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5301
Best E-mail Client / Seriously, what is MicroEd good for?
« Last post by superboyac on March 22, 2008, 01:51 AM »
I've been using the Bat for a couple of years now, and I still don't know what's so great about MicroEd.  I'm not trying to be an asshole or anything, I just don't see any (really, none at all) advantages that MicroEd has over a normal text editor.  All I can think of is hassles.  For example, in a regular text editor, if I didn't type any characters in a space, like the space below or at the end of a line, if I click in the blank area, it won't go past the last character that's been typed.  In MicroEd, the whole space is fair game for clicking, so if I click somewhere empty that's where the cursor goes.  But never once have I had the need to type somewhere, and then type something else in a completely separate location like that.  Why would anyone need that?  That's the only difference between MicroEd and normal editors that I can see:  the fact that you can click and type anywhere.  But it's a hassle, that's all it is.  I'm always checking to see if I'm REALLY at the end or beginning of a line because you never know with MicroEd, the only way to be sure is to use the Home and End buttons.
I just don't get it.  Please tell me the advantages of this, or else I'm just going to turn it off.
5302
General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?
« Last post by superboyac on March 22, 2008, 12:53 AM »
Yes, I can confirm experiencing similar delays in those grid operations.  I'm all for making it faster, if possible.  I have a really old computer, 1.8 GHz from 2002, and the delay is about 1-2 seconds also.
5303
General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?
« Last post by superboyac on March 21, 2008, 05:03 PM »
TucknDar, try uninstalling it and reinstalling it again, and then copy the latest build files into it.  It may seem like the latest build is very  minor, but sometimes they include pretty cool features in there.  Also, I recommend that you configure your interface the way I described above, for the sake of your mental state!
Yeah, I don't know what problems your having, my installations have all been on xp and I never had problems.  I'm sure Pierre can help you.

Also, what exactly are your needs for a notetaker/pim?  That would help me figure out whether sqlnotes will be as "great" for you as it is for me.  I can see where if you're just interested in jotting down text notes, it might be a little overkill, and evernote would be a lot easier to use.  But if you're needs are even slightly more complex, then sqlnotes could possibly help a lot.

In my opinion, here is what makes SQLNotes so great:  if there is any type of information you want to collect and/or organize, you can configure sqlnotes to handle that specific task.  And you can do a different configuration for any kind of data.  Examples I have used so far:

Transcript:
I wanted to enter my transcript information on the computer.  Normally, I'd just stick it in excel, but since I want a central place to access all personal data, I figured sqlnotes can handle it.  So, i configured sqlnotes to show the transcript information (class name, grade, gpa) and I used the regular notetaking hierarchy to organize my classes into years, semesters, etc.  But there are calculations involved for GPA (grades are weighted by units and so forth).  But since SQLNotes is capable of handling equations, my GPA column had an equation associated with it, so that it calculated my gpa according to the function.  It was very cool, because the equation had to somehow recognize that "A" meant 4.0 and "B+" meant 3.3 and so forth.  So, now I can automatically see what my gpa was for a specific semester, a particular year, or total.  See how cool that is?  Furthermore, since Pierre has incorporated Excel's pivot tables into the program, I can use that to show me how many A's or B's I recieved during my undergrad years.  Awesome!  You can't do this with any other PIM.

Notetaking:
I love evernote, but I don't want to use one program for notetaking and another for other PIM stuff (if I can avoid it).  So I wanted to see if I could make an imitation of Evernote in SQLNotes.  So, I created another grid (configuration) for that.  It's basically the screen in my screenshot above.  I just have a line for the title, and the left hand pane contains the note content.  At home, I also have a date column on the right side so I can sort the stuff chronologically (like Evernote).  Pierre also implemented a quicksearch feature similar to Evernote, but not quite as good yet.

Music organization:
I wanted to create a database for the discographies of my favorite artists.  So, again, I created another configuration for that.  Using the hierarchy, I organized by favorite artists by Artist>Album>Song.  Then, on the right side, i can use the note pane to make comments on the particular albums or songs, whatever the case.  Furthermore, let's say I want to filter the big list I made to just songs that start with G, or songs that have the word "georgia" in it.  I can do that.  You can do pretty much anything.

