Author Topic: A unified FARR / Launcher Interface Proposal (Read 50637 times)

mouser · « **Reply #25 on:** February 02, 2006, 12:12 PM »

Do you have a screenshot?

this doesn't quite do it justice, but here's a teaser. there are tons of different kinds of nodes (including virtual folders as requested above) that have different configuration panels.

basically the tree configuration can be used to generate launchbars and menus.

kfitting · « **Reply #26 on:** February 02, 2006, 12:24 PM »

nontroppo:
Yes, Opera's filters in M2 got me started in my fanatical devotion to filters rather than folders! Of course, there are times when you need a predetermined set of things, but often a filter is fine.

mouser:
Looks nice. Will this suck in the current FARR options? Further, will new versions of the major DC programs incorporate this new config interface? ScreenshotCaptor is another program that could benefit from a visually simpler config page.

Kevin

mouser · « **Reply #27 on:** February 02, 2006, 12:34 PM »

i don't think as a rule i will be using this for configurations. some people like tree configurations, i personall prefer the tabbed approach even though i know it can get confusing.

this is much more of a serious configuration for working with hundreds or thousands of nodes, letting user drag and drop and copy and paste, and create and delete nodes and drag in files from a file explorer, etc.

its just it can also be used as options configuration as well.

it is however, well suited to stuff like FARR list of alias groups, etc.

nontroppo · « **Reply #28 on:** February 02, 2006, 12:43 PM »

Mouser that's great! I have been thinking about how to do all this and your screenie is very similar to what I envisaged. The idea of node types is very intuitive with further specific options for the node below. :beer:

kfitting · « **Reply #29 on:** February 02, 2006, 02:06 PM »

Fair enough. The problem with tabs is that you get full rather quickly. With the number of options you are putting in the programs moving to a tree structure would allow a cleaner interface. But, at the end of the day, it's your decision!

Kevin

mouser · « **Reply #30 on:** February 02, 2006, 02:18 PM »

i would *love* to see some hard user interface testing data on tree based configurations.

what surprises me is that i am a huge fan of hierarchical information and i *should* prefer the tree based configurations, but for me what happens is that all the options just sort of blend in together and i feel lost. i just seem to be able to find stuff easier with more visual clues like boxes and stuff as seen in a tabbed configuration. maybe its just me..

kfitting · « **Reply #31 on:** February 02, 2006, 04:06 PM »

Ahhh... I kind of see. I'm not talking about having each option be a node in the tree... that is confusing! I mean the tree should contain few levels of options: highest level and one or two levels beyond that. Then, each node (depending on the complexity of it's config page) would be able to have a few tabs.

As a start you would move the tabs you currently have to the first level of the tree. Then you can sub group the options on those pages, then have the checkboxes and input boxes there. This eliminates some jumble of checkboxes with frames effect currently being used. I have seen this done with layered tabs (AdMuncher) and it gets rather confusing, but a tree would clean this up well.

I'll try to think of some common programs with tree option GUIs. But yeah, I agree: all options in the tree is bad news!

Kevin

edit: of course! My favorite program, Keynote, does the tree GUI for options. It only uses two tree levels but see how clean it is? It offers many options but they are all readily accessible.

Amadawn · « **Reply #32 on:** February 02, 2006, 04:58 PM »

I like the way Firefox handles options. The way the use images for the tabs is very nice.

Amadawn

Josh · « **Reply #33 on:** March 07, 2006, 07:32 PM »

Honestly, I would love to see a merger between LBC and FARR. This would be the ultimate app as both serve a VERY similar purpose. I would love to have hotkeys assignable to launch certain apps, a tray icon that lists several other programs I run frequently assigned by category, and a way to use the search functionality that FARR has currently!

