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I'm very sad to hear the pain in your post, and very sorry to hear the finality, but hopefully it doesn't mean a total withdrawl from DC -- you're presence here has been very important and appreciated by me.

Commercial success is a very fickle thing, most successes can be tracked back to good luck rather than good management... so I wouldn't worry too much, but lost dreams are always painful.

I really hope with a rest and a break that what you obviously once enjoyed can become good fun again.

All the best for your coming decisions!!

Tim: Auspex b37 has ceased to work?? Well it runs... but doesn't replace anything or trigger anything???

I can quit and go back to previous version OK.

It's realllly easy to do, the only thing you'd have to change is start uploading new versions at a predictable url with a predictable name (and not change the file name with each version).  It can be a zip file or a full installer.  If you start doing that i'll make the update file for you to use.

If you're going to do it eventually you might as well do it now and make it easier on your beta testers to grab the new version.

I'd be happier if it was done after NANY completes... I like to know the number of downloads 

does that mean it should be eligible as a NANY entry?  From this subject, I would say the consensus is NO.  Please charge.  Please tell us about it, and even make a thread just for that software offering.

Well said! We may be verging on splitting hairs but this isn't about the worth of any particular piece of software. It's about whether shareware comes under the umbrella of NANY.

I think the Announcements would be an appropriate place? Announce Your Software/Service/Product

That's a big gap between None Never and 1-2 Drinks per week 

... I'm in between, maybe once per month or two?

   Wonderful - thanks!!

Thanks for this...

3. When editing the main label in the purple area, the edit box is not high enough

High enough? I know it's tight... I've got it on my list to make it wider. A lot of the labels are like that when you're editing them at them moment.

4. Error message 'Contacts must have 1 User ID field: Currently there is ony 0."
(I was dragging some fields between 2 contact windows)
I then ended up with a contact with 2 family name labels, then it crashed.

Did you drag out a UID? Fields are set up to have maximum and minimum numbers which are check before adding and saving. I thought I'd locked UID so it couldn't be dragged off??

6. Still calls itself version 0.0.1.13

I think I didn't change the download link in the OP, so if you downloaded from the Download link rather than the history you will have got 13 rather than 17  (fixed now)

8. If I minimize the windows I can't get them to restore

COOL!! That one I haven't seen before!! Thanks -- only an issue when in edit mode...

I really like the overall look of the app, and the ability to drag stuff around is pretty nice. Can you add a couple more fields as soon as contacts can be saved? I'll start keying a few real names in and see how it feels to use.

That's probably a good idea... I was going to get the rest of the panels done, but maybe it's more necessary to get the fields done...

[Roadmap]

Just gave this build a quick look. Still can't create an address book yet! So is anything created in the way of contacts lost? I imagine so for now. I guess then that importing of contacts is still a little ways off then.

  That's right...

If you want I can bring Saving / Loading addressbooks forward... but I'm mainly working on the functionality in the Contact window at the moment.

And yes, importing contacts is a little way off  

In creating a contact I can only bring the four fields showing in the control pallet over: Formatted Name, Given Name, Family Name, and Additional Name.

That's right. You should also be able to drag the parent field "Name" across and it'll add the three children.

I have entered some Given and Family names - are they to represent First and Last names? Or something else? What is the Additional Name?

I'm using VCard3 and Hcard2 as my basis.

Additional Name(s) are what I'd call middle names.

You can change the label to whatever you like (on an adhoc basis):
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]

Soon you'll be able to change the default label (as well as add your own user controls): I've got this working but just need to add it to the start up events.

You could also change the string used in the language file (\Settings\Language\English.language.xml)

And I initially thought that the Formatted Name field would be kind of a "Display As" field, automatically filled by the other name fields that are manually populated, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Or at least not yet - perhaps this is simply something that isn't yet implemented?

The Display As field is the one at the top. To edit you select "Edit" from the context menu:
[attachimg=4]

The Formatted Name field is a defined HCard / VCard field, I was thinking that you may want to use something different from that as your Display As field?

As for automatic filling, there are two options:

• Formatted Name currently has a default value of name.given & " " & name.family, which will be filled when added to the Contact window after the given name and family name are entered
• Formatted Name could have a default source path of name.given & " " & name.family which means it would be updated automatically. I have not added this at the moment, but soon users will be able to override the default values with their own  See linking in a previous post:

  This version demonstrates the linking abilities. I've written a blog post: ContactFX :: Field Linking, but briefly...
  
  Each field in ContactFX can, rather than hold static data, show data in another field which can be in the same contact, a different contact and, eventually, even a different addressbook file.
  
  The source string can be added to the field by using the Link Effect when dragging and dropping: (see attachment in previous post)
  or by typing directly into the text box: (see attachment in previous post)
  

Anyway I am not certain what can be done just yet with this. I am probably missing some information at this point. Is there more I need to read somewhere?

It's mainly testing functionality of the main panel at the moment but this will form the basis of how most of the other panels will work (drag and drop / copy and past / edit / etc) ... I'm often not sure of the best way to do something until I start playing with it... and all comments from potential users is very helpful.

