M, B, and P keys - suggested behavior

Dale · 05-16-2010, 11:33 AM

In looking at consistence of behavior for stuff in the "About" panel:

I suggest that the effect of the M, B, and P keys be temporary (per execution).

Those keys currently result in a permanent change being saved, for settings in the Program Settings panel. That's different from most other things in "About".

Footnote: label for "B" should be "Bubble Sound on/off"

Footnote 2: I apologize for multiple threads - but they are slightly different topics, and I'm doing "incremental discovery".

Footnoet 3: Yes, Jim, I do suspect that this would probably be a more complex change than it might appear to some folks.

Jim Sachs · 05-16-2010, 11:57 AM

The reason I made these permanent is that some people hate one or more of those items so much that they want to permanently disable them with one keystroke, then never have to deal with them again. Yet the features have to default to ON the first time the program is ever started, or many people wouldn't even know they were available.

Change made to bubble sound On/Off.

Dale · 05-16-2010, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

The reason I made these permanent is that some people hate one or more of those items so much that they want to permanently disable them with one keystroke, then never have to deal with them again. Yet the features have to default to ON the first time the program is ever started, or many people wouldn't even know they were available.

Jim, they can't be disabled with one keystroke. Here's what it takes:

0. Find out how to get to the settings screen - assume....
1. Press space
2. Click About - and read.
3. Click Cancel
4. Click OK
5. Press M, B, P

After step 1 above, it's easier and faster to satisfy hate by:

2. Click "Program Settings"
3. Uncheck 3 boxes (same effort as 5. above)
4. Click OK Twice.

Well, OK - it's the same number of "keystrokes". But my thinking was:

A. It's inconsistent. For instance, why wouldn't "W", "F", "S" work the same way? [Although I do see the "F2" seems to be "permanent"]

B. If it's a "permanent" change, then the legend needs tweaking. For instance: "Pause Automatic Scrolling" should be "Permanently Pause Automatic Scrolling" - or "Automatic Scrolling On/Off" or something.

C. Ideally, from a user interface perspective, a "permanent toggle" should have its current setting displayed. That would apply to the "About" screen, in this case. [The "Program Settings" screen of course displays that information]

The largest consideration, in my opinion, is that key behavior should be consistent. That's (in my opinion) particularly important because of (shortage of) documentation.

But - in the scheme of things like background colors, it's not a big deal. Let's see what other folks think.

Jim Sachs · 05-16-2010, 01:13 PM

Sure thay can be disabled with one keystroke:

Cliff starts the program for the first time.
Cliff hits M.
Cliff never has to listen to music again, as I promised him.

feldon34 · 05-16-2010, 03:29 PM

Customers contact us by e-mail asking how to disable those items permanently. Being able to tell them one key to press (and never again) makes answering these e-mails quick.

Dale · 05-16-2010, 04:03 PM

Originally posted by feldon34:

Customers contact us by e-mail asking how to disable those items permanently. Being able to tell them one key to press (and never again) makes answering these e-mails quick.

I do appreciate that enabling customer service to give quick answers, is a big plus for those who are answering the e-mail.

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”

Originally posted by feldon34:

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..

Does tech support (customer service) take the time to tell the users about any of that stuff, like how to get to the settings panel?

feldon34 · 05-16-2010, 11:47 PM

It's in the Help file, but I don't think this information is imparted in the installation or order receipt e-mails that go out.

JohnWho · 05-17-2010, 07:18 AM

It is in the "readme.txt" file that I have.

Dale · 05-17-2010, 08:39 AM

Originally posted by feldon34:

It's in the Help file, but I don't think this information is imparted in the installation or order receipt e-mails that go out.

Where do I find the Help file? (It's certainly not accessed by pressing F1)

Originally posted by JohnWho:

It is in the "readme.txt" file that I have.

How would the normal user find the readme.txt file?

JohnWho · 05-17-2010, 02:47 PM

I can't recall exactly, but isn't viewing the "readme" file an option at the end of the installation process?

If so, then the readme file is no more difficult to find on a system than any other program's readme file.

