New Version - Anyone feeling helpful to test new license system?

[mouser]

this is especially useful for people who are not yet members of the site and might want the latest version of screenshot captor.

as per the long discussion here: https://www.donation...ndex.php?topic=631.0
we are going to try something new and we are adding a new uniform license key system for donationcoder.com software.

as discussed in the above thread, all of our software will remain freeware, but the license key system will be a way of requiring people to visit our homepage to get either a freeware license or a member license to continue using the program without nags after some period.

basically the idea is to at least get some of the people who normally just download the programs from an external link to at least make one visit to the site to download their key file and read a little blurb about what this site is about and why they should consider donating.

i expect there will be a bit of complaining about this - i understand it is a bit annoying.  we may discontinue it if it doesnt do any good and just annoys people, but i'd like to give it a try.  if it's acceptable then it also means we can make the latest versions of all soft available to all, rather than keeping latest versions for members only (since members will have a different advantage - no need to come get freeware licenses).

anyway, the first app with the new system is the latest version of screenshot captor.  Does anyone feel adventurous and is willing to try the new version?


https://www.donation...ScreenshotCaptor.exe


this can be installed over existing version as normal, but on your first use youll see an intro dialog welcoming you.  after 15 days or so youll see a little alert box on bottom right reminding you you need to get a license key.  after 45 days the program will stop working without a license key.

ill make a variety of licenses for people to test, and of course anyone who tests who isnt a member will be made a member of the site.

we havent implemented the web-based license key generation page yet - but that will come soon.  for now i will make license keys for people on request (though im interested in people testing the program without any license keys first).

note: this isn't meant to be a strong security solution or to prevent piracy, or is it meant to annoy people into donating - it's just a minimal attempt to encourage regular people to come visit the site if they like the software.

[mouser]

this version of screenshot captor also demonstrates our new installer system:

the download is a sfx zip compatible exe.  You can simply run it to install the program, OR you can unzip the download and work with the files normally.

this should be a perfect compromise that is suitable for both people who like automatic installers and those who hate them.  If it is liked, then all of our software will move to this approach.

---

new features in this version of screenshot captor:
added custom resize dialog. 
  · fixed a bug which could cause heavy cpu usage when marching ants marquee was showing current selection, even if minimized(!). 
 · better memory usage for image capture component. 
 · added ColorCop setup progam to extras folder. 
 · added submitted ftp commandline interface tool to extras folder (thanks chrono).   

[mouser]

note:

after 14 days of being installed this version will show a little nag alert in bottom right when it is first run.
of course anyone who installs this version to help test it will be provided with a full license key at that point which will eliminate this alert and all expirations, etc. for the program.

i would appreciate any feedback about any problems.

[zridling]

Be happy to, but let me run it so I can see the nag alert in two weeks.

[AbteriX]

Some points from me IMHO:

- new SFX Installer/Unpacker is a good thing

- that you want the people come to your side, see other soft and maybe donate
I could understand and it's legitim

- the 15 day nag is ok too

But i can't understand why your FREEWARE stops working after 45 days ?
Iam think not all people of the world want to read long terms of lizenzes
or web sides with infos about other apps or donations.
Because not all are good in english understanding.

*I* found it better that the start of your soft delays for one minute
or save only in one format or something like that the people could live with.

I often tryed software and forgot them for a few weeks
because i don't need them. If i now out for vacation
and come back and my mouser soft want not to start anymore
i would search for an other soft without this bandages
 (maybe i don't understand right what happens 'cus i don't understand english).


So i suggest first an better way to woo the people to your side
and second to include a few readmes in foreign languages (german i could do )
to make this politic understandable for non-english people.

To stop the soft to work is the worst way (IMHO!!!)

better maybe
- start delay (1 minutes after 45 days, 2 minutes after 60 days,...)
- crippled features
- "created with..." branding on all shots after 45 days
- don't store the settings anymore after 45days

----
How did SC know that i get an lizenz ? Would there be an extra file ?
Or an item in the INI (what i would prefer) ?

And why must i did an extra 360kB download for tools i don't need or already have ? (FTP and ColorCop)
Wouldn't be an extra download link to download the colorcop more nifty for people how don't have it ?
(the 24kB FTPcmd don't matter, thought)
I know already people how work with an 56k Modem  or ISDN

[mouser]

hi stefan - i thank you for the post and your considered thoughts.

i think you are probably right about it being a bad idea to have the program stop working.

and it really is probably unnescesary to do so.

the only point is to have the person come visit the site and get a freeware license that will never expire, but as you say it is not nesc. to make the program stop working in order to do that.

in fact, the little alert box nag screen that pops up is sufficient incentive for this, and i think it is not needed to have anything else.

probably anyone who uses the program will not want to see that each time they start the program and it probably will be enough to make them visit the site and that is all i ask.

i was just experimenting with different possibilities and i am open to all possibilities.

when trying new things like this it is easy to get carried away - that is why i am pleased to have nice people here who consider the issue and give good advice.

