hallett@gemed (Jeff Hallett x5163 ) (01/17/90)
I wish I had an email address for Lunarmobiscuit (aka Mike Libes), but
since I don't and I think he reads the group, I'll start this thread.
On the whole, it looks kinda neat, but I wanted to comment on his wish
list. He states that he wishes that the icons could be dimmed when
the application is running. I disagree. I would like the button to
either start the application or bring that running application to the
foreground.
Comments, anyone? I guess I could use Application Menu (I'd rather it
were a popup rather than having to run to the Menubar for it), but if
I am going to all the "trouble" of bringing _Launch to the front, the
least it could do is reward me by doing the "obvious" thing.
--
Jeffrey A. Hallett, PET Software Engineering
GE Medical Systems, W641, PO Box 414, Milwaukee, WI 53201
(414) 548-5163 : EMAIL - hallett@gemed.ge.com
"Non Sequitor - Your facts are uncoordinated"; "I am Nomad: I am perfect."dce@smsc.sony.com (David Elliott) (01/18/90)
In article <1881@mrsvr.UUCP> hallett@gemed.ge.com (Jeff Hallett x5163 ) writes: > >I wish I had an email address for Lunarmobiscuit (aka Mike Libes), but >since I don't and I think he reads the group, I'll start this thread. I think it's ml10+@andrew.cmu.edu. >On the whole, it looks kinda neat, but I wanted to comment on his wish >list. He states that he wishes that the icons could be dimmed when >the application is running. I disagree. I would like the button to >either start the application or bring that running application to the >foreground. I don't think that dimming the icon precludes that functionality. After all, that's what the Finder does. For launching, I'd like the following enhancements: 1. When the icon has been successfully clicked and _Launch has started executing the application, it should hilight the icon (reverse mode is fine) and leave it hilighted for a second. It's hard to know if the application is starting. 2. Once the application is running, dim or otherwise hilight the icon. It would also be nice if _Launch had a mode in which it did an auto-"Set Aside" after it runs. It could either do this by selecting the menu item in MF 6.1b[79], or by hiding its window when it isn't in the foreground, and maybe supplying a small button to bring it to the foreground (a la PowerStation). Finally, switching to _Launch takes way too long on a color machine, and it doesn't seem to like floppy disks. I sometimes insert a floppy under _Launch and it never gets seen when I switch to Finder. -- David Elliott dce@smsc.sony.com | ...!{uunet,mips}!sonyusa!dce (408)944-4073 "Never call a crazed psychotic a crazed psychotic."
bskendig@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig) (01/18/90)
In article <1990Jan17.174433.4896@smsc.sony.com> dce@Sony.COM (David Elliott) writes: >In article <1881@mrsvr.UUCP> hallett@gemed.ge.com (Jeff Hallett x5163 ) writes: >>I wish I had an email address for Lunarmobiscuit (aka Mike Libes), but >>since I don't and I think he reads the group, I'll start this thread. > >I think it's ml10+@andrew.cmu.edu. It is. Those `About...' boxes are good for sumthin', y'know... >>On the whole, it looks kinda neat, but I wanted to comment on his wish >>list. He states that he wishes that the icons could be dimmed when >>the application is running. I disagree. I would like the button to >>either start the application or bring that running application to the >>foreground. > >I don't think that dimming the icon precludes that functionality. >After all, that's what the Finder does. But if you have several icons dimmed, how do you tell them apart? It's hard, sometimes. I could probably remember which applications I had open better than I could remember how I had organized my icons in the dock. >For launching, I'd like the following enhancements: > > 1. When the icon has been successfully clicked and _Launch > has started executing the application, it should hilight > the icon (reverse mode is fine) and leave it hilighted > for a second. It's hard to know if the application is > starting. > > 2. Once the application is running, dim or otherwise > hilight the icon. Good ideas. I've been known to double-click on an icon and have it not do anything - meanwhile I'm staring dumbly at the screen, waiting for it to open. Maybe he should implement a `zoom' effect such as the one in the Finder? >It would also be nice if _Launch had a mode in which it did an >auto-"Set Aside" after it runs. It could either do this by >selecting the menu item in MF 6.1b[79], or by hiding its window >when it isn't in the foreground, and maybe supplying a small >button to bring it to the foreground (a la PowerStation). Now *there* I disagree. The dock is relatively unobtrusive; why have to fish for it in the Apple menu every time you want it? >Finally, switching to _Launch takes way too long on a color >machine, and it doesn't seem to like floppy disks. I sometimes >insert a floppy under _Launch and it never gets seen when I >switch to Finder. So *that*'s where the disks have been going! Silly me, I've been blaming it on System 6.0.4 all this time. Should've realized that Apple neeever makes mistakes... 'Mo, are you reading this? << Brian >> P. T.: Goshdurnit, the mailer rejects this article because I quote more than I say originally. Guess it's time for some good ol' fashioned filler filler filler filler filler. There! That should do it. -- | Brian S. Kendig \ Macintosh | Engineering, | bskendig | | Computer Engineering |\ Thought | USS Enterprise | @phoenix.Princeton.EDU | Princeton University |_\ Police | -= NCC-1701-D =- | @PUCC.BITNET | | Systems Engineering, NASA Space Station Freedom / General Electric WP3 |
dce@smsc.sony.com (David Elliott) (01/18/90)