Dale · 05-17-2010, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by JohnWho:

I can't recall exactly,

.

JohnWho · 05-17-2010, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by Dale:

.

Hey Dale -

are you having your "period"?

Dale · 05-17-2010, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by JohnWho:

Hey Dale -

are you having your "period"?

No, I've had a hystericallectomy.

I was just glad you got my "point".

Wizwad · 05-18-2010, 05:30 AM

You're all dotty.

Dale · 05-18-2010, 10:13 AM

Apparent decision by Jim: no change to current behavior.

cjmaddy · 05-18-2010, 10:31 AM

Good.

Dale · 05-20-2010, 02:54 PM

Just for the record:

Originally posted by JohnWho:

I can't recall exactly, but isn't viewing the "readme" file an option at the end of the installation process?

Apparently not.

I took a test system (W7-64 if it matters), uninstalled MA3, used Regedit to remove all mentions of SereneScreen from the registry.

Rebooted to make sure, verified that there was nothing in the Programs, or in my Appdata.

Downloaded a fresh copy of the .exe from SereneScreen.com, and installed it.

It did require me to enter my registration code (presumably demonstrating that it was a fresh install).

There was no display of the readme.txt file, and no question asking if I wanted to see it, nor any indication of where it might be found.

JohnWho · 05-20-2010, 03:16 PM

Ah, thanks for doing that. Many "installs" have that option to open/read the readme file.

Don't know if it is possible, but perhaps it should be suggested to Prolific that they add that feature to their installation procedure?

Dale · 05-20-2010, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by JohnWho:

Ah, thanks for doing that.

Glad to help.

Originally posted by feldon34:

Dale does not have a patent on testing ...

As he said, anybody could have done it.

05-16-2010, 11:33 AM	#1
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	M, B, and P keys - suggested behavior In looking at consistence of behavior for stuff in the "About" panel: I suggest that the effect of the M, B, and P keys be temporary (per execution). Those keys currently result in a permanent change being saved, for settings in the Program Settings panel. That's different from most other things in "About". Footnote: label for "B" should be "Bubble Sound on/off" Footnote 2: I apologize for multiple threads - but they are slightly different topics, and I'm doing "incremental discovery". Footnoet 3: Yes, Jim, I do suspect that this would probably be a more complex change than it might appear to some folks.

05-16-2010, 11:57 AM	#2
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	The reason I made these permanent is that some people hate one or more of those items so much that they want to permanently disable them with one keystroke, then never have to deal with them again. Yet the features have to default to ON the first time the program is ever started, or many people wouldn't even know they were available. Change made to bubble sound On/Off. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

05-16-2010, 01:13 PM	#4
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Sure thay can be disabled with one keystroke: Cliff starts the program for the first time. Cliff hits M. Cliff never has to listen to music again, as I promised him. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

05-16-2010, 03:29 PM	#5
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	Customers contact us by e-mail asking how to disable those items permanently. Being able to tell them one key to press (and never again) makes answering these e-mails quick. "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

05-16-2010, 11:47 PM	#7
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	It's in the Help file, but I don't think this information is imparted in the installation or order receipt e-mails that go out. "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

05-16-2010, 12:24 PM	#3
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: The reason I made these permanent is that some people hate one or more of those items so much that they want to permanently disable them with one keystroke, then never have to deal with them again. Yet the features have to default to ON the first time the program is ever started, or many people wouldn't even know they were available. Jim, they can't be disabled with one keystroke. Here's what it takes: 0. Find out how to get to the settings screen - assume.... 1. Press space 2. Click About - and read. 3. Click Cancel 4. Click OK 5. Press M, B, P After step 1 above, it's easier and faster to satisfy hate by: 2. Click "Program Settings" 3. Uncheck 3 boxes (same effort as 5. above) 4. Click OK Twice. Well, OK - it's the same number of "keystrokes". But my thinking was: A. It's inconsistent. For instance, why wouldn't "W", "F", "S" work the same way? [Although I do see the "F2" seems to be "permanent"] B. If it's a "permanent" change, then the legend needs tweaking. For instance: "Pause Automatic Scrolling" should be "Permanently Pause Automatic Scrolling" - or "Automatic Scrolling On/Off" or something. C. Ideally, from a user interface perspective, a "permanent toggle" should have its current setting displayed. That would apply to the "About" screen, in this case. [The "Program Settings" screen of course displays that information] The largest consideration, in my opinion, is that key behavior should be consistent. That's (in my opinion) particularly important because of (shortage of) documentation. But - in the scheme of things like background colors, it's not a big deal. Let's see what other folks think.