[AbteriX]

FYI, i edited my last post, under the ----- chars.

----

I also see app the show a nag screen every time i open the preferences.
Maybe show an nag on an random time they open the options
with an acquisition request to visit your home page at least one time and get an free lizenz
would be enought.

Or at random time i save the pics.

Or save at random time an SC own pic with text to visit your side 
If people surf trough there pics that would be a great suprice.

Or some apps show an 'AD' in the menu line like "get a free lizenz"

Also the first page in the help would be an good place for such requests.

But often i see such requests i don't understand why i should do that,
so i suggest an clever sentence
 to told the people like "This tool is freeware but all i ask is to visit my page at least one time"


HTH any way ?

[mouser]

good point about the extras download folder - i often forget about some people having slow connections and not liking extra files.. probably i will remove them from the setup, especially since most people will never even install them or have use for them.

i definitely don't want to do things that will annoy users too much - just remind them a little to visit the site at least once, so i think doing things like saving reminder pictures and stuff would be going too far.  also this is meant to be a generic solution for all donationcoder.com apps and i dont want to spend time coding special things like that.

But often i see such requests i don't understand why i should do that,
so i suggest an clever sentence
to told the people like "This tool is freeware but all i ask is to visit my page at least one time"

very good suggestion - what i have now is too long and your sentence is much clearer.
and i love your idea about having different little explanations in different languages is a great idea, and i will do that - i will add a button or something to show the info in different languages.

[mouser]

How did SC know that i get an lizenz ? Would there be an extra file ?
Or an item in the INI (what i would prefer) ?

it is a file that is placed in the application directory (or you can paste it into the registration dialog and it will create the file automatically in the program directory).  the information contains various information for the about box like your name and how long the license lasts, etc.

[mouser]

https://www.donation...ScreenshotCaptor.exe

v1.01.25 - 8/16/05
 · added lots more template fields 
 · changed from filename prefix to quickfield 
 · help on template fields added to help file   

[Carol Haynes]

Have I missed something?

I downloaded the latest version, double clicked the self-extracting zip and it returned error code 0.

I tried to unzip with WinRAR - and it hung for ages on one file.

Opened with WinRAR and tested the archive - fine

Unzipped with WinZip (ok - but for some reason slow).

Also on first run get the nag screen - no word on how to get a license in the help file, on screen or on the webpage (or else I'm stupid) ??

Slightly mystified at the mo. In principle I don't mind the idea of having to request a license to get rid of the nag screen, but it could be a little clearer how to do so

[mouser]

oh damn it - i forgot to change the path of setup program.
one sec ill update.  the slowness i think is cause by antiviruses freaking out about the self extracting zip file.
which antivirus do you use?

ill post about licening issue in 5 min after i upload new version with fix.

[mouser]

the reason there isnt better info about getting a license file is because
there is no official way to get a license file yet

i havent set up the web page for it yet - but i will in the next few days.

[mouser]

v1.01.26 now up, fixed installer (will still be slow on unpacking).

one feature added, but one ive been wanting to add for a long time.
sc now uses the image comments section to embed active window region (you won't see it in the comments, it happens behind the scenes).

what this means is that sc will remember the location of the active window and restore it as you switch between screenshots.
if you don't have the options setting "Auto select active window" on the "On Capture" tab you might want to turn that on.

selecting active window is useful to allow you to do manual cropping and enhancement effects (see effects menu).

ps. i'm open to other effects on active window if anyone has any.

[Carol Haynes]

Thanks.

Just downloaded the latest version. Two things:

1) Speed of unpacking isn't related to my antivirus. I switched it off and the unpacking took the same time. (By the way I use NOD32)

2) There seems to be a bug in the thumbnail display down the left. If I select an image it doesn't always appear in the preview area. Clicking on another image first seems to fix it but something is a bit peculiar there.

Suggestion: How about making the 'fit' tick box above the preview on by default?

Cheers

[mouser]

i use nod32 - i really suspect it is nod32 -
nod32 has a history of this kind of behavior.

default fit box good idea.
i will check out preview issue - the file browser thumbnail strip should be replaced by me as it seems a tiny bit flakey.

[Carol Haynes]

It is interesting that it still happens with NOD32 disabled though ???

Further comment on thumbnail bug.

It seems to be OK when there are more than 2 thumbs.

If you delete all your thumbs the preview should presumably go blank - it doesn't at the mo.

Also when you have 2 thumbs left it doesn't seem to switch consistently on a single click.

Clicking on a folder has no effect on the preview - I would expect the preview to blank since no thumb is selected.

