Hi Bogdan
Can you please set the WindowState to wsMaximized or the form's position to poScreenCenter before compiling?
Thx
Uwe
Why?
--peter
Hi,
I'm curious to know the reason too. On the other hand, without aparent reason, I don't "like" applications which take over the whole screen when started for the first time.
Bogdan
Quote from: BogdanH on May 01, 2012, 02:19:14 PM
Hi,
I'm curious to know the reason too. On the other hand, without aparent reason, I don't "like" applications which take over the whole screen when started for the first time.
Bogdan
I agree with that sentiment, but I'm not sure that would be the effect of the request.
I haven't tried the latest version yet, but in previous versions one shortcoming for me was that it would take a long time before anything at all was put up on the screen, even just the os window decoration. Maybe the suggestion is trying to address that.
--peter
Hi peter,
Quote from: pb on May 01, 2012, 02:34:23 PM
I haven't tried the latest version yet, but in previous versions one shortcoming for me was that it would take a long time before anything at all was put up on the screen, even just the os window decoration. Maybe the suggestion is trying to address that.
Can you be more specific, please? Because here, there's no difference between first and every next GUI start speed -it is almost instant. If there's some slowing down, then I'm quite sure, it isn't GUI related.
Bogdan
Well, on my win xp system, it can take about a minute for startup. However, subsequent startups (if done soon enough) take only about 7 seconds, which is typical for larger programs on this system.
I believe the reason for the variation is that some amount of directory listing is going on before anything is put on the screen. I have a lot of disks (~12), almost all of which are spun down when not active. If a program causes windows to stat all those disks, it has to wait for all of them to spin up. I've observed that Explorer has this problem, even when it is not being asked to report what is on any of the disks. Most programs do not have such long startup times on initial startup, so my inference is that some amount of directory listing is going on, maybe as a side-effect, before any graphics are put on the screen. It's been way too long since I did any windows hacking for me to remember exactly why that should be, or whether it is avoidable.
--peter
Quote from: BogdanH on May 01, 2012, 02:19:14 PMI'm curious to know the reason too.
Hi Bogdan
It's expected behavior in a Windows environment that programs either start up at the screen center, at the last position saved, or maximized. But not somewhere near the upper left corner of the screen as ExifTool GUI does. It's just for convenience, because every time I run the application I first have to adjust either its size or position before I can start working.
If you don't want to go the simple way, maybe you consider offering an option to save (and load) the window position and size?
Thanks
Uwe
PS: Start up time is almost instantaneously here by the way.
Hi peter,
12 of them, huh? How did you manage to connect them all? Anyway, as you suspect, many things are going on in OS's backround, so finding out settings for such system can be essential.
As you can assume from it's file size, GUI is very light application and is very economic with resources. I'm sorry you can't enjoy it's usage fully.
Bogdan
Hi Uwe,
Quote from: MOL on May 01, 2012, 03:15:39 PM
If you don't want to go the simple way, maybe you consider offering an option to save (and load) the window position and size?
But, position/size (and everything else) is automatically saved everytime you exit GUI and automatically applied when GUI is started next time.
The only case when that doesn't happen is, if GUI is running of read only media (i.e. CD) -because setting can't be saved (user get's message in such case).
Bogdan
Quote from: BogdanH on May 01, 2012, 03:30:37 PMBut, position/size (and everything else) is automatically saved everytime you exit GUI and automatically applied when GUI is started next time.
I'm afraid that's not the case, Bogdan.
Start ExifTool GUI (latest version)
Maximize the window
Close program
Restart application
--> Program is reset to default size and position
Uwe
EDIT:
Just checked the ini file. Width and height are not saved when closing the program after it had been maximized. The default values are used instead.
For me, (still using 5.09), GUI remembers the last position and size of windows, EXCEPT if I close it while maximized, in which case when I next start it, it reverts to the last position and size when it was either previously closed unmaximized or last unmaximized (not sure which). So, it appears it needs to remember that it was maximized.
As to how I connect 12 disks... Well, 5 are USB disks, the other 7 are internal either IDE or SATA, using expansion cards.
--peter
Correction: I was exaggerating; I only have 11 disks connected at the moment. I forgot that I replaced a couple with a larger one.
Hi Uwe,
Touché -I should checked before answering. I mean, this was addressed in v4.xx, but as it seems (obviously!), I somehow forgot to implement that in v5.
Thank you fo noticing me -it's already on my to-do list.
Bogdan
Great, thank you Bogdan.
I knew there was something... just set GUI shortcut properties to Run: Maximized :)
Bogdan
Hi Bogdan,
are you sure that is the proper way to handle this? I've never seen a Windows program where I had to change something hidden in a shortcut property to make it start up maximized. Besides: I didn't have a shortcut of ExifTool GUI on my desktop, so I had to look around first before I finally found what you were talking about.
I can live with this, but I would still prefer a different solution for your users.