05-16-2010, 04:03 PM	#6
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by feldon34: Customers contact us by e-mail asking how to disable those items permanently. Being able to tell them one key to press (and never again) makes answering these e-mails quick. I do appreciate that enabling customer service to give quick answers, is a big plus for those who are answering the e-mail. “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime” Originally posted by feldon34: 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.. Does tech support (customer service) take the time to tell the users about any of that stuff, like how to get to the settings panel?

05-17-2010, 07:18 AM	#8
JohnWho Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida Posts: 486	It is in the "readme.txt" file that I have.

05-17-2010, 08:39 AM	#9
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by feldon34: It's in the Help file, but I don't think this information is imparted in the installation or order receipt e-mails that go out. Where do I find the Help file? (It's certainly not accessed by pressing F1) Originally posted by JohnWho: It is in the "readme.txt" file that I have. How would the normal user find the readme.txt file?

05-17-2010, 02:47 PM	#10
JohnWho Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida Posts: 486	I can't recall exactly, but isn't viewing the "readme" file an option at the end of the installation process? If so, then the readme file is no more difficult to find on a system than any other program's readme file.

05-17-2010, 03:14 PM	#11
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by JohnWho: I can't recall exactly, .

05-17-2010, 03:21 PM	#12
JohnWho Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida Posts: 486	Originally posted by Dale: . Hey Dale - are you having your "period"?

05-17-2010, 04:08 PM	#13
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by JohnWho: Hey Dale - are you having your "period"? No, I've had a hystericallectomy. I was just glad you got my "point".

05-18-2010, 05:30 AM	#14
Wizwad Only me... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 2,584	You're all dotty. Mark ----------- Intel i7 12700K \| Aorus Z690 Pro \| Corsair DDR5 5600 32GB \| Asus Dual RTX3060ti 6GB v2 Mini OC \| Corsair RM850 Gold PSU \| 1TB NVMe M.2 WD Black SN850 \| 4TB Seagate BarraCuda HDD \| Corsair Airflow 5000D Case \| HP 32QHD 4K Monitor \| Windows 11 x64 Professional

05-18-2010, 10:13 AM	#15
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Apparent decision by Jim: no change to current behavior.

05-18-2010, 10:31 AM	#16
cjmaddy Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 7,854	Good.

05-20-2010, 02:54 PM	#17
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Just for the record: Originally posted by JohnWho: I can't recall exactly, but isn't viewing the "readme" file an option at the end of the installation process? Apparently not. I took a test system (W7-64 if it matters), uninstalled MA3, used Regedit to remove all mentions of SereneScreen from the registry. Rebooted to make sure, verified that there was nothing in the Programs, or in my Appdata. Downloaded a fresh copy of the .exe from SereneScreen.com, and installed it. It did require me to enter my registration code (presumably demonstrating that it was a fresh install). There was no display of the readme.txt file, and no question asking if I wanted to see it, nor any indication of where it might be found.

05-20-2010, 03:16 PM	#18
JohnWho Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida Posts: 486	Ah, thanks for doing that. Many "installs" have that option to open/read the readme file. Don't know if it is possible, but perhaps it should be suggested to Prolific that they add that feature to their installation procedure? I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!

05-20-2010, 06:21 PM	#19
Dale Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 960	Originally posted by JohnWho: Ah, thanks for doing that. Glad to help. Originally posted by feldon34: Dale does not have a patent on testing ... As he said, anybody could have done it.