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Last post Author Topic: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)  (Read 54471 times)

kyrathaba

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NANY 2011 Entry Information

Application Name N.A.N.Y. Excuse Manager
Version
The most recent version is 0.96q mostRecentVersion.png
Short Description Manage your excuses for not producing a N.A.N.Y. application
Supported OSes WinXP, Vista, 7
Download LinkExcuse Manager (zipped) (75.5 Kb) will not check for presence of .NET Framework 4.0
Download LinkExcuse Manager Inno Setup (409 Kb) will check for presence of .NET Framework 4.0
Download Link Although I'm not releasing the entire project source code, here is a download link for the Excuse class  :P
The Big Picture


The program is intended to be used not only by end-users, but also by the developer.  End-users create/edit/email their excuses.  The developer programmatically retrieves Excuse files and downloads these email attachments, where the developer's copy of the program processes them and creates HTML reports of the data, publishing it online for the edification of all program users.


Important Note: Although not yet implemented as of v0.96q, which was my final submission before the contest ended, I do have test-code written and will be implementing functionality wherein the program takes the processed Excuses that it receives by email, collates the processed data into a nice HTML file, uploads it to my website, an then emails users of the program the link to the online report.


excuse manager flowchart60.png




Webcast InfoThe following screencasts should be viewed in the order listed, beginning with "Installing the Program"
Webcastinstalling the program
Webcastrunning the program for the first time
Webcastsending excuse files via email
Webcastretrieving excuse files via email
Version HistoryVersion 0.9 (released 12-24-2010)
  • basic creation and editing of excuses
  • serialization of excuses
  • ability to browse for subdirectory of choice for storing excuses
Version 0.91 (released 12-24-2010)
  • fixed three bugs
  • added ability to email excuses to developer
  • added notification, to form Title Bar, of number of excuses found in selected directory
Version 0.92 (released 12-25-2010)
  • added splash screen
  • added menu option to show splash screen infrequently (you're welcome)
Version 0.93 (released 12-25-2010)
  • added the excellent icon by App103 (thank you!)
  • added menu options to vary splash screen duration
Version 0.94 (released 12-26-2010) -- the code to download multiple emails from multiple DC users was quite involved
  • removed unused using statements from source code files
  • added error-checking to method querying DC username before emailing the developer with copies of your excuse files
  • added the ability for the developer to retrieve (after supplying a password) all excuse files that have been emailed to him as attachments
  • added convenient keyboard shortcut: Escape key exits application
Version 0.95 (released 12-27-2010)
  • placed code that retrieves and processes multiple emails in its own BackgroundWorker thread, so as not to destabilize the UI
  • modified InnoSetup so that it uses the correct icon, such that the icon displays prettily (with transparency in the right places) in the Desktop shortcut (see screenshot below)
Version 0.96 (released 12-30-2010)
  • corrected error of omission: program will NOW update title bar with # excuses found, just as soon as you select a directory using Folder button and the BrowseForDirectory dialog.
  • added a mutex synchronization primitive to guard against multiple instances of our program running simultaneously.
  • renamed some #regions and some variable names, to improve source code clarity
  • commented the code more significantly
  • implemented a FileSystemWatcher object, with related event handlers, so that even if a file gets added or deleted (or even changed) from outside our program (say, from Windows Explorer, for instance), our program's UI reflects this and/or alerts us appropriately
  • made the form slightly taller, so that the text boxes could be multiline.
  • used a boolean in conjunction with Form1_Activated() to ensure description textbox gets focus when program first loads.
  • added option to view, via Windows Explorer, the contents of the application data folder
  • added menu item to allow developer to process downloaded excuse files.  Uses a second BackgroundWorker object -- again, to keep UI from freezing.
  • the biggest feature of 0.96 over 0.95 is the addition of the ability to process retrieved emails' attachments and generate a report.  Unfortunately for most end-users, other than the developer, this feature won't be accessible.
  • used an obfuscating routine to better protect a password included in the installation.
System Requirements

Author kyrathaba Profile page Kyrathaba DC page

Description
The purpose of this little program is to allow you to record the many excuses you've come up with for why you're not writing a N.A.N.Y. entry.  Of course, I've written the program to be able to handle excuses for just about anything, but its intent is as stated above.


Features

See the Version History information above.

Planned Features

I welcome your suggestions.

One idea I had was to have the program check my website for uploaded excuses, and launch the user's default browser to view them.  Perhaps the program would download a local copy and allow the user to vote for their favorites, then email the developer these ratings for later inclusion in the webpage...

Screenshots

ExcuseManager8.png

ExcuseManager7.png

ExcuseManager6.png

ExcuseManager3.png

ExcuseManager4.png

emailInsert.png



Usage
Installation
How do you install and run the Application for the first time?

Use either of the two links above that you wish.  You can either install manually, which merely involves extracting the zipped folder and its contents to your desired location, then running the app.  Or, you can download and run the Inno Setup file and run it.

Using the Application

See the "About" menu for brief instructions.

Uninstallation

Either delete the manually extracted folder, which contains the applications and its files; or, run the uninstaller from your Program Files menu.

