DonationCoder.com Forum
DonationCoder.com Software => Mouser's Zone => Point Motivator => Topic started by: itreeye on February 04, 2008, 05:08 PM
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In the 'earn points' tap, if I right click on a catagory the menu offers the option to delete or modify the catagory. I've tried both and absolutely nothing happens. I've tried it with the user defined catagory and the sample ones. Is this the same for everyone or should I re-install or something?
p.s.
I love this program and the idea! :)
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It's not just you -- that right click context menu should not actually show for any tab except your History Diary tab.
If you want to hide items from showing in the Earn/Reward tab go to View -> Program Options ->
and disable the data configuration files you dont want to show.
ps.
thank you for the nice words about the program.
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Yes I'm just getting into it today. Very cool :) It makes work or chores a bit like a game I guess...
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Understood.
I have tried to disconnect from the example profile with success.
;D
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Well, while I really like the concept of this software, these relatively minor glitches upon starting it up the first time appear enough like bugs (and perhaps are fast enough to remedy) that in my view it could be worth a quick fix at some point.
In fact, I think there may be a bug or two as well. For instance, when I go to the Item Definition Editor, it allows me to add new items without opening a file. Those new items are then invisible in that editor, but appear as "New Item" in the main software screen.
I also get nothing when I click on "Check for Updates Now" which combined with the above led me to believe that perhaps the software wasn't working quite right.
I was able to edit the XML file for the items which convinced me the software was working well enough -- so I continued playing with it.
I think perhaps something as simple as by default loading a new user-defined file in the definitions editor rather than a blank screen there might make it more intuitive for the first time user.
Or alternatively, making the initial definitions file customizable. Right now on this Vista machine that file is in the Program Files directory and thus essentially intended to be read-only. (Part of that confusion lies with Windows itself, but I wonder whether a couple of minor modifications to the setup might make this smoother.)
But overall, nothing major, certainly engineering-wise. I've played with a few of your programs and all appear to be thoughtfully designed. Thanks for your efforts.
Dan
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Hi Dan,
Thank you for your comments -- I think you probably hit the nail correctly on all of those -- and as you've surmised, Point Motivator could really use an update to smooth out these rough edges.
The real reason it hasn't gotten attention from me is that there doesn't appear to be much interest in the concept, and it feels like perhaps there are no real users; so it just goes to the bottom of the todo list..
However, I will try to get a minor update out at least that takes care of these worst offender bugs. I definitely appreciate any help you or anyone else gives in identifying the issues to fix -- makes it all that much easier for me to release a quick update.
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I think one issue is that Point Motivator is somewhat overly complex.
What might make it more usable is if someone was willing to create some xml definition files with some purpose in mind -- with enough entries that would satisfy users so they could use those definition files without ever feeling the need to customize them.
That would keep most users from ever having to go into the options at all. If I could find someone willing to create some of those, it might breathe some new life into the program..
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Hi Dan,
Thank you for your comments -- I think you probably hit the nail correctly on all of those -- and as you've surmised, Point Motivator could really use an update to smooth out these rough edges.
The real reason it hasn't gotten attention from me is that there doesn't appear to be much interest in the concept, and it feels like perhaps there are no real users; so it just goes to the bottom of the todo list..
However, I will try to get a minor update out at least that takes care of these worst offender bugs. I definitely appreciate any help you or anyone else gives in identifying the issues to fix -- makes it all that much easier for me to release a quick update.
-mouser
It's a season software, of course. Except for educators.
I made my duties and tried to find an alternative to PM. But was not possible for me.
So God bless you if time enough to make a few modifications.
Some day you told the idea of a price software or something like that. And on the cloud. But there is a lot of such programs. And yours is the only independent one.
So i will wait for you forever.
:-*
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if I right click on a catagory the menu offers the option to delete or modify the catagory. I've tried both and absolutely nothing happens. I've tried it with the user defined catagory and the sample ones. Is this the same for everyone or should I re-install or something?
Actually you can modify and delete and add items, but NOT using the right-click context menu -- I'm not sure why that right-click menu in the main dialog pretends you can. Ignore that. You have to open the Item Definition Editor and option the definition file that holds those items in order to modify or delete or add those.
I ran Point Motivator for the first time in a while.. I forgot how much work I put into that program! What a shame that it proved useless to most people.. I have a habit of making elaborate programs like that (see my Web Link Captor (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?board=306.0) for another extreme example).
However, it's probably still worth a minor update.
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:-*
Running to try Web Link Captor
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I think perhaps something as simple as by default loading a new user-defined file in the definitions editor rather than a blank screen there might make it more intuitive for the first time user.
I'm changing it so the sample file is copied into user directory as their first editable sample file, and that will load by default when they launch editor for the first time.
So someone who doesnt work with multiple files can just basically never have to worry about item files, they can just use the one they start out with.
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New beta up:
See https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=33075.0
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;D
Nice indeed. I am trying of course and observ a notable better interface and way to do it (excuse my english). I would to make constructive criticisim when time but what I have seen until now is simply wonderful.
I will comment.
:-*
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I'm the same. I cannot modify, add or delete entries. I tried creating a new file, hoping that at least I'd get rid of the default entries but no avail, I'm still stuck with them. Same with adding entries do not work. Also, the help file is not helpful in any way about how to use the app.
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Grab the beta from this thread: https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=33075.0
And let me know if that fixes things.
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Yes it does! I can finally edit the file and modify/add/delete entries.
Thanks!!!
P.S. How do we add children entries to an entry?
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To place something deeper in a hierarchy, just fill out the "Category Path" and specify something deeper (with more periods), and then hit the Refresh Changes button.
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To place something deeper in a hierarchy, just fill out the "Category Path" and specify something deeper (with more periods), and then hit the Refresh Changes button.
-mouser
Thanks!!! But it seems it's be much simpler to just add it to the right click menu, along with Add New Item, Make a Clone of Current Item or Delete this Item... like Add New Child Item.
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To place something deeper in a hierarchy, just fill out the "Category Path" and specify something deeper (with more periods), and then hit the Refresh Changes button.
-mouser
Thanks!!! But it seems it's be much simpler to just add it to the right click menu, along with Add New Item, Make a Clone of Current Item or Delete this Item... like Add New Child Item.
-Nada7