topbanner_forum
  *

avatar image

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?

Login with username, password and session length
  • Friday March 29, 2024, 1:13 am
  • Proudly celebrating 15+ years online.
  • Donate now to become a lifetime supporting member of the site and get a non-expiring license key for all of our programs.
  • donate

Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - Chessnia [ switch to compact view ]

Pages: prev1 [2] 3next
26
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: VPR, visual people randomizer!
« on: September 17, 2010, 06:42 PM »
Oh, this is terrible, I hadn't even seen this, my appologies!!
I thought I was getting an email whenever there was a new reply to this, but I must have done something wrong.  :-[
I'm gonna check this out right now!

27
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Not so pointless clickometer!
« on: July 10, 2010, 05:52 AM »
Oh, ok! :)

Thanks for that.

28
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Not so pointless clickometer!
« on: July 10, 2010, 05:16 AM »
Latest update, image showing problem:


29
Er... wow, thanks a lot for your time.  :Thmbsup:

I don't have excel. I only use  Open office. Would it work for open office also?

But still, I'm not sure I'm looking for an excel macro, it seems to me that I want to be able to add different features which would be impossible to add to a macro:

run the program in a tiny window,
add features like the gmail thing (you click and you get a star),
getting the coloured cell to move around till it stops on one name on the list and the ability to make sure that that name is not repeated again, 
Perhaps add sound to the next version
etc.

In other words, I think I need a stand alone program.

30
Thanks scancode! :)

Just one thing, is that the screen where you add the names and so on? because it is important that the main screen has like table cells so that they can be coloured and you can see the visual effect.
Anyway, it's looking smart!

31
I don't really know the difference between "sidebar" or "normal window". If it helps, it would be like the clickometer that I requested.
Number of names: 80 at most.

Oh, another feature: ability to import a list from a text list.

Cheers.

32
Post New Requests Here / IDEA: VPR, visual people randomizer!
« on: June 29, 2010, 10:34 PM »
Hi there! :)


I spend a fair bit of time coaching kids in the classroom and I try to make my lessons as much fun as possible.
I normally use a VGA projector or a smartboard. At some point, I begin to ask questions and what I'd love to see to give the kids a bit more motivation.
(ok, that part has been copied and pasted from my clickometer request, but everything stands for this one!).

Often, I have to pick students from a list. Not always, but normally, it's a random process.

To make this simple process more interesting, I thought it would be interesting for the kids and me to have a little program which would pick a name from the list at random, but the process would be visually attractive: a bit like a roulette kind of effect, the names on the list would be highlighted at high speed (one by one) for a couple of seconds, then it slows down and stops at 1. That's the name that has been picked!

More features:

- Optional: if a name has been picked, it can't be picked again.
- A name which has been picked appears in a different colour.
- Ability to choose colours.
- Ability to enter names.
- Ability to set the amount of time that goes by before the randomizer stops / perhaps speed.
- Ability to change the color of a name on the list  by simply clicking on it.
- like gmail, ability to add different stars (icons), by clicking on it (maybe for version 2)

Here's a very simple image showing more or less what I'm thinking about:



Anyway, I think other teachers might find it useful also... lessons can be boring, let's make them a little more fun for everyone! (it could be useful to many other people too...)
Btw, I use windows 7, so compatibility with it would be much appreciated if someone takes this up. :)

Finally, I don't know if I'm supposed to say this here, but I'm willing to donate at least 50$ for this. I know it's not much, but we've gotta start somewhere. :)

Cheers.

33
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Not so pointless clickometer!
« on: June 07, 2010, 07:43 AM »
Yes, I am!

I started working on the design I thought I wanted, but didn't like what I saw on my screen! :D

But ok, I've made some changes and this is, perhaps, how I think the program could look like. It's more compact in the sense that it has no text buttons, I'd rather use icons as buttons, and the icons are integrated within the standard size of the program.
The countdown appears at the top.
The icons don't necessarilly have to look like that or anything, they're just an idea.
3d bars? interesting, although I guess that's an idea for version 3. :D

Sorry I took more than 24 hours!

34
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Not so pointless clickometer!
« on: June 04, 2010, 10:45 PM »
Nice work.
I actually had a different idea in mind for those buttons and the countdown: more compact
I'll edit a screenshot within the next 24 hours!.

Regards!

35
Hi Lanux!

1 - Yes, that sounds good. I was wondering if it can be set up in the .ini file. "when_green_bar=20_event=showimage1.png", etc.
I'm not sure how the image would be displayed though, ideally close to the program itself (on the screen).
2 - I'm not sure how to display this, to be honest. Maybe a little clock, just the digits, use the grid as a countdown bar... no sure yet. Option to choose the amount of time.
3 - I was thinking static  bars. i.e. I choose the number of bars before I run the program. Maybe I can choose the colour of each bar...
5 - Namely 2 things: the digits: red bar=10, green bar=5, yellow bar=x. and a name for the file. That way, perhaps it can loaded/saved.
8 - I agree. Although I have to say that the speakers on laptops are usually not very powerful! that's why I put that in the "not so important" list.