Project management:
At work, I have to keep track of several projects.  So I made another configuration as a sort of Project Log.  In this one, there are just two columns, date, and project name.  Whenever something happens in a project, I log it in here.  Then I use the note pane to write down any details, or copy an email or whatever longer description is necessary to explain what happened at that particular date.  Now, there is no hierarchy for this list.  Basically, I have all the projects in one big, unorganized list.  But since one of the columns has project name, I can use the filters available in SQLNotes to just show me the information for a particular project.  So, I can quickly put together a report of everything that has happened in a specific project for a specified length of time, and I didn't spend any time organizing the information or anything.


You see how you can just think of some kind of application and SQLNotes is flexible enough to accommodate it?  Try it, just think of some information that you would like to keep track of, and explore in sqlnotes if that is possible.  It might be hard to find out how to do it, but just ask Pierre, and he'll walk you through it.
5304
General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?
« Last post by superboyac on March 21, 2008, 12:49 PM »
Pierre, I was reading what Dormouse wrote in the evernote thread, and I couldn't help remembering that I felt the exact same way when I first tried out SQLNotes.  So, here's a small suggestion that might be a little bit of a psychological test.  I really feel that the default configuration of the default interface turns people off because it doesn't look like the typical notetaker.  It makers it look very strange and complex, like some weird proprietary database software made specifically for, say, some pharmacy company.

OK, here's my suggestion for the default interface.  Have the grid on the left side, then have the html pane on the right side (but NOT on auto-hide).  Also, have the field-pane on auto-hide because that can intimidate people who are expecting a tree-based notetaker.  I think if you do this, it will be easier for new users to understand what the software does.  It will also allow them to be willing to explore it a little more because they are already familiar with what they are seeing.  You see, new users won't even know that you can move all the interface sections around, and they won't bother to ask, they'll just uninstall it.  I know I did in the beginning.  Here's my interface configuration, just like I described:
Screenshot_20080321-104742.png
5305
I'm sure it is very powerful. It certainly looks as if it should be very powerful. But I just haven't been able to 'get it' so far, though I don't mind trying again every now and then.
Dormouse, I was in exactly the same postion you are in right now when i started that SQLNotes thread.  I know it may be hard to believe now because I'm such a gung-ho SQLNotes fanboy, but I was very skeptical when I tried SQLNotes the first time.  Before I even started that thread, I installed and uninstalled the program quickly at least 2 times, because I thought it was so strange.  I thought, "this is something specifically designed for the ECCO cult, which i am not familiar with at all.  This is useless for people who just want a notetaker."  I was using Evernote for my notes (which is still great).
To be really honest, in my mind, I thought SQLNotes was similar to TaoNotes, which in my opinion, is one of the strangest and poorly designed notetakers out there.  So, basically, I didn't think much of SQLNotes initially.
But I was wrong.  Really wrong.  SQLNotes is the greatest thing since sliced bread.  When it's complete, it will combine the function of so many software I use, including Evernote, Calendarscope, access, mybase, texnotes in a really cool way.

I'm writing all of this not to promote the product, but for your own good.  I really feel if you just put in the effort to "get" sqlnotes, you will be blown away with what you can do with it.
5306
I think Direct Folders is the best of the bunch, as I discussed in the thread I started last week.  Very cool to see it getting updated and also made free.  I love the double-clicking in the blank area feature...it is by far the most unique and useful distinguishing feature among all of these dialog resizer software.
5307
Living Room / Nokia "beep once" audio file. Anyone have it?
« Last post by superboyac on March 20, 2008, 01:07 PM »
I've been searching for a while, and I can't find the classic Nokia "beep once" audio file.  I got a new phone and I want to use that as my ringtone (simple and perfect), but it doesn't have it on it (it's a blackberry).  If anyone can send that to me or show me a link where it is, I'd really appreciate it.  Thanks!
5308
General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?
« Last post by superboyac on March 20, 2008, 11:48 AM »
"S-Note"

Just another idea for the name of the program, in case one wasn't chosen yet.  I think a lot of us are used to SQL-Notes by now, and we kind of like it, so this wouldn't be that much different and it would take the third-party content out of the name.