Known Issues

You tell me.  Seems to be working well.
« Last Edit: January 02, 2011, 09:34 PM by kyrathaba »

mouser

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2010, 01:41 PM »
 ;D

kyrathaba

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2010, 01:48 PM »
Added a link in the OP to download the Excuse C# class.

kyrathaba

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2010, 01:49 PM »
Mouser, did you see my PM re: Gmail?

mouser

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2010, 01:57 PM »
Mouser, did you see my PM re: Gmail?
must have missed it, will check now.

kyrathaba

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #5 on: December 24, 2010, 09:54 PM »
Update:  I've added the ability to email your excuses to the developer (that'd be me).  You'll see the option as a menu item.  

I updated my OP with this new feature, and an updated screenshot.  The download link targets have been updated as well.

If I get very many of these emails, I'll collate them into a list on a website, showing the DC user-name of the person who submitted each excuse  :P
« Last Edit: December 24, 2010, 09:58 PM by kyrathaba »

kyrathaba

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #6 on: December 24, 2010, 10:19 PM »
I wouldn't mind a nice little icon for this admittedly humorous program.  Anyone any good at creating them?

I'm gonna try to remember how to do a nice splash screen.  Not the easy, straightforward type, but one I managed about 3 years ago, with C# Express 2005.  Used BitBlt to only show non-transparent portion of splash screen image...


worstje

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #7 on: December 24, 2010, 10:45 PM »
Go do it the fancy way and use layered windows instead. UpdateLayeredWindow is the epic function you want. It's a pain to use, but you can get really pretty results with it. :)

kyrathaba

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #8 on: December 24, 2010, 10:50 PM »
Thanks, worstje.  I'll do some reading/experimenting.

app103

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #9 on: December 25, 2010, 03:25 AM »
What kind of image did you have in mind for the icon?

Crush

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #10 on: December 25, 2010, 05:47 AM »
I don´t need excuses till now, but I love the idea.  :Thmbsup:

kyrathaba

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #11 on: December 25, 2010, 07:04 AM »
What kind of image did you have in mind for the icon?

No idea, App, honestly  :-[  I mean, what icon can suggest making excuses? 

app103

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #12 on: December 25, 2010, 08:00 AM »
How about something like this, pointing fingers of blame in every direction?

excuses.png

I am not sure what to put in the center, though. Has to be something that will look ok when icon sized.

(this isn't anywhere near finished, has some minor flaws that need to be filled in with color, but not till after all vector work is done)

kyrathaba

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #13 on: December 25, 2010, 08:05 AM »
Extremely nice, App!  As for the center, not sure: I've been styling my programs as "produced by 'Kyrathasoft'.  Maybe some sort of K & S logo, or would that not look good?

app103

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #14 on: December 25, 2010, 08:10 AM »
Do you have one already? I could put it in the center if you do.

f0dder

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #15 on: December 25, 2010, 09:26 AM »
 ;D
- carpe noctem

app103

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #16 on: December 25, 2010, 09:32 AM »
How's this? I tried it at 48x48 with text in it and it looked horrible at that size. Then I thought about it and came up with the perfect round object to stick in the center...the dc favicon.  :D

excuses3.png

f0dder

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #17 on: December 25, 2010, 09:38 AM »
That's pretty awesome, app :D - going to be hard shrinking it down to a 16x16 appicon though.
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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #18 on: December 25, 2010, 09:40 AM »
Well, here's 16x16:

excuses3-16.png

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #19 on: December 25, 2010, 09:41 AM »
Wow, that's actually a lot better than I expected - kudos!
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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #20 on: December 25, 2010, 09:53 AM »
Here it is as .ico (zipped because I can't attach .ico files)

By the way, this wasn't as much work as it might seem, since I already made the hand vector ages ago, for the purposes of using in screenshots, instead of arrows. I had it added to my shapes library for quick & easy drawing.
« Last Edit: December 25, 2010, 10:04 AM by app103 »

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #21 on: December 25, 2010, 02:47 PM »
 ;D What happens to the 'Results' field?

kyrathaba

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #22 on: December 25, 2010, 03:42 PM »
Thanks, App!  I've got the icon installed in v0.93, and it looks fantastic (see updated screenshot in OP)!!  Having trouble FTPing to DC, though.  Dunno if maybe the new server is being fussy:  my other webspace accepts file uploads without problem, but I can't seem to upload my new files to DC.  Will try again later.
« Last Edit: December 25, 2010, 05:10 PM by kyrathaba »

kyrathaba

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #23 on: December 25, 2010, 03:58 PM »
Yay!  Check out the v0.93 and v0.93b screenshots above, featuring the beautiful icon!  Very appreciative, App103!

Also, the download links have changed, because Filezilla won't upload non-zero-length files to my DC space.  Put them on some other webspace for now.  At first I thought it might be my file permission settings.  But they've always worked before for DC, even after the server migration. 

What happens to the 'Results' field?

Actually, I think it'd be cool to have people vote separately for their favorite excuses and favorite results.  It might really be fun to code a function that would take a large number of these and randomly recombine excuses with reasons.  Might be hilarious!
« Last Edit: December 25, 2010, 06:38 PM by kyrathaba »

kyrathaba

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Re: NANY 2011 Release: NANY Excuse Manager (v0.96 as of 12/30/10)
« Reply #24 on: December 25, 2010, 06:40 PM »
App, what program did you create the icon with?  I don't know much about this, but I assume you set white as the transparent color, and that's what helps make it look good on the form's title bar?