[Preview] Iex Comments/bugs/suggestions

Okay, the dev of iEx is continuing as you may saw.

And I made some improvements to the prog whose are:

- now display minimized windows as well (can be turned off coz it slows down a bit)

- the screenshots are resized in memory from original size and color depth to expose size and 24bpp, which cause a MUCH LESSER memory usage (like 50mb to 9mb). But again, this can be disabled cause it's slow down a bit when the screenshots are creating, but when they're displayed, it's really faster

- Added the F11 key. just hit once, all the windows disappear, re-hit, and they're back. For example you can hit F11, pick a file on the desktop, drag it, hit F11 again, and drop it in a window. Or you can hide all windows, open new windows, rehit F11, all hidden windows reappear.

- cleaned the code (this is what took me most time)

- fixed the "no window crash" bug

- now re-hitting F9 will re-show all the windows

- instantly reshow windows when exit if in expose mode

and here's what remains to be done:

- auto resizing and organizing depending on the screen resolution and number of windows

- screenshot window keeps original window shape (don't know if it will be done, but I'm trying to )

- implement settings dialog (maybe not in 0.2 coz it's not that important, a ini isn't a pain to edit )

- implement F10 key

- add some eye candy effect (such as bumping instead of magnifying )

As for drag and drop to the screenshot windows, I don't see the point, cause you can drop in multiple parts of a window.

Any comments, suggestions or bugs will be appreciated

Have a nice day

#41376

I'm licking my chops.

You've really whetted our appetites with the list you've got there siwu.

Hope you can fix the resolution thing because that is really the only thing preventing me from using it all the time. Keep it up man, you're doing a wonderful job.

I'll send in bug reports upon version .2 release. Cheers

#41388

comment:

i like the new name : (Y)

#41394

Coolies, will it have a new traybar icon as well? The last one didn't look as cool as a proggy like this deserves

#41401

Am I the only one who can't save changes in verion .1? I want all my fonts to be LucidiaMacBold and the transparency to be lower, but whenever I press "SAVE" it doesnt save anything. How do I edit the .ini to include these settings?

Additionally, I would like it if you included the following in the next version

1. small animations for the windows

2. Hide WindowFX shadows and YzShadow shadows when Expose is engaged (not while its running)

THANK YOU!!

#41412

Originally posted by Ventro@Jul 19 2003, 06:31 PM
Am I the only one who can't save changes in verion .1? I want all my fonts to be LucidiaMacBold and the transparency to be lower, but whenever I press "SAVE" it doesnt save anything. How do I edit the .ini to include these settings?

Additionally, I would like it if you included the following in the next version

1. small animations for the windows

2. Hide WindowFX shadows and YzShadow shadows when Expose is engaged (not while its running)

THANK YOU!!

The setting dialog is present but not yet functionnal.

In v0.1, font, rectangle settings etc... are hardcoded you can't edit them

And what do you mean by small animation ?

#41414

This sounds great siwu!! I can't wait for the release

#41423

Originally posted by smeggy@Jul 19 2003, 11:12 PM
Coolies, will it have a new traybar icon as well? The last one didn't look as cool as a proggy like this deserves

I made an icon. Go here. I'm not sure if it's good enough tho.

BTW, I love your work siwu! Can't wait.

#41436

Suggestion:

Why use so "rare" function keys for this "gonna-be" popular daily software?

F9, F11 and so on are not easy to access without looking at your keyboard.

So maybe you can let the user to customize the hotkeys? (Don't ignore Win+Key combinations please...)

Thanks!

#41439

Because the real Panther uses those function keys too. On the other hand, having customizable hotkeys would be a great addition to this already great app.

#41441

Originally posted by GameBoyzGB@Jul 19 2003, 07:41 PM
Because the real Panther uses those function keys too. On the other hand, having customizable hotkeys would be a great addition to this already great app.

if i'm not wrong, Panther also allows the user to move cursor to a corner of the screen to activate Expose?

i guess that method will be used much more often than F9.

#41448

Originally posted by siwu@Jul 19 2003, 04:40 PM
what do you mean by small animation ?

here:

http://members.shaw.ca/storage_1/expose.jpg

As you can see, there is a transparent "mid" stage between the full-size window and the small window. This makes the program look WAY more fluid and smooth.

#41472

I'm certain that siwu could include that option but I'm quite sure that effect would take a huge hit on the cpu and slow down the transition considerably if many windows are open.

#41486

Originally posted by innate@Jul 19 2003, 09:08 PM
I made an icon. Go here. I'm not sure if it's good enough tho.

BTW, I love your work siwu! Can't wait.

Yes, I saw it already and don't worry, it will be in 0.2 Thanks again for this great icon

#41630

Originally posted by GameBoyzGB@Jul 20 2003, 02:48 AM
I'm certain that siwu could include that option but I'm quite sure that effect would take a huge hit on the cpu and slow down the transition considerably if many windows are open.

True.

Resizing "original size screenshots" takes a BIG hit on the CPU. For example, look at 0.1, when you move the mouse over a screenshot and the window expand, you'll notice that there is a small time for the screenshot to fit the window again. This is what I'm talking about High Quality resizing (Bicubic or Bilinear) makes a HUGE cpu load (when done in real time of course). That's why they're resized at the begining in 0.2

#41631

What about the yzshadow bug? Will that be fixed? :blink:

#41635

Originally posted by Mr. EFF@Jul 20 2003, 10:41 PM
What about the yzshadow bug? Will that be fixed?

I am currently trying too, but I can't tell by now.

I have tested several methods and no results so far.

But I have some others waiting

#41653

Hmm.

If I remember correctly, the very very first release didn't have the yzshadow issue, anybody else remember?

If it didn't, that could help to narrow things down.

#41681

Originally posted by Mr. EFF@Jul 21 2003, 05:43 AM
Hmm.
If I remember correctly, the very very first release didn't have the yzshadow issue, anybody else remember?
If it didn't, that could help to narrow things down.

You're right, but the first 0.1 didn't use the same method has 0.1a. Actually, this method is really slow :/

#41730

Hmmmmmm.

Is there maybe a way you could write a script that turns off yzshadow when you hit F9, and turns it back on when you click on a window?

In other words disabling the use of yzshadow while iEx is in use.

Would that be a possibility?

#41802

Originally posted by Mr. EFF@Jul 21 2003, 07:07 PM
Hmmmmmm.

Is there maybe a way you could write a script that turns off yzshadow when you hit F9, and turns it back on when you click on a window?

In other words disabling the use of yzshadow while iEx is in use.

Would that be a possibility?

Sure. But I was thinking of a general solution. For windowsfx for example. But yes, this is a solution and it could be in 0.2

#41873

Updates:

07/22/2003:
- cleaned the code (again)
- improved display speed (now uses GDI+ to resize bitmaps in memory and only redraw desktop when needed)
- magnification now keeps original window aspect ratio

07/19/2003:
- display minimized windows as well
- MUCH LESSER memory usage which causes a speed gain
- Added the F11 key.
- cleaned the code
- fixed the "no window crash" bug
- now re-hitting F9 will re-show all the windows
- instantly reshow windows when exit if in expose mode

TODO:
- screen corner activation
- mouse gesture activation*
- F10 key
- auto resizing
- keep window shape*
- fix shadows bug
- fully customizable text layout

*: may not be implemented