Uwe
Hi Uwe,
Yes, this is why this shortcut option exist in first place. And you didn't have shortuct to GUI... did you call GUI from Win Explorer everytime?
QuoteI can live with this, but I would still prefer a different solution for your users.
Seriously... if this solution is too complicated for any Windows user, then I really don't know what to say.
Bogdan
Quote from: BogdanH on May 02, 2012, 11:33:18 AMdid you call GUI from Win Explorer everytime?
Yes. I don't use it often enough that I need a shortcut on the desktop.
Quote from: BogdanH on May 02, 2012, 11:33:18 AMSeriously... if this solution is too complicated for any Windows user, then I really don't know what to say.
I didn't say it's too complicated, Bogdan, but it's highly unusual. Even you forgot that this option is available... ;)
Uwe
Hi Uwe,
Quote from: MOL on May 02, 2012, 11:43:09 AM
Yes. I don't use it often enough that I need a shortcut on the desktop.
I understand now -thank you for clarifying
Quote
..Even you forgot that this option is available... ;)
Indeed :) -that's because I
never use GUI maximized. Interesting, there are only 3-4 programs that I use maximized (photo editing and programming). What to say.. different users, different habbits :)
Greetings,
Bogdan
Hi Bogdan
Quote from: BogdanH on May 02, 2012, 12:29:11 PM
What to say.. different users, different habbits
The Windows design guidelines (the "UX Guide (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=2695)") are there for a reason... :)
Thanks again
Uwe
PH Edit: Added link
The UXGuide is 882 pages! Wow. ...it would take me a couple of months to read through this.
- Phil (gaining a new respect for Windows programmers)
Quote from: Phil Harvey on May 02, 2012, 01:19:31 PMThe UXGuide is 882 pages!
Most of it is trivial and you can simply ignore it, because it's quite obvious what to do.
Mac programmers aren't spared either, by the way: 315 pages
http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/OSXHIGuidelines.pdf
I have not read the UX guide. Also, I have not used vista or win 7.
However, my experience up through win xp is that I find I set every ui option exactly the opposite of the way Microsoft thinks it should be by default. (Ok, not every, but a very large fraction.) Hence, I'm not entirely sure I would follow the advice in the UX guide if I were hacking windows.
With that proviso, though, and although I never run GUI maximized, (nor any other app, for that matter), imho GUI should start up maximized if it was closed maximized. I.e., if GUI remembers window geometry state, then maximization is an example of window geometry, notwithstanding that there is a workaround using shortcut properties.
--peter
Hi Peter;
Quote from: pb on May 02, 2012, 01:55:43 PMI set every ui option exactly the opposite of the way Microsoft thinks it should be by default.
The UI guidelines are not so much about Microsoft telling you what's right or wrong, it's more an attempt to ensure that programs provide a common interface for all users. As an example: almost all commercial programs have a 'Help' menu under which you'll find the 'About' menu item. A user doesn't have to know anything about the application, but knows where to find the information before even executing it.
Nobody forces you to comply (unless you want the Windows logo certification), as you can see in ExifTool GUI. Instead of the common 'Help' menu on the right, there is a 'Program' menu on the left for example... ;)
(sorry Bogdan, I couldn't resist)Uwe
Well, as we can see, MS can change their mind about menus anytime; i.e. ribbons in Office (not to mention surprises in upcoming Win8).
No File menu in GUI, no Help menu, About inside Program menu,.. hey, does that mean GUI can't get Win cert.? :o
(I couldn't resist either ;))
Have a nice day,
Bogdan
Quote from: BogdanH on May 02, 2012, 04:22:19 PMhey, does that mean GUI can't get Win cert.?
I'll talk to Bill Gates if you fix that thing with the maximized window... ;)
The ribbon UI is a good example by the way that Microsoft tried to introduce something which many software companies were not willing to follow due to the licence question.
Take care
Uwe
Quote from: MOL on May 02, 2012, 05:11:17 PM
Quote from: BogdanH on May 02, 2012, 04:22:19 PMhey, does that mean GUI can't get Win cert.?
I'll talk to Bill Gates if you fix that thing with the maximized window... ;)
The ribbon UI is a good example by the way that Microsoft tried to introduce something which many software companies were not willing to follow due to the licence question.
Take care
Uwe
Hmm, since Gates no longer runs MS (it's now Ballmer), but rather spends full time on philanthropy, are you saying you can get Bogdan a nice pot of money if he fixes the maximization issue?
I had a short chat with Bill and he said he don't know Uwe at all. But he does know GUI and uses it regulary, because GUI's autorotate preview feature (which he forgot to implement in Windows) ;D
Bogdan
Quote from: BogdanH on May 03, 2012, 04:00:43 PMhe said he don't know Uwe at all.
What? He doesn't know his neighbor anymore? Okay, I'll set him straight tomorrow at our BBQ... :)
You guys are hilarious. :)
Hi Bogdan,
just saw that you have introduced a 'StartMax' property.
Thanks a lot!
Uwe