Hello Mark, Thanks for your reply.
Your comments are fair enough and for the most part I agree with them from a general point of view. I take notice of the comments of people like yourself and I do adjust my opinions based on them. regards, BrianB2. --- In [email protected], "Mark H" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Microsoft invested tens of millions dollars and had hundreds of developers working on their products. That's why you see sophisticated GUI of their products (some of them in my opinion, are overdone and too complex). Amibroker is virtually a one-person shop, including both development and support. If you have any experience in programming, GUI design is the most time-consuming task. It is not fair to expect the same GUI features as you would from Microsoft office products. I am not saying amibroker has bad user interface. In fact, if you compare amibroker with other trading softwares, you can see TJ has done one of the best job. > > Amibroker is a tool for trading. Functionality and features to support trading are more important and have higher priority than ergonomics. Afterall, a good looking GUI probably helps you the least in making money. When you start to appreciate other aspects of this great software and profit from using it, you will be grateful for the job TJ has done and least worry about the ergo things. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: brian.z123 > To: [email protected] > Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 10:46 PM > Subject: [amibroker] Re: Indicator Maintenance > > > Hello Tomasz, > > Thanks for your reply and consideration of my points. > > I made it quite clear that I was referring to 'industry standard' > features that are lacking in the program in general and the > workspace in particular so it is not a fair response that you only > refer to a few particular features that are actually available in > one 'pane' of the workspace alone. > > I specifically acknowledged that I was wearing my 'new user' hat and > that my arguments were 'off the top of my head' (it is generally > accepted in 'creative or problem solving' sessions that it is best > not to censor the output in the intitial phase). > I don't think you will find one single example in any post I have > made in any forum where I have failed to back up my opening 'silly' > statements if challenged (there are one or two exceptions where I > withdrew but that was done to protect others, not me). > I also already conceded; 'That (my comments are) of course ... only > a personal opinion and perhaps my views will change as I spend more > time in the program.' > > Ergonomics is a relatively new word. > One way it is used is as a measure of 'energy efficiency within work > processes'. > That is what I meant when I used it and within the context of > computer programs my measure of ergonomic efficiency is the number > of mouse clicks required to perform a set task and also the ease > with which we can replicate that task at a later date (from memory?) > > My Office assistant is turned off and always has been. > > I stand by my comments that AB lacks ergonomics, training and detail > in part or partss. > > My Proposition: > > My proposition is that 'Microsoft like' GUI operating features are a > defacto industry standard (sorry Mac, Linux users etc - I don't know > anything about those systems). > My expectation of programs is that they will equal or surpass > the 'industry standard'. > Of course that is a very general statement that can't be easily > debated without specific examples and in this case I didn't provide > any. > All I ask, at any time, is that each suggestion is considered on its > own merit and not 'marked' according to the status of the poster or > the prejudices of individual forum members. > My confidence in that area is a little down at the moment. > > Re: a specific example from within the database of existing posts > > ****************************************************************** > > Post #195 from the feedback center. > subject - delete old databases from file menu > > I said: > Consider selection of partial deletions for anything than can be > separated out i.e retain data and delete categories > (broker workspace) and vice-versa, layouts? > > Reason. > > Easy management of old/trial databases. > Allow removal of parts of database that are known to be incorrect > while retaining other parts. > If database is current or default AB will 'know' and make > announcement and/or adjustment. > > You said: > REPLY by Tomasz Janeczko > status - Closed > Status - Functionality exists > > If you mean most recently used database list in File menu - non- > existing folders ALREADY gets deleted from the menu. > Just delete the directory using Windows explorer and next time you > run AmiBroker it won't show up in the File menu. > > ******************************************************************* > > Admittedly I did not explain myself very well at the feedback > center, but I did follow up later with an email via support that > clarified and detailed my case. > You could have also asked for further clarification at the feedback > center if you weren't sure what I meant. > > What is the 'industry standard' for file management within programs? > > Go to the program file menu and delete the old program > files/databases that the user no longer requires. > View all of the program files/databases in a hierarchical tree and > enact commands from there. > > What is the AB standard? > > Close AB (or go out of AB?), go to Windows Explorer and delete old > databases from there. > > What