This is my tentative roadmap from the OP

Roadmap
This is the tentative roadmap that I'm working toward on my slow march to a 0.1 beta version  

• Version 0.0.2: Basic Window Framework - Main Panel
  
  • Name Fields (display name, first name, additional name, family name, formatted name)
  • Drag and Drop (Move / Copy / Link )
  • Copy & Paste
  • Portable Configuration
  • Command-line (-tray hides to tray on startup)
  • Language Files (see \Settings\Language\English.language.xml)
• Version 0.0.3: Lists Panel
  
  • List panels
  • WebLink fields
• Version 0.0.4: Tab Panel
  
  • Tab Pages
  • Address Fields (POB, Extended, Street, Locality, Region)
  • Categorization / Type Fields & Settings
• Version 0.0.5: Notes Panel
  
  • Note Lists
  • Note Fields (Internal / External)
  • Tag Fields
• Version 0.0.6: Integration Functionality
  
  • Command-line Options
  • FarrCfx
  • Addressbook Search / Filter
• Version 0.0.7: Data Fields
  
  • Add remaining Data Fields
  • User Fields
  • User Field Editor
• Version 0.0.8: File Functionality
  
  • Save / Import / Export
  • Upload to FTP
  • Backup

Downloaded and running smoothly! What level of feedback would you like from this build?

i.e. only bugs for now? or also small stuff? or right down to typos?

Anything and everything is fine Tim. I generally take a build to work to test before uploading here, but you know how it goes....

[default value]

Uploaded 0.0.1.17. This version adds:

• Paste (for previously copied ContactFX fields)
• Refresh linked fields implemented
• Fixes the previous bugs
• Notes buttons implemented

I'm pretty happy with the Linking functionality now: seems to work ok in my testing.

Fields can be set up to have a default value: check the Formatted Name field:
1. Add a Given Name and a Family Name
2. Enter some text into both fields
3. Add a Formatted Name field. It should be filled with given name & " " & family name (or in ContactFX terms: name.given & " " & name.family)

Soon the ability to set your defaults will also be possible: so if you'll be able to set the default to anything you like...

I'm not completely happy with the FlowLayoutPanel: For example, when you set a field to use remaining width it's position can be a little unpredictable during window resizing. I'd like to add some extra polish to the resizing routines before I move on to the next panel.

Comments? I was thinking that once the Contact window had been set up for a contact that there would not need to be a lot of editing, so maybe the unpredictable positioning is not an issue??

with build 28...

Is there a problem with the System Tray Icon? A couple of times now Auspex won't restore from the Tray and the process is chugging away on the CPU...

It's happened twice now... I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for a recurrent reason...

I'd like to throw in a feature request: can we have it hook into skype to dial out automatically? 

That would make me switch to this thing in a trice. I don't want to encourage bloating but that's really the one reason why I use pagico to keep my address book at the moment.

On my list... without the bloat I hope (flexible and versatile is what I'm wanting) 

Uploaded version 0.0.1.13 for comment.

This version is very close to completing 0.0.2 with all the basic functionality of the Main Panel done.

This version demonstrates the linking abilities. I've written a blog post: ContactFX :: Field Linking, but briefly...

Each field in ContactFX can, rather than hold static data, show data in another field which can be in the same contact, a different contact and, eventually, even a different addressbook file.

The source string can be added to the field by using the Link Effect when dragging and dropping:
[attachimg=1]

or by typing directly into the text box:
[attachimg=2]

Currently implemented fields:

• uid
• displayname
• name.given
• name.additional
• name.family
• formattedname

There's also the ability to use functions in the source string:
[attachimg=3]

Current Functions (case tolerant), though they'll be changing...

• initialise
• capitalise

Would be very happy to get some comments and bug testing...

Thanks for the voting so far. Anyone else want to weigh in?

As the event gets closer to the conclusion and more people try the software I'm sure you'll get more suggestions...

It's probably not a bad idea to leave the poll running 

You've got two download links (different versions) in the first post

That's me... I like to keep a record...

Have you thought about an auto learn feature? eg all words typed longer than the standard setting are automatically added to an Auto-AutoComplete folder during normal typing... this would be like intellisense.

On close those items are deleted... or alternatively can be moved to a different folder.

Er, actually, it does that already. It's not configurable yet, but at the moment any words 6 chars or longer that you use 3 times will start to appear as a suggestion. You don't seem them appear in the tree until next time you start, which is something I'll fix. If you try that, and words are not appearing for you, do let me know!

Actually... I did notice entries popping up without me remembering... and I thought I mind was having issues...  

I'm still having clipboard problems (even after quitting CHS):
[attachimg=1]

I don't think it likes living with Clipboard Help+Spell 

Keeps complaining that the Clipboard is locked...

I used to use a trackball, but now I use Contour Free... which fixed my shoulder pain within a week   and it means I get to use both hands for mouse operations 

The NANY newsletter says, "Icon Help Wanted."  What icon-assistance do you need?  -steve

See here:

Now would be a good time to do a shout-out to those of you who are decent with the graphics side of things;  Could someone design a nice Icon for NetLaunch?  

I think PM kamahl directly if you'd like to help... and thanks!! 

build 14 seems to be running better here... although I nearly put a bug into Redmine as I thought Auspex was stealing the input when it first started... but then it didn't

Have you thought about an auto learn feature? eg all words typed longer than the standard setting are automatically added to an Auto-AutoComplete folder during normal typing... this would be like intellisense.

On close those items are deleted... or alternatively can be moved to a different folder.

I lean toward the NANY version being Free / Donationware for its life (no time-limit, no nag screen after a period of time).

There is nothing stopping further development happening after NANY and a paid version(s) released at a later date.

I think the spirit of DC and NANY is celebratory and we should be doing everything that we can to increase the celebration for the coder and the user -- having time-limits and or nag screens and or feature restrictions to the original NANY release limits or decreases the celebration.

  Maybe the installer can ask the user what they'd like it to be called and name the shortcut to the programme that?? 

  Thanks!!

Mr Pinhead here has just uploaded build 10 which should address this.

Yes, fixed... but...
[attachthumb=1]

And I'm on XPIII as well...

A bit of extra playing... it seemed that Auspex was "stealing" the space from everything (hence the above lack of spaces). When I removed the Space trigger I got my spaces back 

I'm at work, where often thing are blocked and don't work, but I get the following with 1.0.0.8:
[attachthumb=1]