Script Paths in Rename Master

A few versions ago, a new Save Script window was introduced that fixed several problems visually by explicitly showing the information saved in a script. While this solved many problems, it didn't help show exactly what happens when a script was loaded. The Filter field will change color when a non-default setting is used, but that's it.

In the current Public Beta, the Path is now highlighted when opening a script that contains a path. Even if the path doesn't exist and the last path is loaded instead. Also, the cursor is changed to the "busy" animated icon while the script is loading. On most systems, the loading will occur rather quickly, but if it doesn't, the busy icon will explain why the scripting area isn't visible. Having the scripting area disappear serves two purposes: it speeds up the process and visually signals a new script load.

These small visual cues help show what happens implicitly with a minimal amount of intrusion. A window popuping up would also solve the problem, but also causes new problems.

A Sound Argument

One of my favorite features in ArsClip is the ability to play a sound when a clip is placed on the clipboard. Copying a clip in Windows, otherwise, has no cue at all to let you know it triggered correctly. There are times, like when trying to cop web content, were the highlight is removed and nothing is actually copied.

The way AC implemented sound is to use the Windows built-in application events that are now tied to a Theme in newer versions of Windows. What I don't like about this method is that it requires a write to the registry - which isn't portable. I'll end up re-writing this to not require a registry edit for the sake of portability. This older routine relied on using the Control Panel for the interface to set sound, without any meaningful way to link the two. Under [Configuration>Misc], there was a blurb about this, but that's just a terrible way to do things.

For the current Public Beta upload, I've created a new configuration category for Sound. This new settings page emulates the Control Panel by including a Browse and a Test button. Also, the "chimes" sound is used by default when enabled. Changing the Theme can undo this setting, so this is another reason to re-write the sound routine, beside portability.

What I haven't thought of are clipboard events that may be improved if a sound is played. The 'New Clip' event was obvious, but any event that may go unnoticed could be a candidate. 'New Clip' also may be a bad name, placing anything on the clipboard does create a new clip - even if it's the same as the old clip. ArsClip, however, may not copy a clip for several reasons. Clips that are already on the popup are ignored, non-text clips that are too large are ignored, and monitoring can be disabled both globally or for the specific program. Any feedback on this topic is more than welcome.

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This will be the last of new features for the version 3.2.1 of ArsClip. The only new public beta versions will be for fixing bugs, but if none are found, an official release is near.

Variable Formatting

In Rename Master, a few things always bugged me. One specific problem was showing that meta-variables were special in a textbox. When you click one, the program would automatically highlight it. If you right-clicked, you'd be shown the standard copy/paste menu with a special Format Variable option added.

This routine was the best I could think of to show visual cues. It didn't work well. First, some formatted meta-variables were not correctly detected and highlighted. Next, clicking on "Insert" in the Format Window replaced the text, but didn't highlight it again and close itself. Unlike the Insert Meta-Variables Window, there's no reason to remain open after the selected variable is replaced.

To fix these problems in the current Public Beta upload, I've corrected the highlight routine to be work as expected. Next, a mini-popup is automatically shown when a meta-variable is click, directly under the textbox. It's small enough to not be invasive and can be dismissed easily. Last, I fixed the Format Window to replace the variable as expect and close. The workflow now seems to be intuitive and graceful.

This is a small step in the right direction. What I'd eventually like to do is replace the plain textbox with a text and pictures, so a meta-variables could be represented graphically. This would make reading, showing visual cues, and editing much easier.

Missing History

Another concept missing from the previous version of ArsClip was a centralized location for history settings. The Removed Clips settings where located in two different locations and the Popup Clips settings where located under Show Options.

In the current Public Beta version, all these settings have been moved to a new History category. Also, buttons have been added to display the windows related to these settings. This makes navigation much easier. In the previous version, a Configuration button was added to these windows to make finding their configuration settings just as easy.

I've not decided if version 3.2.1 will include the following, but my goal is to combine the Popup Clips and the Removed Clips into a single Edit History window. There will still be two lists separated using a tabbed view, but this will also help conceptualize the idea that both caches are the clipboard history. These windows are so similar, that combining the two probably is more intuitive for the user than otherwise.

Missed a Spot

Now that I've already officially released the ArsClip "redux" version, I've found more stuff that needed fixing and should have been in the previous version. I didn't even look at the Edit History and Removed Clips windows.

The next version of ArsClip will address these two windows and fix any issues created in the previous version. The current Beta upload contains a revamped Edit History window that adds the new Destroy Clip feature and adds a way to create Permanent Clips from this window.

The External Editor routine has improved timing that makes it more responsive and closes the tooltip hint if the editor is closed within 3 seconds. I've also found a very long existing bug where the Removed Clips could show up as empty on the next run.

ArsClip's Version Jump

After looking at the amount of changes, I thought it fitting to change to version 3.2.0. The versions numbers chosen are rather arbitrary, but it fits.

The goal of the 'redux' was simply to go back to older sections and clean up clutter and fix old problems. This meant improving the initial experience by simplifying the default popup state, organizing the configuration window, centralizing settings in one location, and fixing old problems along the way.

The official release of verison 3.2.0 is close, but there's still one last item to address: editing clips. The new feature of editing clips with an external program is inconsistently used. Currently, only the Edit Clipboard function defaults to using this function. My last change will be an option to use the old Edit Clip window instead of a real text editor -- defaulting to using an external editor.

Redux Update 3

After being informed by a user about the state of ArsClip's configuration window, this was definitely the time to re-visit it. Surely enough, I've not looked at most of these options in a long time and it was a mess. Some options were under the wrong category and some options were too cryptic to understand.

I've fixed most of the obvious problems. I created three new categories: Troubleshooting, Permanent Clips, and Hotkey Alternatives. I've also re-worded many of the options to be as concise as possible. Lastly, I've tried to re-order each page so the most important options are at the top.

The Troubleshooting options are mostly legacy settings for Windows XP and below. Vista and above will see the unused options disabled.

The Permanent Clips options determine display styles. This also gives an easy to find place to open the Edit Permanent Clips window.

The Hotkey Alernatives show all the other ways, besides the hotkey, to display the popup. This also gives a new location to link to the Trigger Window.

The current Public Beta includes some of the above changes, but I'm still working on this section.

Redux Update 2

As some of you know, I can detect a small number of key presses and special mouse clicks in ArsClip. Most of these combinations are detected by dirty tricks, since the Windows context menu does not report these actions. For example, the Delete key is never reported by the system (which would be great for removing items).

Many of these keystrokes were created before I was able to use a dirty trick to detect a right-click on the popup menu. This right-click item menu removed the need for almost all of the special combinations - especially the Ctrl+Click method.

Here's what I'm currently able to detect:
- Shift+Click / Shift+Enter
- Ctrl+Click / Ctrl+Enter / Application Key
- Right-Click
- F1 through F12 + Click / F1 through F12 + Enter

Since version 3.1.7 - Test 2, the Shift+Click is now broken. It used to display a preview window for long or large clips that the Tooltip Hint window could not show. Now, it triggers the new Destroy Item command.

My thoughts are the Preview window is no longer needed and showing large clips with the Tooltip Hint could be automated (if you hover the item for a longer period of time). This would free up the Shift+Click and possibly the Ctrl+Click options for common operations. I was thinking of having these be user defined functions that could execute almost any command already on the right-click menu.

All this is based off the idea that most users are not using the Preview window or the keypress combinations already. I'm guess here, because I really don't know without specific feedback on the issue.