Latest Progress Bars of Life - Version 2.03 - May 16, 2014

[mouser]

Progress Bars of Life lets you create a set of custom progress bars that will graphically show the progress towards different events in your life.

You can create as many progress bars as you like, and display them in various ways -- for example, docked to the edge of a screen and always visible, or invisible and shown on command.

Create progress bars that show things like how close you are to the weekend, to your birthday, to your graduation, to your due date, until your death, till the end of the current hour, etc.

Download from web page: http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/pbol/index.html

Video screencast: http://www.donationcoder.com/screencasts/dc/3ds/pbol/pbol.html

Some screenshots:





v2.03.00 - May 16, 2014

• [BugFix] Fixed problems where time values were reset to 00:00:00 in locales that use "," comma for decimals.
• [Feature] When the start time is in the future, gauges now display the time until start.

v2.0.00 - Jan 3, 2014

• [Major Feature] You can now set alerts and "zeno-alerts" as events progress (displays an alert every time half of remaining duration expires).
• Sound alarms now work; includes several chime sounds to choose from.
• You can now set different display options for when window is docked or floating.
• You can now quickly add new items from main window (bypassing options dialog).
• Various display bugfixes and enhancements.
• Remembers minimized-to-tray state.
• Added option to launch a url or commandline when an event finished.
• Grid now shows end date/times for events (you need to edit existing events to have it show).

v1.10.01 - Dec 15, 2013

• You can now create a "manual" position bar, and set its position at any time by clicking on the bar itself.
• New option (set by default) to not force the panel on top when docked or when a full screen app (like a screensaver) is running.

v1.09.01 - Nov 30, 2013

• New option to check for updates at startup.
• Reorganized options tabs to make the main item list easier to see.
• Added minimize-to-tray item in right click menu.
• Added hotkeys for moving items up and down and improved instructions in item editor.
• Added option to specify inter-bar spacing.
• Automatic bar sizing based on desired # bars per row now takes into account padding and spacing.
• Added icons to progress bar item editor right-click context menu.
• Improved UI for setting bar sizing mode.

v1.07.01 - April 12, 2013

• New option to disable ontop setting.

v1.06.01 - December 31, 2012

• Right-click option to copy summary of progress bar times to clipboard.
• New layout options
• [BugFix] Floating window position was not being remembers.
• Better instructions on Progress Bar item tab of options; clearer list of items.
• Support for progress bar theme files so users can customize the look of their bars

v1.03.01 - December 5, 2012

• Miscellaneous bugfixes
• Added "Check for updates" to menus
• Did away with unnecessary dock rebuilding when applying option changes.
• Improved guage smart text for time durations.

[Peppins]

the new option work very well, thanks a lot 

[mouser]

Great 
Thanks for the help testing.

[Peppins]

Can you add an "gauge text" to show the "current value" & "maximal value" like the percentage? Example, i set maximum value to 100 and current value to 20, with % gauge text i see 20%, is possible to also set 20/100 ?

Another good function will be two button (+/-) next the progress bar, for add/remove value instantly without go to option and set manually it.

[mouser]

Can you add an "gauge text" to show the "current value" & "maximal value" like the percentage? Example, i set maximum value to 100 and current value to 20, with % gauge text i see 20%, is possible to also set 20/100 ?

yes, will do -- good idea.

Another good function will be two button (+/-) next the progress bar, for add/remove value instantly without go to option and set manually it.

i was thinking of adding a feature for manual bars that let you click anywhere on the bar to set the progress to that point.  what do you think of that instead?

[Peppins]

i think will be good too (also with less space)

[mouser]

New update:

v1.09.01 - Nov 30, 2013

• New option to check for updates at startup.
• Reorganized options tabs to make the main item list easier to see.
• Added minimize-to-tray item in right click menu.
• Added hotkeys for moving items up and down and improved instructions in item editor.
• Added option to specify inter-bar spacing.
• Automatic bar sizing based on desired # bars per row now takes into account padding and spacing.
• Added icons to progress bar item editor right-click context menu.
• Improved UI for setting bar sizing mode.

[dr_andus]

Thanks, Mouser, great stuff! Only just discovered this one today. Is there any way to display it over Desktop Coral?

Edit: Ignore my question. I just realised that it works as a DC in its own right.

