| Application Name | N.A.N.Y. Excuse Manager |
| Version | | The most recent version is 0.96q |  |
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| Short Description | Manage your excuses for not producing a N.A.N.Y. application |
| Supported OSes | WinXP, Vista, 7 |
| Download Link | Excuse Manager (zipped) (75.5 Kb) will not check for presence of .NET Framework 4.0 |
| Download Link | Excuse 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  |
| 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.
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| Webcast Info | The following screencasts should be viewed in the order listed, beginning with "Installing the Program" |
| Webcast | installing the program |
| Webcast | running the program for the first time |
| Webcast | sending excuse files via email |
| Webcast | retrieving excuse files via email |
| Version History | Version 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.
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| System Requirements | |
DescriptionThe 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.
FeaturesSee the Version History information above.
Planned FeaturesI 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
UsageInstallationHow 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 ApplicationSee the "About" menu for brief instructions.
UninstallationEither delete the manually extracted folder, which contains the applications and its files; or, run the uninstaller from your Program Files menu.
Known IssuesYou tell
me. Seems to be working well.