Yes, i know, I had nothing important to say... ;D
5309
I asked a similar question a while ago in this thread:
https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=7596.0

I use DOpus.  I love the copy/move dialog.  I tried supercopier, but it didn't make sense, and it confused the system, what with DOpus running also.
5310
OK, ok, you caught me! ;D
The truth is this:  MP3Rat is dead.  MP3 Collector is alive and probably will be as long as the rest of the Collectorz software is alive.  I just wanted to relate the two somehow, and probably overexaggerated for MP3 Collector.  All I know is that it's the least popular of the Collectorz bunch (straight from the mouth of the company) and that's why it gets the least attention as far as updates and such.  But I shouldn't have said that it was dying, my bad.

What I wanted to say was that because of the alternatives out there, the stand-alone mp3 catalogers seem to be phasing out.

I really, really don't think you have to worry about MP3 Collector being discontinued any time in the near future or as long as the other software is being developed.  In fact, I expect minor updates occasionally in the future, and possible major updates every 2-3 years.  Again, I want to emphasize that in the current state, the program is great and doesn't lack much, and is better than anything else out there.

Sorry for the confusion, I think I was being a little overly dramatic.  You know, everyone's needs are different, and if the rate of active development is the critical factor for you, then by all means don't buy it.  I just think you might be missing out overall because the alternatives may not be as good, or you might not be using any software for that purpose at all.
5311
My recommendation is to go ahead and buy it.  But that's easy for me to say!  I actually bought it years ago when they offered a lifetime license.  If you are satisfied with the current feature set, then I would get it right now, regardless of support issues.  I'm pretty familiar with the competition in this category, and they really don't compare to this program.  I don't think you will regret it.  Let me clarify something.  I also get frustrated when a company has poor support, but in this case, the issue is that they are slow with their updates.  But, in their defense, the program works great, the lack of updates is only for some feature requests that people want.  If it were a bug, and they weren't fixing it, then that's another issue, but that's not the case here.
I don't think they will discontinue the product because their other products are doing well, so unless they all go down, I don't think MP3 collector will go down.

As you can see, I'm a big fan of their software.  I just really like it when a company gets a program right, and they have in this case. 
5312
J-Mac, ok, I can see your point there.  True, we should have the same kind of support that the other collectorz software gets.  But, my point of this thread was not complaining or anything like that.  I was just kind of thinking about why these kinds of software aren't more popular that's all.  it wouldn't surprise me if Collectorz decided not to sell or support the MP3 software because it's more trouble than its worth to them.  I'm not saying that's right, but I wouldn't be surprised.

No, I'm not disagreeing with you.
5313
superboyac,

Having recently purchased both Movie Collector and Music Collector from Collectorz.com, I was looking hard at MP3 Collector.  As recently as a week ago I was browsing through its forum and became worried just as you apparently are here.  It has not been updated and requests about its future and the time table for an updated release have gone pretty much unanswered. The Collectorz mods there rarely reply to posts there, though they are very active on all other forums.  A post queried about the next update in December and the response was, "We will revisit MP3 Collector next year  :) "  Not very much of a commitment!  So I decided to hold off on any purchase, at least for now.  I am very much pleased with Movie and Music Collector presently; why take a chance of souring my opinion of the developer by spending top dollar on a product that seems to be on the way out?  Better to stay happy with what I have!!

Jim
Like I said before, I don't blame the Collectorz staff for that.  In the beginning, they were very responsive, but at the time, the software was still new.  As they added more software, the MP3 Collector became their least popular one out of the suite, which is not their fault.  Someone on the forum asked them about their lack of attention to the MP3 Collector and they responded with what I wrote above, that they have to address the needs of their other software first because that's where the bills are being paid.

The real blame here goes to the jukeboxes that include their "good enough" cataloging features.  Also, I think most users are not so very picky and anal about the way they catalog their music files (like me) so they have no motivation to find another program, because MusicMatch, or Winamp, or Media Monkey, is providing 99% of the features for them.

But even with that being the case, the MP3 Collector program still works great for now.  It could be looked at from a different perspective, where it's polished enough where features don't really need to be added or it's not that urgent.  There are a couple of nifty feature requests out there, but for the most part, I have no complaints.