36
Sorry I hadn't replied for a week, been really busy. I guess you guys don't have a program to stop time, do you? :)

Ok, I've been using it in class and I have to say that...  kids love it! :)
Normally a class is full of individuals, and this program has the virtue of:

- Letting everyone be part of the same team (it's a bit of a "all of us against the teacher" concept).
- It's been really helpful at getting the kids' attention, which is not always easy!
- Kids tend to get a little bit carried away and can cellebrate guesses pretty much like a crowd at a soccer match! :D

I guess the novelty will wear out, but so far my experience has been better than I expected. :)

The program has already reached a level which is well above my expectations.
Based on my own thoughts and some the comments by the kids in class, these are some of the things I'd like to see for the next version. (I know some of these will be impossible to implement, but here they go anyway.)

- Kids are curious by nature. One question I keep getting is: What happens when the bar gets to the top? So, I thought that it would be great if we could add a feature that lets you add an event when the bar reaches a certain amount. For example, an image pops up on the screen when the red bar reaches 20, or 25 or... whatever. or an image pops up when the green bar reaches... Perhaps you can add more than one picture: picture at 20, 25, etc.
This would give the program awesome flexibility, using different pix for different schools, etc. This is probably my favourite feature request.

- An integrated stopwatch - or better, a countdown. I guess I could use another program for this, but it would be nice if it were included. I often set up a puzzle and give the kids xx seconds to find the answer.

- More bars?  perhaps ability to choose number / colours  of them?
This is actually quite an interesting idea which provides versatility. Maybe each bar can represent a different student, or be used for different types of questions.

- Ability to run Several instances of the program?

- Log results. Click a button to copy to clickboard or something. Or maybe when you start the program you get a question: "what file would you like to log results to?". This is interesting because I can show results achieved by schools from different schools, or simply motivate children to do better than the week before, or achieve their best result ever, and so on.

- One Click button to reset bars? Re-starting the program or clicking manually can take a while.

And here are some ideas that I'm not sure whether are needed or not. Probably not really needed for version 2.

- horizontal version of the program?
- Sound effects?

37
Fantastic!

Youv'e done an OUTSTANDING JOB!!  :Thmbsup: :up:

I'm sending my donation! (I don't know how to do this, so bear with me if I take longer than expected!)

38
I imagine that should be ok, yes, particularly if you can choose colours anyway.

39
The new customizations is definitly a major improvement!  :Thmbsup:

I'm attaching a video showing more or less what's going on. You can see the flickering, but also the background keeps having some problems. Sometimes it turns transparent, showing the desktop colours.
The file is in flash format to reduce the size of the original avi file.




40
A couple of things:

- True, the background doesn't disappear, but on my windows 7, the images shakes a lot when I click on the bar. I've tested again the previous versions, and they don't shake.
Finally, I've testes it on my notebook, and have made a nasty discovery. I hope this doesn't mean more work for you  :(  the program can't be seen properly on a netbook with a resolution of width = x, height = 600, it's too high.
That's what I was thinking about when I wrote: "its height should probably not exceed the standard 600 pixels"
I appologize for not mentioning this before. I simply hadn't tested it. :( 
I think with the background grid issue solved, the program is very much what I wanted...

41
Hi Lanux,

The customizable options are awesome!  :Thmbsup:
At one point I was going to request them, but thought it would have been a bit cheeky on my part! :)

42
Wow! I'm liking it a lot!

If the thick line proves elusive, maybe a solution would be to use a darker green line every 5, and a darker red every 5 on the other side. or maybe just a darker grey on both sides, every 5.
Possible bug: the grid on the white background disappears when you start clicking on one bar.
Possible minor improvements:
- use a lighter grey on the background.
- the grey space on the right side seems to be 2 pixels longer than the one on the left. If I had to choose how to even them out, I'd probably add 2 extra pixels to the left side.

