimes "settings" and sometimes "properties", which is confusing I think. Second, I feel that some could think the "Save Settings" and "Save Settings As" refer to something else, namely the DAT file, as it's the common terminology there (menu File).

Now I know this is called Folder Specific Settings, but I feel it should be tweaked. Here's what I would suggest right now :

- Enable Folder Specific Settings (add it to TB'x ctxt menu)

- Save Scheme
- Edit Scheme...
- Remove Scheme

- Edit & Save New Scheme...
- Save As Default Scheme

But, yeah, the default action is tricky, as it is "Save Scheme" if there is not one defined, and "Remove Scheme" if there is (Default not counting). Maybe it should just relate that and be like that ? After all the Config button doesn't have the same Default item either, so it's not like it would be new or anything...

I can see why the button's state wouldn't be changed, i.e. not be pressed, but it should still probably read (on tooltip) "Scheme: <Default>" to indicate that something is being used, rather than nothing, which ain't the same.

I can't find how I did it, but I had a scheme for D:\Folder with subfolders, and I went to D:\Folder\Sub, and it said (tooltip) D:\Folder\Sub instead of D:\Folder (w/sub) and that sticked even when I changed location to E:\

Wish I could actually say something meaningful, but I can't manege to reproduce it & don't what what I had done to get there...

EDIT: OR, it was me screw up, but an unexpected (to me) behavior : you're in a folder suing a Scheme w/subfolders. You change something and press "Save" to update your settings, right? Well, wrong: it creates a new one for this subfolder only!

Maybe it should ask us : update current one (D:\Folder w/sub) or create a new one (D:\Folder\Sub) ?

I wish we had a list/way to see all the Schemes defined, so we could order them, rename (folder) then, delete them. Especially for when the folder they applied to as been renamed/deleted!

I think a simple list on LM with folder's name (or the masks) would be enough, no need to access the other properties, it's mostly to order/"rename"/delete.

Relative syntax ?:\ seems to work, but not "Scripts" or "..\"

Might be nice to use pipe ( | ) to define one than one folder/mask for the same settings

It looks like a pretty cool feature, well done!

[Pagat]

one minor glitch i just noticed and one wish:

If i want to remove a FSS with a wildcard i get the warning message. Now when i press cancel, the statusbar says "Folder Specific Settings removed" although the action was correctly cancelled.

Will it be possible to somehow show a list of all FSS that i saved? (without looking into fss.dat ) Right now it's hard to keep track of all the directories with FSS.


PS: i absolutely love this feature

[j_c_hallgren]

Re jacky's suggestion to use "scheme": I'd use the term "layout" instead.

BTW, are there still plans to have a variant on "Templates" so we could pick an existing one to be used instead of defining what folders are used for a setting/layout? Like having a set of choices and then picking the approp "template" for that folder...

[serendipity]

Re jacky's suggestion to use "scheme": I'd use the term "layout" instead.

Hmmm.. Since all this is about folder views, how about "Save folder view"? Ofcourse its not necessarily copy WE's folder view terminology but for the newcomers it might help in a small way.
Thinking about it, "Save folder view as default" would make even more sense.

[j_c_hallgren]

Since all this is about folder views, how about "Save folder view"? Ofcourse its not necessarily copy WE's folder view terminology but for the newcomers it might help in a small way.

Only issue might be that it may be a bit more than just the view, so thus I thought "layout" might be a bit more general...scheme just sounds..humm..odd?

[admin]

Since all this is about folder views, how about "Save folder view"? Ofcourse its not necessarily copy WE's folder view terminology but for the newcomers it might help in a small way.

Only issue might be that it may be a bit more than just the view, so thus I thought "layout" might be a bit more general...scheme just sounds..humm..odd?

Scheme, Layout, View... they all have their pros and cons. I'm also ready to change FSS into anything better (although we had discussed this earlier).

In general: thanks for the loads of feedback. I'll try to fix any serious bugs first, and then look at GUI logic and terminology. My impression already now is: that feature rocks!

[graham]

Just to add the term 'profile' for consideration

Pagats point about knowing folders with FSS active then maybe the folder icon could be different (defaults excepted) or would this slow things down having to update icons?

[jacky]

Pagats point about knowing folders with FSS active then maybe the folder icon could be different (defaults excepted) or would this slow things down having to update icons?

hmmm.. what do you mean "folders with FSS active" ? When a scheme is being used, i.e. FSS are loaded, the button gets its pressed state already.

[admin]

Just to add the term 'profile' for consideration

Pagats point about knowing folders with FSS active then maybe the folder icon could be different (defaults excepted) or would this slow things down having to update icons?

Okay: Scheme, Layout, View, Profile, and let's add Template. I'd like to know everybody's vote. For me, any of these is better than the current "Settings" -- however "Settings" has one big advantage: it matches the name of the feature "Folder Specific Settings". But as I said, I'm ready to sex up the feature name...

[j_c_hallgren]

Okay: Scheme, Layout, View, Profile, and let's add Template. I'd like to know everybody's vote. For me, any of these is better than the current "Settings" -- however "Settings" has one big advantage: it matches the name of the feature "Folder Specific Settings". But as I said, I'm ready to sex up the feature name...

Granted that Settings matches FSS, but it's when it's used in the menus that it doesn't seem quite as great is my opinion.

Thus, for now, here's my thoughts:
Scheme = Makes me think of the other usages of this word (scam related)
Layout = I suggested it but am open to other ideas
View = Already used for other things in XY but also matches WE and may be easiest for newbies to follow
Profile = Hummm...not sure...similar to Templates
Templates = I'd expect this to be used in conjunction with FSS to hold choices to pick from, but not as the currently active one.

So I'm thinking View or Layout with Profile or Template used to store available choices to select from.

[graham]

Pagats point about knowing folders with FSS active then maybe the folder icon could be different (defaults excepted) or would this slow things down having to update icons?

hmmm.. what do you mean "folders with FSS active" ? When a scheme is being used, i.e. FSS are loaded, the button gets its pressed state already.

Forget it - icon updates not a good idea! What I was thinking of was an immediate visual recognition of folder/FSS state without having to select the folder and see the button depressed.

As an aside - user issue/wiki

I am still finding using FSS confusing. Trying it for my own immediate needs I have it working but every now and then when I make a change it does things I did not expect. What this means is that I have a lot to learn but this also means that at the moment it is not intuitive in its application. As was mentioned, terminology is confusing as is the overall concept in use. Maybe I am using it wrongly. My needs were to have certain folders with .jpg files display as thumbnails whilst most would be in normal list form and a few display in reversed sort order. This is now all working as I want but for new XY users they need to be able to use this feature easily and not have to play around experimenting. Early days I know but based on the results I get with FSS it a very desirable feature.