Target, MP3 Cat used to be free?  That's cool, but I guess he changed his mind!  Oh well.  It's good to have another option out there.
5314
I can't remember the last time I saw a topic that so made me want to bitch! Congratulations?!
Hee hee!!  I bring out the best in people, eh?  I was just having a discussion at work about the art of provoking people.
5315
haven't seen this one listed anywhere else here, but a possible alternative is simon tellini's <a href="http://www.tellini.org/win/mp3cat/">MP3 Cat</a>

I tried a heap of these things several years ago and settled on this one (sadly it's no longer freeware)

Target
That's funny, MP3 Rat--> MP3 Cat.  I wonder if he's trying to one-up Kaylon.  From first glance, it's missing the greatest thing about MP3 Rat, and that's the lighting fast search box on top.  If the search isn't as good as MP3 Rat, then it's just another cataloger, and I'll have to try it out and see if it's even as good as MP3 Collector, which is the best.  Nice find!  I can't believe I never knew about it!
5316
Slowly and quietly, off of most people's radars, the top two programs for cataloging mp3 files are soon to disappear off the web completely.  I'm talking about MP3Rat (from Kaylon Technologies, makers of the fabulous PowerMarks; also dying and the best in it's class by far) and Mp3 Collector (Collectorz.com).  I've discussed both these programs at length in other threads here, but it's very sad to see these best in class (nobody comes close) programs about to die.  In the case of MP3Rat, it's already dead as it's sister program PowerMarks.  In MP3 Collector's case, it's still around, but hasn't really been updated in ages (besides very minor things) and, at least to me, it seems to be on its way out also.  As it stands, I think it is by far the least popular of the Collectorz.com suite anyway, which doesn't help motivate the authors to work on it vs their other programs.

Part of the problem, and these continue to be my nemesis, is the bundling of the cataloging features with the music players (jukeboxes).  Sure it's handy to have it all in one location, but the universal truth remains, "Jack of all trades, master of none."  None of these programs are quite as nice as MP3Rat or MP3 Collector.  It's just the fact that they are stand-alone, and the others are integrated in their favorite player.  But for us who are very picky about features, its a compromise we aren't willing to deal with.  That's why I have a separate music player, a separate encoding/decoding converter, a separate cataloger (two actually), and so forth.

It's very sad.  It reminds me of when KeyNote went down (is marek still around here?).  KeyNote was like a pioneer.
5317
Living Room / Who else is sick of difficult word verifications on the web?
« Last post by superboyac on March 16, 2008, 07:04 PM »
Man, I am so sick of the word verification things on all the web pages, forums, etc.  I understand that it helps with security and everything, but they're annoying as hell.  Especially the ones that are pretty darn difficult to figure out, and then you enter your best guess and it tells you it's wrong and you have to do it again.  Too much work for trying to complete a search on a forum!
5318
Darwin, yeah, I guess you know then!

I think the real, bottom line, determining factor for me in this category of software is the software's ability to work with NON-standard dialogs.  However, none of the programs work with non-standard dialogs.  And they all pretty much work with the standard dialogs + Office dialogs.
File-Ex had a great idea with the "training" of new dialogs, but the truth is that it still doesn't work with any non-standard dialogs.  All that happens is that you train a new dialog, and the File-Ex interface will pop up for that dialog later, but when you choose the folders and stuff, it still won't work right.  So, it only seems to work right.  Same for Filebox extender, like I mentioned before.  The buttons may appear on the non-standard dialogs leading you to believe that it works, but when you use the buttons, it doesn't work.

Therefore, the only factor that a user should use to help them choose is really interface, that's pretty much it.  For me, I like the Direct Folders interface the best.

Hey!  Darwin, and Tomos, I used to have Powerdesk also!  Yeah, I remember their dialog helper, it was pretty cool at the time.  Nothing special, but it worked as well as the others that are mentioned here.  Powerdesk was a cool suite.  I used it from about 1998 until 2004, when I started learning more about other software out there...Dopus and such.  But before I was a hardcore poweruser, Powerdesk was awesome!
5319
Not sure I agree about Direct Folders doing more, though.
Honestly, Direct Folders is better than XFilesDialog.  I'm a little sour about his upgrade policy.  During the time when I was registered, he only had two extremely minor updates.  And the supposed "support" you're entitled two during the registration period isn't all that responsive.  I mentioned the Autocad thing to him on more than one occasion, and he responded maybe once to it, but obviously never implemented anything (which I guess is not my right, I'm just saying), but it's not like he's the most responsive person in the world.  I mean, look at guys like Pierre, they respond immediately for something you haven't even bought yet.
I doubt his new version adds anything besides being compatible with Vista.