Other than that, very impressive! the coloured counters idea is great! ;)

43
Hey, that's looking pretty cool ! :)
What I'd like is a counter bellow the bars and maybe a measuring line on the edges, you know, like measuring tape, you get a thicker line every 5 or so. (I've drown one up to give you an idea of what I mean, although the one I made is not very accurate! :) 
And also some light grey lines below, coinciding with the measuring lines, like in the picture (it makes it easier to read I suppose).
Also, at present I think you can get a maximum of 20 hits. Maybe increase that to 30 (even if you have to make the bars a little taller, say 600 pix).
It'd be nice if the bar's backeground were white instead of grey, like in my sketch bellow.
I don't know. I don't want to get too greedy requesting features, I guess it should be kept as simple as possible :)

clicko3.png

44
I'm not really sure about the implications of the 2 different options, but I think I'm looking for a stardard window dialog, both bars on one same form that can be dragged around. (as long as each bar responds to a click independently)
As for size, I'm not really sure, but its height should probably not exceed the standard 600 pixels.

45
Maybe the progress bar should be sharper, no white spaces in between?

46
Maybe a way to correct a mistake if you've clicked a wrong one, and also a counter below the bars?
I don't know. :)

47
Post New Requests Here / IDEA: Not so pointless clickometer!
« on: May 07, 2010, 09:36 PM »
Hi there! :)

I spend a fair bit of time coaching kids in the classroom and I try to make my lessons as much fun as possible.
I normally use a VGA projector or a smartboard. At some point, I begin to ask questions and what I'd love to see to give the kids a bit more motivation is a simple "clickometer" with two vertical progress bars. Every time I click on the green one, it goes up one unit, and the same for the red one (thus, if they pick a wrong answer, the red bar goes up, if they pick the right answer, the green bar goes up one unit and so on).
This would give the kids a kind of being "part of a team" and I think it would be more fun for them (ok, I confess, and me too! :) )

Here's a very simple image showing more or less what I'm thinking about:

clickometer.png

Sure, the program could have more features, like... I don't know, another image at the top with a green color circle or something showing that the green is beating the red, or a red one if it's the other way around, etc.  I don't know, I don't want to make it too complicated for you guys :)
Anyway, I think other teachers might find it useful also... lessons can be boring, let's make them a little more fun for everyone! :)
Btw, I use windows 7, so compatibility with it would be much appreciated if someone takes this up. :)

Finally, I don't know if I'm supposed to say this here, but I'm willing to donate at least 50$ for this. I know it's not much, but we've gotta start somewhere. :)

Cheers.

48
Hi Jp and the rest.

Congratulations on what seems like a really cool program. :Thmbsup:

Suggestion: Send all open programs (the ones that appear in the task bar) to grid.

The reason why I came accross your program is that lately I'm using lots of programs on my computer simultaneously (as most of us do) and was shocked to learn that windows doesn't have a hotkey to actually present all program windows in mosaic mode (or cascade). Well, apparently, it can be done if you go to your taskbar management, blah blah blah, and half an hour later, you can do it, which is absurd if you ask me!

By the way, does anybody know if such a program exists already? press control + whatever and your windows appear in mossaic or cascade mode... like MIRC used to do (if you've ever used IRC).

It's really quite shocking that "Windows" can do just about anything ... except manage windows in a smart way! :D

49
General Software Discussion / Re: GemX - missing in action
« on: December 22, 2007, 04:51 PM »
Does anyone else get the feeling certain users (yes, plural) may be suddenly posting on behalf of GemX here (albeit rather softly)? Hmmmm, new, with less than 10 posts and all positive about GemX (...or am I just delusional)

What a lot of nonsense!  :down:
People have been speculating too much. If Gemx meet their new datelines, they'll also get a vote of confidence from me. A new version of Texnotes would be amazing news. I'm also looking forward to their new version of Do.

50
I edited my first ebook last year but  I'm currently looking for alternatives to GEMX's Textnotes pro http://www.gemx.com/texnotespro.php, as the software hasn't been updated in more than 2 years and the (troubled) company has announced that it doesn't really know what's going to happen with this product, they might actually merge it with Do-organizer. (crazy, if you ask me, but it's their choice).
I've checked and tested many, but they all seem to have one problem or another, for example:
  • They were designed mainly as text book makers. Boring!!  :down:
  • They do allow graphics and multimedia, but can't handle html.  :down:
  • They can handle html, but not javascript. This is a very nasty limitation, because if you're planning to publish a learning book, javascript can really make a big difference. Just think of imagemaps for example.  :down:
  • They can't copy protect the final product. If you have plans to sell your books one day, tough luck. :down:
  • They have a lot of features, but apart from the book the user will need to download a reader.  :down: (I'd rather just get a .exe file)
  • No pdf conversion. (I don't really care much about this as at present pdf docs can't handle animated gifs, etc.) but it is a convenient feature. :down:

Any suggestions?

By the way, my first book, made with textnotes pro, was called "Learn Chess Or Call Me An Idiot!!". It's a book for beginners who want to learn how to play chess. It can be downloaded here: http://www.gemx.com/ebooks_download.php

Pages: prev1 [2] 3next