Darwin · « **Reply #34 on:** October 29, 2006, 01:17 PM »

I *SWEAR* (too much, according to my wife) that I've posted here in the past to add my vote for a merger of the functionality of F&RR and LC and lo and behold I'm wrong. Whodda thunkit? Anyway, put me down as in support of this idea, particularly if Allen's qualifiers are part of the vision adopted and (to paraphrase Allen) knowing Mouser this is no doubt the route that will be taken...

masu · « **Reply #35 on:** November 10, 2006, 01:30 PM »

I really like the idea !!

mimiihu · « **Reply #36 on:** December 09, 2006, 01:46 PM »

I really like the idea !!

i really like your avatar !!
...
just kidding ok?

count me in for support on the "company merging" too.
is the first nontroppo screenshot of farr possible already? i mean the 3 column app list and the custom font separator captions. that would be a good addition to lbc.

i haven't played with farr a lot yet, but globally speaking and by reading the posts on this thread, i would still like the systray icon to invoke the bar (lbc+farr) docked or floating and hiding after launch along with a shortcut key option (i don't use them 'cause i lack several brain "nodes" and i tend to forget the key combinations).

according to nontroppo "imaginary screenshot, i think" there could be also the option for icons on right and typing on left or the inverse. if you want your icons centered or justified, your're bummed out. unless there's another line below just for typing and history button, maybe.

if i'm rambling, just ignore me. i'm just a n00b.

Darwin · « **Reply #37 on:** December 09, 2006, 02:39 PM »

I've been avoiding mentioning masu's avatar for getting on for a year now - you've opened the floodgates, mimiihu! She's breathtaking - who is she, masu?

masu · « **Reply #38 on:** December 10, 2006, 07:08 AM »

Jessica Alba

Darwin · « **Reply #39 on:** December 10, 2006, 03:20 PM »

You're kidding... OK, looking closely, you're not

How did I miss that? I've spent a year thinking that she was an Asian - Korean/Japanese/Chinese model!

mimiihu · « **Reply #40 on:** December 10, 2006, 08:18 PM »

and i was thinking that masu was that girl. that's why i said "just kidding".
actually i'm a sucker for asian girls. that's why my girl is thai

eye-candy:
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/intotheblue/site/extras/wallpapers/itb_wallpaper_sam1280x1024_b.jpg

Darwin · « **Reply #41 on:** December 10, 2006, 11:18 PM »

and my wife is Korean...

cemole · « **Reply #42 on:** December 12, 2006, 12:21 AM »

Just to get us back to the main topic

I want to add my name to those who would be happy to have an application combining Find&Run Robot and Launchbar Commander.

mitzevo · « **Reply #43 on:** December 12, 2006, 12:37 AM »

ehh, try to keep your pants on?

eheheh. ehe.

bleak_xmas · « **Reply #44 on:** December 13, 2006, 07:50 PM »

I like the idea. Partly because I bought 'Object dock' a year or two ago, and
with FARR, I've tossed the dock entirely. I'd love FARR integrated into the
dock in a few ways..

1) dock is BEHIND all apps, until you hit the break key. when you do, it pops in front
and activates the search bar.
2) A part of the dock can contain static icons
3) A part of the dock can contain the top x history icons
4) The dock overall can implement lots of pretty features like zoom and transparency etc.

Check out 'RocketDock' which is the flavour of the month in the Dock world, with
Konfabulator going the Yahoo!?! way, and Object Dock costing real money.. and Y'z
dock being no longer developed...

Rocket Dock integrated into FARR, with a hotkey to activate and pop it to the front
would be fabulous! RocketDock is missing the ability to show running apps (with a
highlight) or SysTray icons (without crashing that is).. Object Dock is better in that
respects, just not free.

I think you can download the source to Rocketdock as a reference. Note that active
ICONS as plugins would also be a bonus, since I use(d) an active GMAIL icon which
changed when it detected unread mail in my inbox.. AAh. I can feel my MAC envy
returning..

BTW, masu.. yes, very nice :-)

vjcamarena · « **Reply #45 on:** December 15, 2008, 05:02 PM »

I love this idea!

Kuntau · « **Reply #46 on:** May 18, 2011, 05:31 AM »

Any chance this idea getting implemented?

mouser · « **Reply #47 on:** May 19, 2011, 12:58 AM »

I'm skeptical as to the point of this -- whether one exe or two, i just still dont see how FARR would actually *behave* differently if it was integrated into LaunchBarCommander, or vice versa. What am i missing?

Kuntau · « **Reply #48 on:** May 19, 2011, 06:36 AM »

I would be the same just as if FARR ability to search LBC shortcuts

Another twist is to have the "dock" menu auto populated by FARR base on launch frequency + score weight. The categories may be base on filetypes or tags?

mouser · « **Reply #49 on:** May 19, 2011, 11:41 AM »

Another twist is to have the "dock" menu auto populated by FARR base on launch frequency + score weight.

that's an interesting idea to chew on..