Rename Master's new scripting step

The latest Public Beta of RM includes a new scripting step - the option to remove everything before/after a phrase or character. This new feature is the direct result of user feedback. Previously, only a set number of characters could be removed from the beginning/ending of a filename.

If you wanted to do something like swap two parts of a filename, this could only be done using little known (and hard to learn) Full Regular Expression arguments. Using the new step, and the option to save the removed text in a ?temp? variable, you can cut-and-paste the start or end of a filename.

ArsClip Experiments

I'm looking for new ways to trigger the popup. In the lastest Public Beta, holding the right mousebutton for about a second will show the popup when the button is released. This will likely be preferable by mouse-heavy users, but it's a bit slow to trigger and could be done with some other mouse action quicker.

I'm thinking of adding a command line parameter to the program, so something like "ArsClip.exe -popup" will trigger the popup. This can be used by mouse software to have ArsClip on a special mousebutton. I'm also thinking about other possible mouse triggered actions, like holding right-click then pressing left click for a trigger.

I you have an idea about the mouse activated popup, or have feedback about the current experimental method, let me know.

ArsClip 3.1.2 - Last Changes

I've implemented all the change ideas I had for version 3.1.2 of ArsClip in the last beta upload. Besides bug fixes, the major features are as follows:

- Recently Clicked popup submenu item
- Search and Paste popup menu item and dialog
- Easy ways to use the popup to edit Configured Mode and individual Permanent Items

The "button" shown when a Permanent Item is highlighted got me thinking about other options to show for a highlighted menu item. I don't have any ideas yet, but I'm thinking that there's room for growth in this area.

ArsClip Search

I'm toying around with a new feature in the latest Public Beta upload that needs feedback. It's a Search item on the popup that's used to search for text in Text Items and Permanent Items (and possibly Removed Items in the next release) and shows a list of pasteable items.

Before showing the "Search and Paste" window, ArsClip will detect the last word typed in the current window and use it as the default search string. For Permanent Items, both the caption and the text are searched. Search results where the search string is found near the beginning of the text, or where the search string is part of caption are shown first in the result list.

The Up/Down arrow keys can be used move the highlighted in the results list and Return/Enter will paste the item. I forgot to add an option to just click an item to paste, but this will also be added.

ArsClip is not forgotten

I've had an idea for a little bit for a nice addition to ArsClip, but the more popular Rename Master has stolen my attention lately.

The idea is simple, a Recent submenu item (or Recently Clicked). Unlike the Recently Removed items list, this list will be a collection of items that were clicked recently, not recently removed from the main list. Sometimes there's an item that you seem to be clicking often but keeps getting pushed down the list. Before, you would have to use "Undelete item" to move it from the recently removed list onto the main list again.

A copy of the clicked items will be placed onto the Recently Clicked list. The list will be ordered with the most recently clicked items on top. Clicking an item in this list move it to the top and clicking on an item in any other list will place a copy on top of this list.

This is the only idea I have for change for the next version of ArsClip, so I'm still looking for other ideas. I've had some feedback for some ideas recently, but most would require a large rewrite for sections of the program and aren't high on my todo list.

Rename Master - finishing touches

I'm making the final preparations for release. Since a significant rework was done to support columns and the scripting view, I'm going to wait a little bit more for feedback and bug reports on the current beta upload. I'll probably wait about 2 weeks before making an official release - depending on how many bugs are found between then and now.

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I already have some more idea for additions to the Scripting View, but I think it wise to wait until after an official release (followed by a possible quick bugfix release) before working on them.

The first idea is to create a ?temp? meta-variable. Some of the Remove Steps would have an option to place the removed text into this variable. This way, you can put it in an Add step to basically move it anywhere. This would also simulate the full regular expression option of items in parenthesis into "$1" variables - but be much simpler.

I was thinking about adding a Move catagory of steps, but a ?temp? variable would do the same thing and reuse all the already powerful Add Steps that you'll be familiar with. The temp variable could be used with the Replace or Remove, but I don't currently see those options doing anything meaningful with the new variable.

A second change I was thinking of was a way to temporarily disable a Step. Currently, the only way to stop a step from executing during a preview is to remove it. While creating a new script, it might be easier to see the effects if you can turn off some options without having the re-create them from scratch to turn them back on.

A third change idea I was thinking of was an update to the expanded Step control. Currently, the controls in the expanded view are static and don't stretch when the main for is resized. I'm not quite sure that it's needed, but it might be more asthetically pleasing to do so.
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Anyways, using Mini Rename Buttons and the new Scripting View, I'm very happy with the smaller and simpler interface. If I was really smart, I would have done this from the very beginning, but this never entered my mind as a good and simple way for the user to define the renaming options.

Rename Master - Custom Columns

The latest beta upload contains Saving and Deleting functionality for Custom Columns. This should be the last of the needed functionality to support Custom Columns.

There are likely some quirks left with the Columns that need fixing. I've run into quit a few on my own, but I'm sure I'll miss something. Re-ordering columns broke the saving of column positions and order between loads. The wrong columns were made hidden, and a few other problems should be fixed now.

Rename Master 'real' scripting testing (part 5)

Rename Master scripting leaves the prototype stage and enters beta [a 'beta' is fully functionional, but not fully tested]. The hunt for bugs begins.

In this version, a new Preview routine was created to support the Scripting View. Even though most of this routine was copied and should act as before, any of the operations may not work.

The loading and saving of the .rmscr scripts is also new and may also not function as expected.

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Also, in this version, a new Custom Column feature has been added [View -> Custom Columns]. This allows you to add the results of meta-variables directly into the Filelist and even sort by the results. Newly created items are added to the Custom Columns menu bar for editing later.

A major revision was made to the column management to support Custom Columns, so this may not function as expected. The order, size, column view, and loading of previous settings may be broken.

Currently, the Custom Columns are not saved or loaded.

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No more major features are planned for the next version. Future updates for this verison should include only minor tweaks and bug fixes. Please report any bugs you may encounter, no matter how small.