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#1 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Missouri
Posts: 960
|
The "C" Key - Suggested change in behavior.
The "C" key (and Shift-C) are currently documented as Clock (show for 10 sec) and (Hold).
However, that doesn't currently work if "Show Crystal" is disabled in the Program settings. I suggest that it would be more useful (and consistent with documentation) if the "C" key turned on the crystal and clock for 10 seconds. And if Shift-C turned on the crystal and clock for the current duration (how "hold" now works). Added footnote: please do not "save" the "show crystal" setting, based on these keys. |
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#2 |
Developer
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 9,785
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That's not so easy. Currently, the Settings screen is used to change the state of the crystal. The whole program is put into suspended animation when the Settings box is up, then the entire 3D world is destroyed and rebuilt when the user hits OK, using a new list of objects. Different objects are constructed around the area of the crystal, depending on whether the crystal is showing or not. Attempting to change these on the fly could have ugly repercussions.
Jim Sachs
Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium |
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#3 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Missouri
Posts: 960
|
OK. I suggested showing the crystal because I thought that might be easier.
So, just show the clock (without the crystal). |
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#4 |
Developer
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 9,785
|
Huh?
Jim Sachs
Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium |
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#5 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Missouri
Posts: 960
|
![]() Huh?
![]() ![]() Just show the clock (without the crystal).
![]() It shouldn't bother anybody if fish happen to swim through, or in front of, the clock. So, collision avoidance isn't an issue. Colors of the clock and background are now user-selectable, so if somebody can't see the clock (because of color contrast), they can fix that. |
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#6 |
Developer
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 9,785
|
No, the clock is meant to go on the crystal. I won't have the numbers just hanging in space.
Jim Sachs
Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium |
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#7 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Missouri
Posts: 960
|
![]() No, the clock is meant to go on the crystal. I won't have the numbers just hanging in space.
![]() Let me restate the problem: In some circumstances, the C key (and Shift-C) do not do anything. But the documentation ("About" panel) says those keys do something. I noticed that something should be done to resolve that problem. I apologize for suggesting how to fix it. |
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#8 |
Forum Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Rock Hill, SC
Posts: 10,939
|
![]() The "C" key (and Shift-C) are currently documented as Clock (show for 10 sec) and (Hold).
However, that doesn't currently work if "Show Crystal" is disabled in the Program settings. ![]() I suppose a message could be displayed in white text when the user presses C and the Crystal is hidden "Please enable the Crystal feature if you wish to display the clock." But then we would get 4-5 tech support e-mails a month asking how to avoid getting this message and 1-2 asking how to enable the Crystal feature.
"Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell
"If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman |
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#9 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Missouri
Posts: 960
|
![]() Most users aren't even aware of the keyboard shortcuts and just let the Aquarium run at default settings. Most users have never even seen the Settings panel.
I suppose a message could be displayed in white text when the user presses C and the Crystal is hidden "Please enable the Crystal feature if you wish to display the clock." But then we would get 4-5 tech support e-mails a month asking how to avoid getting this message and 1-2 asking how to enable the Crystal feature. ![]() "It's too tough to fix"; or "Just forget about it"; or ??? ============ Tech support email: "It used to play music, and now it doesn't - how do I fix that?" [user pressed the M key] Tech support email: "I'm suddenly getting this frying sound when it runs - how do I fix that?" ... "It suddenly quit moving, and I can't see the crystal any more..." |
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#10 |
Developer
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 9,785
|
You don't need to tell Morgan about Tech Support - he's been handling it lately.
Jim Sachs
Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium |
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#11 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Missouri
Posts: 960
|
![]() You don't need to tell Morgan about Tech Support - he's been handling it lately.
![]() I was (and am) just not sure what he was suggesting, as a solution. Perhaps he'll explain. Last edited by Dale; 05-16-2010 at 06:43 PM. |
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#12 |
Forum Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Rock Hill, SC
Posts: 10,939
|
I'm suggesting that there is no need for a solution.
The type of user who will go to the trouble to learn the keyboard shortcuts can figure out that the reason the clock isn't displaying is because the crystal isn't there. And as you probably gathered from Jim's post, I've taken up handling some of the tech support e-mails destined for serenescreen.com now. Lost keycodes, installation help, etc. So if anyone has a lost keycode problem shoot me a PM. Thus far, I haven't seen any of the types of tech support e-mails you are suggesting we should be seeing.
"Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell
"If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman |
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#13 |
Registered
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida
Posts: 486
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![]() I'm suggesting that there is no need for a solution.
The type of user who will go to the trouble to learn the keyboard shortcuts can figure out that the reason the clock isn't displaying is because the crystal isn't there. ![]() It does appear, however, that this is not a problem in the "real world". Adding that line would be simply a minor "cleaning up" thing. + 2 cents |
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#14 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Missouri
Posts: 960
|
![]() I'm suggesting that there is no need for a solution.
The type of user who will go to the trouble to learn the keyboard shortcuts can figure out that the reason the clock isn't displaying is because the crystal isn't there. ![]() It seems like that's near-impossible to fix, and if it's not a significant problem for tech support, then "problem resolved." ![]() And as you probably gathered from Jim's post, I've taken up handling some of the tech support e-mails destined for serenescreen.com now.
![]() ![]() ![]() I'm sure you will remember that I've sometimes posted the thought that better, generally-available documentation would be helpful for users, and reduce tech support workload. And I'm sure you will remember the usual reaction. |
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#16 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Missouri
Posts: 960
|
![]() I won't have the numbers just hanging in space.
![]() ... but the fish.... How about "floating, but anchored to the bottom"? Oh, perhaps we can have some realistic "number movement"... [Sorry] ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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