By the way - I think this is a great bit of software. I have been using SnagIT for ages, and think that is a fantastic bit of kit but it is over the top most of the time - this will become a favourite for simple image captures.

How about text capture as a future option ?

[mouser]

this is the way (flaw) of nod32, an otherwise great antivirus.
there are actually a few rare apps that become completely unusable if nod32 isnt configured to ignore them (oxford dictionary).

to see that this is nod32 at fault, go to nod32 amon settings, and in options UNCHECK "runtime packers","Self-extracting archives","Advanced Heuristics".

actually i think its probably just the first 2 that matter, but then i disable heuristics anyway since nod32 can false positive on some apps with that setting.

after you turn those off youll see the setup programs runs at jet airplane speed

[mouser]

snagit is a great capture program, no doubt about it.
i was thinking about adding some minor text capture, but if you want text capture, there is only one choice: kleptomania (http://www.structurise.com/kleptomania/) an amazing program when you need it.

im not going to try to fix the thumbnail view anymore because ive spent a lot of time on it and have concluded i really just need to replace it from scratch when i get a chance.

what i am going to try to add though is nice arrows, text balloons, etc.

[mouser]

lastest version is up - with a new toolbar for quick access to common functions.
you can also see the new tools for drawing objects - though these drawing functions are not functional yet.

[mouser]

i find myself frequently wanting to move the current set of files in the screenshot directory to another directory, like an "Old" directory, just to get them out of the way.

i was thinking of adding a "Move" menu, where you could add custom folders to it and then easily just choose a dir from the Move menu to move all current (or selected) images to that folder.  just a quick way to move screenshots to common places.

anyone have any suggestions about this before i implement?

[Carol Haynes]

Personally I don't think the thumbnail view needs to be a navigable folder structure - unless you see this app. becoming a file viewer as well as screen capture (IMHO this is unnecessary as there are plenty of good thumbnail viewers out there already - not least IrfanView). This would also make the viewer easier to code.

Just thumbs of the 'shots' taken and stored in the default directory would be sufficient for me. It would be useful to be able to select multiple thumb nails and us a right click "Move to folder ..." command though.

[Carol Haynes]

to see that this is nod32 at fault, go to nod32 amon settings, and in options UNCHECK "runtime packers","Self-extracting archives","Advanced Heuristics".

-mouser (August 16, 2005, 10:12 PM)

Actually just unticking "Advanced Heuristics" seems to do the trick.

I like the new layout by the way.

[AbteriX]

Many thanks for the new build, specifically for the buttons, you are realy quick 

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> ps. i'm open to other effects on active window if anyone has any.

1.)
- pick up an color from the standard windows color dialog
and fill the rectangle whit it.

If i made a captur from an app and his opened menu,
i want sometimes to hide the text left and right from the menu.
(an "pipette" / "Eye dropper" to choose the right color
 would be to much, since you support ColorCop, isn't it ? )

2.)
Also an text marker function would be welcome (percentage transparently ???).
I mean i like e.g. an light yellow color over an part of my shot,
like i mark an text in an book.


3.)
I don't know if that possible...
...but an zoom of the selected region would be nice.

e.g. i have an shot of an window,
i put an selection around an menu item
and choose zoom 2x, to make this menu entry greater than the rest of the window.
No matter if the window near the zoomed box is hidden now.


-------------------------------------------------------------

> I was thinking of adding a "Move" menu, where you could add custom folders to it and then easily just
> choose a dir from the Move menu to move all current (or selected) images to that folder. 
> just a quick way to move screenshots to common places.
>

> anyone have any suggestions about this before i implement?
Sure 

You mean
- select a few pics
- choose Move button (or context menu)
- choose an favorite folder OR
- choose [...] an folder on the disk to move (or copy?!) the clips

YES ! i like this idea !

Also i suggest than an feature
to create a new folder in that choosen DIR or fav folder.


---


Also i need an button [New Folder]
to create an new folder in the current  Screenshot folder.
Right now i used "File | Explore at Screenshot Dir" to create a new folder.

Or give me full context menu over thumpnails with "New... > Folder"
like in WinExplorer.

'cus i shot pics from diff apps and wanna sort them in diff folders.

Saying this, maybe the MOVE function you told about would be enought ?


Thanks for your work, mouser,

[mouser]

great points -

hiding text and info:

right now there one might use blur to block out selected text, but a nice filled box would be useful too.

Also an text marker function would be welcome (percentage transparently ???).
I mean i like e.g. an light yellow color over an part of my shot,
like i mark an text in an book

yes this is definitely need - a nice yellow semi-transparent "highlighting"

an zoom of the selected region would be nice.

yes i was thinking this as well - i think i will try to do it - i don't know if it will look good.

yes, you have my idea about moveto menu correct - i think it will be useful.
create new folder option i will add, good idea.