lite v1.3

Post by **nikos** » 2005 May 28, 13:02

this is how the lite 1.3 version will look like
www.ps.ic.ac.uk/~umeca74/x2lite.zip
sadly the best new bits are reserved for the pro version

ckit · Post by **ckit** » 2005 May 29, 14:40

What bug fixes are in v1.3?
I'm not interested in new features at all, sorry.

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2005 May 29, 15:12

I don't work very much with the Lite, so for an FYI. here's a copy of the top of "changes.txt" ...
(But note this is the same file as appears with the Pro beta last week, so some of what's mentioned may may not apply to Lite)
- - - - - - - - -

in CHANGES.TXT, nikos wrote:Here you will find a brief list of items added in each consecutive build.
For more information please refer to the updated full documentation.

NOTE: YOU CAN'T USE AN OLD TRANSLATION FOR v1.2 WITH THIS BETA (JUST DELETE THE LANGUAGE DLL OR INSTALL IN A NEW FOLDER)
TRANSLATIONS WILL BE UPDATED IN TIME FOR THE 1.3 RELEASE

[1.2.0.93] 24 May 2005 -------

* [Pro] new stock column: Streams counts files' ADS (see tip #165)
* [Pro] Most customized icons are now read properly
* [as labelled in tip] New tips: 9d, 88a, 88b, 93a, 152a, 156a, 162-164, 165
* File | Browse can open multiple selected items (asks confirmation)
* right click to rename a tab (semi-permanent)
* [Pro] View | Visual filter | Auto-filter filters one particular file type out of those available in the folder
* [Pro] % progress display for robust copy & resizable dialog
* fixed bug with MP3 comments
* settings saved properly during windows shutdown
* Raw "encoding" for file text search (FindFiles command too) to search file raw bytes without interpreting text content in any way (e.g. BOMs or text filters are ignored). Makes all searches binary & case sensitive.
* [Pro] Text encoding settings available in find files dialog
* possible to change folder time/date with Actions | change attributes (not for 98 )
* [Pro] Tools | compare subfolders automates the tedium of creating dual-pane flat scrap windows for comparison/synchronization of folder hierarchies.
* [Pro] <ctrl+F9> Sync wizard: "Loose name matching" option matches items by name ignoring their relative position in the folder hierarchy. Useful for dual scrap windows, but note you can't sync-o-paste the results of such a comparison
* [Pro] "scenario" combo box in Ctrl+F9 dialog offers easy access to typical synchronization scenaria
* [Pro] quickviewer gets extra tab "Normal" showing the exact preview of the focused item (ActiveX) for word, excel etc documents. "Draft" preview is the traditional quick mode for text, graphics and media. You can even edit word documents(!)
<Alt+Q> to switch between normal/draft modes
* registry option "rgbActiveBgcol" to set background color of active folder
* "rgbFilterBgcol" registry option changes bg color when a visual filter is active, hiding some of the items in a folder pane
* [Pro] new media-related stock columns for detailed view (most for windows XP only)
* [Pro] all filesystem columns available for selection in scrap windows
(may cause confusion if any non filesystem items are present)
* [Pro] "autosize columns" added to the context menu of infobars

{fg-annotated for which apply to Pro-only}

ckit · Post by **ckit** » 2005 May 29, 15:19

Thanks, I was hoping for a filtered version of that

mike nardini · Post by **mike nardini** » 2005 May 30, 11:39

running the exe file I have I have version 1.2.0.94 not the 1.3 :?:

Post by **nikos** » 2005 May 30, 11:54

patience won't be long now

ckit · Post by **ckit** » 2005 May 31, 10:00

I just tried it and went straight back to v1.2.0.1. Nikos is now using a more visible "tangle a carrot in front of them tactic" which was less obivious with v1.2.0.1.

Besides that theres no benefit for Lite users to go from 1.2.0.1 to 1.3. The v1.3 Lite version is more for marketing than anything else.

I'm sorry if I have offended anyone.

