[RIMMER]

Quote

Originally posted by xfluffyx@Mar 30 2004, 06:42 PM
This is amazing. I've been hoping someone would do this moreso than any other app.
Awesome!

What programming language is this written in?

McBar is written in Delphi6, but menu capturing engine uses WinAPI most.

[Enhanced]

Thank you for creating this app. I cant wait until it is done. I have always wanted an apple menu. I haven't brought my self to buying objectbar. and i dont do warez. so i had to do without a menu. THANK YOU.

oh and btw: If you need a new name and slick logo let me know.

PM ME

[NilColor]

Really great app!!!

Bugs I found:

- No menu capture in FireFox
- Sometimes menu separator looks like empty menu item instead of horz line
- I've got an application - TOAD... It's "Tool for Oracle App Developer" It's written in Delphi and have menu a-la MSOffice -> floating toolbar (or coolbar in Delphi terms - if my memory is not corrupted ). OK, there no menu capture for this app too.
- sometimes system menu intercepts not fully... only "Restore", "Minimize" and "Close" items... And I think it's because those app is written by Delphi :smartass: and Delphi apps all have hidden window which is always maximized (once more about my memory :naughty: )...

And suggestion:
I found one cool "taskswitcher" -> TaskModule
It's OpenSource.... Maybe you can use it in McBar? for task switching for example :woot:

Thanx

[NilColor]

Oh! One more suggestion... Can you hide window menu after capture? It's will be GREAT!!!
Am I right people? :naughty:

[RIMMER]

2 NilColor

Too much to qoute. FireFox is Mozilla. Delphi apps are handled by their TApllication object (it is also a top window of almost every Delphi GUI app). So most of your problems are typical for this release and are described above.

About your suggestions:
Task switching: I have to say that I don't know how exactly Mac's menu works - I've never seen any Mac in action alive or even in screen videos. All I've got is screenshot. And the book (see Acknowledgement in readme). Therefore I don't know how exactly it switches the tasks.

Hiding menu: This makes a problem. For example run Acrobat Reader 4 and turn its menu invisible. Then click McBar it will re-capture Reader's menu and you'll see ... right, NOTHING! All I can offer is to hook the redraw procedure for every window and fill menu with ButtonFace color

[NilColor]

@RIMMER and A-S company...
About readme.rtf and How to launch and how to close section: other way to close McBar (and I think it's more accurate) is to click on MacBar empty space to make it active and press Alt+F4 combo

[NilColor]

Thank you
I understand about Mozilla and Delphi apps.

About filling menu with buttonface color - i think it's not unique solution. I hope so the window with empty space is not as good as window with no menu and McBar :naughty:

And about task switching - you told that you are not just mimic Mac... you try to make GUI useful...

If I can help... I'm ex-Delphi coder (my last prog in Delphi was about 3-4 years ago...) but if I can... :woot:

[NilColor]

One more.
An application that opens and after that open something... as you can see at the screeshot (attached) window title catched is differ from current window title. If I try to push menu item McBar redraws and I miss item want to push...
It is not critical and simple rearrange McBar "blocks" can help. I think "Menu items" than "Window title" and than the other stuff if any...

/edit/ ups, wrong attach... corrected

[RIMMER]

Quote

Originally posted by NilColor@Mar 31 2004, 02:15 PM
And about task switching - you told that you are not just mimic Mac...  you try to make GUI useful...

OK, I'm glad you don't wish to make Mac from PC by using McBar (WANT MAC - BUY MAC :rule: ). I planned to add at least one usability feature described in UIDesign, but not present in Mac GUI.

But I never thought of task switching. I keep my taskbar (slightly modded for usability) on the screen. Well, any ideas how to make task switching? (PM if you plan to get patents )

[NilColor]

Maybe for the first attempt something like this (screenshot)? Of course without "Tasks" button... Applications list popups instead of system menu when window title area clicked.

And I think keeping both McBar and MS taskbar simultaneously is not really good. At least for space saving :naughty: ... But then necessity of taskbar icon/clock area arises...

[NilColor]

Quote

Originally posted by RIMMER@Mar 31 2004, 05:05 PM
Hiding menu: This makes a problem. For example run Acrobat Reader 4 and turn its menu invisible. Then click McBar it will re-capture Reader's menu and you'll see ... right, NOTHING! All I can offer is to hook the redraw procedure for every window and fill menu with ButtonFace color

And is it possible/good idea to keep in memory something like array of all captured menus with app handles instead of recapture it when app got focus? Then you can hide menu without problem Or restore menu on activate then capture it and than hide again? (but it will be resource/time exacting process I think...)

[RIMMER]

Quote

Originally posted by xfluffyx@Mar 30 2004, 06:51 PM
found a bug:

1) open mcbar
2) ctrl-alt-del
3) click the left side of mcbar where it should say Windows Task Manager
4) click the title bar of task manager
5) weird submenu bug can be seen!

You mean flickering popup?

[Enhanced]

How do you like the name Flexbar? as in Flexible?

if so..let me whip up a logo for ya and a saying.

[RIMMER]

Quote

Originally posted by Enhanced@Apr 1 2004, 02:09 PM
How do you like the name Flexbar? as in Flexible?

if so..let me whip up a logo for ya and a saying.

Is it after FlexBar software for some palmtop?

I don't think McBar is "flexible" enough to have such name. But... who knows... this topic is kinda wishlist for first release, maybe I'll make my bar "flexible", whaterver it means for all of you.

[Enhanced]

so you like the name? yeah/no? do you want me to make a logo for that name? or keep thinking?

I think Mcbar isn't catchy enough. thats why i am pushing a new name.

[swisher59]

how's this for an icon? :dunno:

[wizard]

Quote

Originally posted by swisher59@Apr 1 2004, 05:56 PM
how's this for an icon?  :dunno:

The Finder Bar at the top looks like a bandage. HyperextendedBar?

"I'm just kidding!"

[Enhanced]

Quote

Originally posted by swisher59@Apr 1 2004, 06:56 PM
how's this for an icon?  :dunno:

Pretty Slick...

I think I'm going to take a shot at making a logo/icon for it.

[RIMMER]

Quote

Originally posted by Enhanced@Apr 1 2004, 11:14 PM
so you like the name? yeah/no? do you want me to make a logo for that name? or keep thinking?

I think Mcbar isn't catchy enough. thats why i am pushing a new name.

No. But I'll think. Maybe your logo will inspire me to rename my project.

[Enhanced]

lol

hmm...

OK..I'll work on another name/logo