In article <13040@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> bskendig@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig) writes: >Good ideas. I've been known to double-click on an icon and have it >not do anything - meanwhile I'm staring dumbly at the screen, waiting >for it to open. Maybe he should implement a `zoom' effect such as the >one in the Finder? To me, zooming is ugly. I turn it off in the Finder, and when I see X window managers with it, I very quickly look for a way to turn it off. BTW, have people seen the INIT called SpiNit? Kind of cute, in a weird sort of way. Enhancing the icon in some way or another, just as the Finder does when you double-click on an icon, is useful without being annoying. Zooming is a good idea, as long as it can be turned off. >>It would also be nice if _Launch had a mode in which it did an >>auto-"Set Aside" after it runs. It could either do this by >>selecting the menu item in MF 6.1b[79], or by hiding its window >>when it isn't in the foreground, and maybe supplying a small >>button to bring it to the foreground (a la PowerStation). > >Now *there* I disagree. The dock is relatively unobtrusive; why have >to fish for it in the Apple menu every time you want it? Obtrusiveness is a personal thing. On my 14" monitor, it's unobtrusive. On a toaster Mac, it takes up enough room to make a difference. Note that I'm using _Launch 1.2, which is a 2x10 or 10x2 window. I don't recall whether or not earlier versions were this size. Anyway, I use Larry Rosenstein's Application Menu INIT. This allows me to get to the list of applications anywhere on the screen (I usually use the top right corner of the menu bar, but I can get to it anywhere using Control-Option-Command-Click). Also, with more recent MultiFinders, the application list is at the top of the DA menu. In any case, as with single clicks, I'd like to see the auto-"Set Aside" be an option. -- David Elliott dce@smsc.sony.com | ...!{uunet,mips}!sonyusa!dce (408)944-4073 "Never call a crazed psychotic a crazed psychotic."
bskendig@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig) (01/19/90)
In article <1990Jan18.152648.6192@smsc.sony.com> dce@Sony.COM (David Elliott) writes: >In article <13040@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> bskendig@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig) writes: >>... Maybe he should implement a `zoom' effect such as the >>one in the Finder? > >To me, zooming is ugly. I turn it off in the Finder, and when I see X >window managers with it, I very quickly look for a way to turn it off. >BTW, have people seen the INIT called SpiNit? Kind of cute, in a weird >sort of way. I happen to really like the zooming effect. I can't *stand* SpiNit. Each to his own, I suppose. >Enhancing the icon in some way or another, just as the Finder does >when you double-click on an icon, is useful without being annoying. >Zooming is a good idea, as long as it can be turned off. The Finder doesn't enhance the icon at all when you double-click on it. Although I'm strongly pro-zooming, perhaps having zooming be an option might be the best route to take. >>>It would also be nice if _Launch had a mode in which it did an >>>auto-"Set Aside" after it runs. It could either do this by >>>selecting the menu item in MF 6.1b[79], or by hiding its window >>>when it isn't in the foreground, and maybe supplying a small >>>button to bring it to the foreground (a la PowerStation). >> >>Now *there* I disagree. The dock is relatively unobtrusive; why have >>to fish for it in the Apple menu every time you want it? > >Obtrusiveness is a personal thing. On my 14" monitor, it's >unobtrusive. On a toaster Mac, it takes up enough room to make a >difference. Note that I'm using _Launch 1.2, which is a 2x10 or 10x2 >window. I don't recall whether or not earlier versions were this >size. I'm using the same version, on a `toaster' Mac, with MultiFinder 6.1. If nothing could cover up the _Launch window, *then* it would be obtrusive. As it is, I cover the window up all the time - such as now, with my terminal program. When I want to bring it to the foreground, I simply move my mouse to the lower left-hand corner of the screen and click; the window will be activated and brought to the front automagtically, without having to worry about the Apple menu or On Cue or PowerStation or Application Menu. >In any case, as with single clicks, I'd like to see the auto-"Set >Aside" be an option. If you really feel that stringly about it, then okay, but I still don't see the big deal between only seeing the edges of a window hidden behind other windows, and not seeing the window at all... << Brian >> -- | Brian S. Kendig \ Macintosh | Engineering, | bskendig | | Computer Engineering |\ Thought | USS Enterprise | @phoenix.Princeton.EDU | Princeton University |_\ Police | -= NCC-1701-D =- | @PUCC.BITNET | | Systems Engineering, NASA Space Station Freedom / General Electric WP3 |
dce@smsc.sony.com (David Elliott) (01/19/90)
In article <13077@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> bskendig@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig) writes: >>Enhancing the icon in some way or another, just as the Finder does >>when you double-click on an icon, is useful without being annoying. >>Zooming is a good idea, as long as it can be turned off. > >The Finder doesn't enhance the icon at all when you double-click on it. Well, maybe I should use a different term here. When you click on an icon, it is selected, so the icon and mask are reversed. When you double-click, the icon remains reversed, and while the application is running, the icon is changed to an outline and covered by a stipple pattern. Whatever you call it, the icon of a selected or opened file or folder is different. -- David Elliott dce@smsc.sony.com | ...!{uunet,mips}!sonyusa!dce (408)944-4073 "Never call a crazed psychotic a crazed psychotic."