Demetris · Post by **Demetris** » 2005 May 31, 16:05

ckit wrote:I just tried it and went straight back to v1.2.0.1.

nikos, for a moment I thought you had added functionality to x2 Lite!

FWIW, I will be hesitating to recommend x2 Lite if this stays, or to install it and leave it on a few machines I maintain and fix.

I believe there must be subtler, less intrusive ways to promote more actively the Pro version through the Lite version, unless you want to phase out x2 Lite.

Some ideas, off the top of my head:

1. Give a different colour to disabled (grayed-out) items, say some shade of golden, to denote superior functionality.
2. Add a Comparison item under the About menu.
3. Add a non-removable Comparison or Try Pro icon to the toolbar.

I sincerely hope this was just an experiment.

Post by **nikos** » 2005 May 31, 16:32

how about adding a nag screen or two?

Demetris · Post by **Demetris** » 2005 May 31, 17:44

nikos wrote:how about adding a nag screen or two?

No! Then it will be nagware, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't know of any successful nagware.

Unless...

you mean to give the Pro version for free, with a start-up warning that the program must be registered for professional and non-academic use...

Seriously now,
I think the balance is perfect as it is. Don't ruin it. Just try to think of some discreet, professional-looking promotional touches here and there.

brown705 · Post by **brown705** » 2005 May 31, 18:00

I remember when I used to use the free version of PowerDesk, there was a horizontal bar across the bottom, just above the status bar. This bar said something like, "Get the Pro version..." or something like that, and the entire bar was clickable, which would open your default browser to the PowerDesk Pro-version web site. This was not obtrusive or nagging, it was simply noticeable as a blue bar at the bottom. I thought this was a good idea, since it wasn't so annoying that I wanted to uninstall, yet it was always there.

Just my 2 cents.

Michael

Post by **nikos** » 2005 May 31, 18:07

i didn't add any nags and the new "pro only feature" message boxes will only be shown if the user uses a pro-only command. The available commands are unchanged

i don't see how this will "offend" lite users; it is an extension of the "buy pro version" button that always existed in the about dialog, only now it hilights the extra commands users can expect. If they don't use any pro commands they won't see any dialogs

getting the right balance is important but the lite version is a runaway success and it hurts the pro sales. Perhaps if people knew what they were missing, they would be willing to upgrade!

Demetris · Post by **Demetris** » 2005 May 31, 18:41

nikos wrote:i don't see how this will "offend" lite users; it is an extension of the "buy pro version" button that always existed in the about dialog, only now it hilights the extra commands users can expect. If they don't use any pro commands they won't see any dialogs

nikos, it offends because it is devious. This is not what you expect when you select a menu item. It is like fooling x2 Lite users into selecting the items, just to present them with a promotional dialog. A new user starting to explore the program will see about 10 nag screens in the first few minutes, and will keep seeing them if they choose to keep the program, because it is impossible (and unproductive) to try to remember which are the menu items that trigger promotional dialogs.

nikos wrote:getting the right balance is important but the lite version is a runaway success and it hurts the pro sales. Perhaps if people knew what they were missing, they would be willing to upgrade!

They know about that fine as it is. They may not know about the Customize functions, but you could just add this menu to x2 Lite, with all items grayed-out.

Post by **nikos** » 2005 May 31, 19:03

turning the tables around i'm certain that there's a portion of users, perhaps the majority, that seeing all these menu items permanently disabled may think that these commands are somehow broken, lite and pro alike.

i still can't see the morality argument
people get to use a kick ass file manager for a song, and when i try to tell them, "you'll get a bit extra for a few dollars", i am the antichrist?

Demetris · Post by **Demetris** » 2005 May 31, 20:00

nikos wrote:turning the tables around i'm certain that there's a portion of users, perhaps the majority, that seeing all these menu items permanently disabled may think that these commands are somehow broken, lite and pro alike.

That's a problem, I agree. And it gets more confusing because other items are greyed out depending on the context. Maybe you could try what I suggested above, i.e., another colour for Pro items, or maybe a light colour on a dark background, or the word Pro in square brackets after the item name, like this:

Send to scrap [Pro]

Or a combination of some of those.