Another thing that bugs me about him is how on his webpage, he proudly and liberally uses the word "FREE" (yes, all capitals) even though nothing is free, and he actually is quite restrictive and paranoid even for the shareware norm.
Examples:
Join XDESKSOFTWARE MAILING LIST and get the latest information about our programs and tips about other valuable programs and sites! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!! FREE OF ANY OBLIGATIONS and with no "spam risk". It is also the only way to get access to beta versions and inside information!
Oh really?!  I can join a mailing list for free?  Wow, thank you for being so gracious.

New registered users get a FREE 12 months subscription (which means FREE updates and FREE technical support)!
Wow, free 12 month subscribtion...all that means is you get updates for only a year.  Again, compared to most other shareware (except AV programs), it's nothing to brag about.  And, whoopee, I get Free technical support which I probably won't use, and even if I do, it's not that responsive or special in any way.  I can get free technical support for most shareware, even if I haven't bought it, simply by contacting the author.

Anyway, that's all I'm saying.  If his software was the by far head and shoulders above the rest, I'd give him a little slack, like I do for DOpus.  But it's not.
5320
ChalkTrauma did say that he'd be willing to add suggestions, maybe you should enumerate them?
-Perry Mowbray (March 14, 2008, 08:25 PM)
Unless ChalkTrauma is willing to implement a lot of suggestions, then I'm afraid his program has sort of a long way to go.  If it was just a little feature or two, I'm all for it.  But I can't in good conscience ask him to add a list of 10-20 features that might involve quite a bit of programming.  That's up to him.

Since the compatibility range of these programs are mostly the same (standard open/save/browse + Office dialogs), then I probably will go back to Direct Folders, because I like their interface the best.  That double-click on blank space to open the folders is brilliant. 

Stardock is ok, but Direct Folders can do that at half the price, and it can do more.  Besides, I don't want to install a suite for one little application.
5321
You know, I'd be willing to try out a Linux system soon, once I get a little time.  I can just create a partition on my laptop and see how it goes.  If Zaine can enjoy the software, I can too.  Zaine, maybe you should make a Great Software List for Linux also!
5322
I will check it out right now, thanks!!
I am currently using FileBox Extender (free!) for the first time.  It's pretty good.  I don't like the interface as much as the other ones I've tried, but it works better than them.  Even Autocad works, no problem.  So, FlashFOlder is next!
Check that, Autocad DOES NOT work with FileBox Extender.  I though it did because its icons appear on the dialogs, but functionally, it doesn't work.

I guess none of these programs work with non-standard dialogs, except for Office because it's such a common suite and the software is specially programmed for that.  But for other programs like Autocad that use their own special dialogs, it's not going to work.

That being said, then which is the best?  Of the freeware, I like FlashFolders the best.  CFDButton is nice, but it's lacking several features.  For the paid ones, I think Direct Folders is the best (actually, it has a similar interface to FLashFolders).
5323
General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?
« Last post by superboyac on March 14, 2008, 03:48 PM »
Yes it does. It was just sort of funny that a thread with this title would get so long :)
Haha, that's funny.  Yeah, I never expected this thread to get so long.  Initially, I felt like SQLNotes was a weird, quirky program (I was not familiar with ECCO).  But to answer that simple question, SQLNotes is the greatest PIM on the market right now.  Or more broadly:  SQLNotes is anything you want it to be.
5324
Note Taking Software / Re: SuperboyAC's Notetaking Software Roundup #1
« Last post by superboyac on March 14, 2008, 03:45 PM »
SQLNotes will support Ecco-style off-line / sync.
That would be a feature to die for.
5325
Well, FLashFolder is great, I love the interface.  It doesn't work with AutoCAD (only filebox extender does right now), but its interface is better.  I hate when this happens.  DOn't you hate it when one program is better than another in 90% of the criteria, except that little 10% that another program does better is very critical to you.  Ugh!
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