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Old 08-27-2008, 06:34 PM   #1881
Jim Sachs
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The general Forum is allowed to know where the program stands regarding moving into Beta testing. I was hoping to send it to the Alpha group yesterday, but this problem (and a couple of bugs) slowed me down a bit.

Also, I'm willing to accept suggestions regarding interface design from any source.
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Old 08-27-2008, 07:50 PM   #1882
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Originally posted by Jim Sachs:
The way I have it now, there is a chart of all the fish, and you can click on each one. Once clicked, you can increase or decrease the number of that type of fish in the tank. You can also include it in the random mix. There is a separate control to set the number of random fish.

It gets a bit confusing when a bunch of fish have been included as random possibilites, but the number of random fish is zero. Or, the number of random fish might be greater than zero, but no fish have been marked for possible inclusion.  
Just a thought..
A chart / list (icons) of all the fish. a mouse over gives the name and as much detail as you want to divulge.
check boxes / radio buttons / spin box in line with icons, columns have options, always / random / never/ number of fish (spin box limits number)
Running total at bottom of chart. If maximum in any category is exceeded error message to that effect.
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Old 08-27-2008, 09:24 PM   #1883
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Wow, which of these buttons to I press to create all that?
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Old 08-28-2008, 01:33 AM   #1884
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Originally posted by Jim Sachs:
Wow, which of these buttons to I press to create all that?  

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Old 08-28-2008, 02:50 AM   #1885
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OK, I'm going to Staples tomorrow.
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Old 08-28-2008, 08:19 AM   #1886
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Ok, if this one is causing so much trouble and delay, I'll ask the daft/obvious question. -

What's wrong with the 2.6 settings panel we use now? ..... that one seems to have worked....
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Old 08-28-2008, 08:38 AM   #1887
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There were only 8 fish allowed on the screen with 2.6. Now there are 30.
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Old 08-28-2008, 09:03 AM   #1888
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30 little clownfish at once.
sounds like fun
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Old 08-28-2008, 09:06 AM   #1889
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So, - where we now have one column of 8 fish names, in the box on the left, - couldn't we have three columns of 10 names in a larger box?

Or two columns of 15 names, with the 'Fish Info' box made wider but shallower?
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Old 08-28-2008, 09:08 AM   #1890
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Originally posted by cjmaddy:
So, - where we now have one column of 8 fish names, in the box on the left, - couldn't we have three columns of 10 names in a larger box?

Or two columns of 15 names, with the 'Fish Info' box made wider but shallower?  
Second.
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Old 08-28-2008, 11:23 AM   #1891
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It wouldn't fit on a 640x480 screen, plus I have to save some room to expand the fish chart when there are more fish available.
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Old 08-28-2008, 11:41 AM   #1892
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A 640x480 screen!!! ... If there are any of those left, then they could use scroll bars or 'drag' it.

Room to expand the fish chart? ... The current fish chart already has scroll bars for 30 options, so no problem there.

That's it! ..... Job done! ..... Next problem.....

Jim, - I think you are looking for problems that aren't there!
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Old 08-28-2008, 11:56 AM   #1893
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My Sony Vaio runs the Aquarium best at 640x480 - gets about 20 fps, and doesn't look bad. Regarding scroll bars, a popup dialog box just pops up at however many pixels it was created. It doesn't know what the resolution is, or if half of it is off-screen. Scroll-bars don't just magically appear.

I've always hated the scroll-bars in the fish-chart on the MA2.6 interface. I always forget about that bottom row of fish.
All the fish show up on the new chart:
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Iface.jpg (66.8 KB, 124 views)
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Old 08-28-2008, 12:09 PM   #1894
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Originally posted by Jim Sachs:
I've always hated the scroll-bars in the fish-chart on the MA2.6 interface. I always forget about that bottom row of fish. All the fish show up on the new chart.  
Me too! That's a nice fix in my eyes...however trivial and small. Cheers!
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Old 08-28-2008, 12:20 PM   #1895
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Originally posted by Jim Sachs:
.... Also, I'm willing to accept suggestions regarding interface design from any source.  
..... But you've already made your mind up.

If you're not going to have scroll bars, then the icons are going to get very small when more fish and the creature packs are added.

I see nothing wrong with those scroll bars for the fish chart, - does anyone else?

However, I've tried my best, so I'd better leave it at that....
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Old 08-28-2008, 12:44 PM   #1896
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Yes, I've already made my mind up for the first release - it will look very much like the above pic. Suggestions are always welcome, as refinements or possibly a complete overhaul could be implemented fairly soon after the first release.

Regarding having room for new icons - This design can easily accomodate two more rows (12 critters), by simply narrowing the FishSetList window, eliminating the logo, and stretching the chart down. By slightly downsizing each icon (about like that 80%-size pic above), I could probably get another row of critters and it would still look pretty good. Any more than that would need a re-think.
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Old 08-28-2008, 12:47 PM   #1897
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That screenshot looked pretty intuitive to me and the fish set idea is excellent. Yeh, just add a scrollbar for more fish and/or creatures. Us computer users are not afraid of them.
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Old 08-28-2008, 01:11 PM   #1898
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How about using Tabs on the dialog for the different fish sets?
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Old 08-28-2008, 02:30 PM   #1899
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Maybe Fish on one screen and critters on another
(fish in tank - critters in tank)
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Old 08-28-2008, 02:31 PM   #1900
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Oh dear, I have designed GUI's and logical layout for software in the past, as I'm a graphic designer myself - and I so badly want to help out, alas time is something I don't have for another project right now.

I might sketch out some logical layout ideas for you though if you want to see visual ideas.
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