[mouser]

no need -- it has its own docking ability -- just drag it to an edge, then go into options and set layout as you want.
try the new option to automatically size bars to all fit on one row.

[mouser]

i was thinking of adding a feature for manual bars that let you click anywhere on the bar to set the progress to that point.  what do you think of that instead?

implemented (v1.10) but not uploaded yet.  This makes it easy to have a bunch of progress bars docked on the screen that you can manually adjust whenever you want.

[mouser]

ps. Progress Bars of Life falls into the group of programs I have written that may actually have 0 users.  Which is sort of a shame since it seems like there should be at least a few people that would find it useful..

If anyone reads this who actually uses the program (I don't mean someone who tries it and then uninstalls but someone who actually uses it for more than a couple of days), I'd love to hear about it!

[barney]

Been using it for a while, since ~April, 2013, I think.  Closest thing I've found to a program I used to have - lost it, don't recall name - that gave me a countdown to multiple future and annual events, e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, and the like.  Beats the hell out of Far superior to a datebook/calendar  .

[dr_andus]

I've only just started using it today, but it's a keeper! At the moment the examples in the app and in the screenshots are oriented towards personal use. I'd suggest to add a couple of project management type examples. That might help people realise how useful this could be as a way to motivate oneself by visualising the vanishing of time and the approach of a big scary deadline (though projected mortality date is a step too far for me personally).

[phitsc]

ps. Progress Bars of Life falls into the group of programs I have written that may actually have 0 users.  Which is sort of a shame since it seems like there should be at least a few people that would find it useful..

If anyone reads this who actually uses the program (I don't mean someone who tries it and then uninstalls but someone who actually uses it for more than a couple of days), I'd love to hear about it!

I think this one would be especially useful to have as an Android widget

[barney]

^
What phitsc said ...

[dr_andus]

ps. Progress Bars of Life falls into the group of programs I have written that may actually have 0 users.

Here's another use case...

I have set it up for my trail running events next year, it can keep me focused on my training . I really like it, could even get me out of trouble in terms of birthdays and anniversaries

[dr_andus]

Suggestion: it would be nice to have an option to hide the border in PBOL, just like in DC... Every pixel counts 

[mouser]

Update:

v1.10.01 - Dec 15, 2013

• You can now create a "manual" position bar, and set its position at any time by clicking on the bar itself.
• New option (set by default) to not force the panel on top when docked or when a full screen app (like a screensaver) is running.

With the new manual bar item, you can make progress bars that you can freely adjust just by clicking on them.

[cranioscopical]

you can make progress bars that you can freely adjust just by clicking on them.

My progress just improved enormously. Three clicks and my most-dreaded deadlines have been met 

When can I expect the complementary life-adjustment module?

[mouser]

[mouser]

Version 2 with "Zeno Alerts" is now live:

v2.0.00 - Jan 3, 2014

• [Major Feature] You can now set alerts and "zeno-alerts" as events progress (displays an alert every time half of remaining duration expires).
• Sound alarms now work; includes several chime sounds to choose from.
• You can now set different display options for when window is docked or floating.
• You can now quickly add new items from main window (bypassing options dialog).
• Various display bugfixes and enhancements.
• Remembers minimized-to-tray state.
• Added option to launch a url or commandline when an event finished.
• Grid now shows end date/times for events (you need to edit existing events to have it show).

[dr_andus]

Great, thanks! I love the Zeno alerts...

A feature request/suggestion: it would be nice to have an option to display the end date (or time) for an event, in parentheses. E.g.

Sue's birthday: 3 wks remaining (25-Jan)

or an example without "remaining" and using a different format:

Sue's birthday: 3 wks (25/1)

I know that it's a bit of a hassle that people around the world display dates in different order (25-Jan, Jan-25, 25/1, 1/25). I'd prefer it the British way, but can live with a US version.

Thanks for considering.

[mouser]

Good idea.

Added -- you can download it now.

[dr_andus]

Thanks for that!

[strimey]

I was looking for something simple like this for a long time and love this!
as a request, it would be great if you could add the following
-options to change the background+border+text colors
-able to add custom hover-over tooltips/comments for each bar
-able to add a small picture next to each bar
i would even consider donating something then ^_^