specific delete features could AB provide that MS can not be > expected to? > > If the user attempts to delete a database that is selected in AB > preferences as the default, Windows Explorer will not delete it. > If file/delete existed in AB the user could be given a message 'this > database can not be deleted as it is the default. To delete this > database go to tools etc'. > > The AB database folder also contains components that have extra > relevance to the user. The user might want to keep the symbol > lists/categories and just delete all price data. > File/delete in AB could provide users with appropriate delete > options to do that type of thing and also warn as to the > consequences of each action. > > The above, existing case, is a reasonable example of the 'industry > standard'/AB gap. > At the least it is worthy of consideration and discussion. > If I don't post any new examples in the future it will only be > because I choose to conserve my energy and/or that I am not entirely > comfortable in the feedback center (it is not democratic enough for > my liking). > > Regards, > > BrianB2. > > --- In [email protected], "Tomasz Janeczko" <groups@> > wrote: > > > > > In my opinion AB lacks many of the ergonomic features that have > > > become defacto industry standards elsewhere e.g. database > > > management, file and folder management (copy, paste, delete, > drag & > > > drop, autobackup/recovery, right click properties, exchange > formula > > > files etc). > > > > What? Delete, drag drop, move (rename), new file/new folder > > and all file functions are available > > from Chart menu. TO drag-drop file from one folder to another use > > RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON DRAG (not left - left is used for chart > overlay). > > > > > However Tomasz didn't appear to be amenable to ergonomic > suggestions. > > > > You are here way too short to say things like that. Newcomers are > so quick to judge. > > > > Go watch the history of the software. I have implemented tens of > thousands > > of improvements. Including 'ergonomic' ones. > > Go to Release Notes document and see the list of improvements > > that were just added over last 5 years (note that AB is around for > 11 years) > > > > Also what is ergononic for you it is not ergonomic for somebody > else. > > For example, I hate ergonomic in the "Office Assistant"-way. This > is kind of "ergonomic" > > is counter-productive. And I know lots of people who think the > same. > > > > Give yourself at least ONE YEAR of AmiBroker experience and THEN > start > > talking about ergonomics. You will soon find that things are more > well-thought that > > you ever dreamt about. > > > > Best regards, > > Tomasz Janeczko > > amibroker.com > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "brian.z123" <brian.z123@> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 1:59 AM > > Subject: [amibroker] Re: Indicator Maintenance > > > > > > > Hello John. > > > > > > Valuing the benefits of community effort, and wanting to > contribute > > > something in that area, I recently promised/threatened Tomasz I > > > would make some suggestions through the eyes of a new user, > while I > > > was fresh to the program. > > > I did this mainly through the feedback centre (as BrianB2) and > took > > > the approach of throwing the suggestions up on a first response > > > basis without too much censorship. > > > I was always prepared to do the hard work of translating those > > > suggestions into researched proposals and expanding the scope if > > > asked. > > > > > > My main reason for coming to AB was because of it's hardcore > > > analytical and trading features, and my opinion is that this is > it's > > > main area of strength. > > > However most of my suggestions, as a new user, eventually > aligned > > > themselves under three headings; training, detailing and > ergonomics. > > > Obviously 'new users' are not in a position to comment on the > core > > > analytical features. > > > In my opinion AB lacks many of the ergonomic features that have > > > become defacto industry standards elsewhere e.g. database > > > management, file and folder management (copy, paste, delete, > drag & > > > drop, autobackup/recovery, right click properties, exchange > formula > > > files etc). > > > This is particularly evident in the workspace environment. > > > I personally find this very frustrating as manually managing > > > maintenance duties takes a lot of energy and focus away from > system > > > design/testing and ultimately trading. > > > In view of what is at stake I believe these features are more > > > important in 'trading' programs than they are in everyday > programs. > > > > > > However Tomasz didn't appear to be amenable to ergonomic > suggestions. > > > My understanding is that they are not aligned to his design > > > philosophy for the program, but he might like to comment on that > for > > > himself. > > > As a matter of principle I do respect the right of any business > > > owner to live and die by their own philosophies. > > > On that basis I agreed to disagree and moved on. > > > I do think there is a danger, for AB, in that if other programs > come > > > along that match AB's analytical power while also offering > ergonomic > > > features, AB may notbe able to maintain its competitive place in > the > > > market. > > > That of course is only a personal opinion and perhaps my views > will > > > change as I spend more time in the program. > > > There are also a lot of ifs in that proposition. > > > > > > Providing Tomasz does agree to a re-design of the > > > workspace/preference setting features I would definitely help by > > > doing some homework and submitting some considered suggestions. > > > > > > Thanks for your efforts. > > > I am generally supportive of positive and pro-active people. > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > BrianB2. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "John R" <jr-ta@> wrote: > > >> > > >> Having just corrupted some of my indicators yet again I thought > I > > > would post > > >> some personal observations and suggested improvements on AB > > > indicator > > >> maintenance. I am posting here rather than direct to the AB > > > suggestions box > > >> to get the POV of other users. Hopefully others may be able to > > > offer some > > >> tips on best practice or point out the error of my ways and > also > > > if enough > > >> users chime in we can then compile a list of agreed suggestions > > > for TJ to > > >> consider. > > >> > > >> OK here are my observations:- > > >> > > >> It is *far* too easy to corrupt indicators without even > realising > > > it. I bet > > >> nearly everyone has done this. For those who think you have > never > > > done it > > >> try checking thru the code of all your custom and builtin > > > indicators and see > > >> if they contain what you expect ;-) > > >> > > >> In the early days of AB when we only had slots for a few custom > > > indicators > > >> (20 was it?) maintenance was not a problem. But with large and > > > increasing > > >> numbers of indicators I find accurate maintenance a real > problem. > > > In > > >> addition we have systems, explorations, scans, filters and > those > > > which do > > >> combinations. Over time I have tried various methods of file > > > suffixes, > > >> prefixes, directories etc. to try and keep things under control > > > but never > > >> been entirely happy with it. My feeling is there must be a > better > > > more > > >> organised solution with maybe separate directories for these > > > specified via > > >> Preferences. > > >> > > >> One of the big problems I have is indicators getting out of > sync > > > with the > > >> corresponding .afl file on disk. For example it is very easy to > > > make an > > >> amendment to an indicator while testing visually via > charts/guru > > > commentary > > >> and forget to save to the correct afl file on disk. Later when > I > > > come to > > >> system test and copy/paste the code into test afl from disk I > get > > > unexpected > > >> results. BTW I am sure the endless copy/edit/paste operations > will > > > eventally > > >> drive me to complete baldness - my background is in commericial > IT > > > systems > > >> development so it goes very much against the grain when you > cannot > > > define a > > >> formula/module just once and then just refrence it wherever > > > required. TJ > > >> has said he will add this facility but will I have any hair > left > > > by then ;^) > > >> > > >> > > >> Suggested improvements:- > > >> > > >> In IB add a Copy button to enable a new version of an indictaor > to > > > be > > >> created quickly. Default new name = old name with numeric > suffice > > > e.g. > > >> HolyGrail[2] > > >> > > >> In indicator browse list add columns for date and time last > > > modified. Allow > > >> sorting on name column or date and time. At present you cannot > > > check dates > > >> or easily determine which indciators you were last working on. > > >> > > >> In indicator browse list add columns for In quick list, Uses > > > builtin code, > > >> Use formula only. At present you must laboriously click down > thru > > > every list > > >> item to determine these. > > >> > > >> Provide some protection or warning to prevent unintentional > > > overwriting when > > >> using Load. > > >> > > >> IMO indicators should be directly related by filename to the > > > corresponding > > >> disk file. For example the indicator HolyGrail7 is defined via > the > > > disk file > > >> HolyGrail7.afl Ideally AB preferences would specify the > directory > > > name(s) > > >> for custom and standard indicators. This would prevent many > > > maintenance > > >> problems that the current architecture invites and would also > > > facilitate > > >> many other maintance operations (see below). > > >> > > >> Facility to bulk load indicators from disk files into AB. i.e. > > > browse and > > >> select multiple .afl disk files which are then loaded into > > > corresponding > > >> custom or builtin indicator names. > > >> > > >> Facility to bulk copy indicators from AB to disk files i.e. > > > browse and > > >> select multiple AB indictors which are then copied to selected > > > windows > > >> directory. > > >> > > >> Allow the default directories for custom and bulitin indicators > to > > > be > > >> specified via Preferences. Maybe also systems, explorations, > > > scans....? > > >> > > >> > > >> All POVs welcome. > > >> > > >> John > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Please note that this group is for discussion between users only. > > > > > > To get support from AmiBroker please send an e-mail directly to > > > SUPPORT {at} amibroker.com > > > > > > For other support material please check also: > > > http://www.amibroker.com/support.html > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Please note that this group is for discussion between users only. To get support from AmiBroker please send an e-mail directly to SUPPORT {at} amibroker.com For other support material please check also: http://www.amibroker.com/support.html Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! 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