Comments interspersed ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Pelham" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 6:02 PM Subject: [DXBase] My DXbase 2005 wish list
> It must be time. Here's my DXbase 2005 wish list. > > 1. I'd like this problem not to happen: When the Internet Cluster module > loses its connection, my CPU usage goes to 100% and stays there until I > close the module. I had to resort to using VE7CC AR User front end and using that to fine tune filtering and it has the added bonus, that if you use it, and you connection fails, DXBase doesn't run amok with cpu usage. http://ve3cc.net > > 2. When I right click the DX Info window and select Empty Entries, I'd like > not to have a confirmation window ("Are you sure you want to delete all > entries?") appear. C'mon! I've right clicked and selected a menu choice. > It's not like I could do that by accident. I tend to agree, but I've made mistakes before.:-)) > > 3. Related to #2, it would be nice to have a user option to automatically > empty the DX Info window whenever DXbase shuts down. (If you provide this > option, you'll never hear from me again about #2!) Yeah, I rarely am interested in yesterdays spots when I start DXB in the morning. > 4. The Internet-CMDs toolbar is very nice, and I know the actual command > for each button shows up with the ToolTips, but I'd like to be able to see > the commands (or text strings of my choice) right on the buttons. I think it already does, if you move the cursor over the the (1) etc. of the Internet or Packet commands toolbar, it should show the text commands for each of the numbers, at least mine does > > The following items are repeats from previous years' wish lists. Repeated > for emphasis, I guess. > > 5. I would like DXbase windows to work like Macromedia Dreamweaver or Adobe > Photoshop or Microsoft Visual Basic. That is, I want all the windows that > make up the program to float on my screen with my desktop underneath, and > not need to stay inside the main DXbase window. In this scenario the main > DX base window would just be a menu bar. I use multi monitors, so I'd like this also as it would allow me to put different DXB windows on the other monitor > > 6. DXbase should allow me to store all the files I change (like my log, and > my other databases, and my settings) in any directory I choose (such as My > Documents) for backup convenience. Tell me about it...pain in the butt to have to reconfigure. > > 7. DXbase should store every setting that I can configure in the program > (all keyboard shortcuts, all window sizes and positions, all colors, all > fonts, etc., etc.) in one place, say an ini file, and I should be able to > put this file in a directory of my choosing (see #6 above). No user > settings or configurations should be stored in the Windows registry. This > request is for two reasons: (1) for easy backup of this important data, and > (2) to make it easier to upgrade to the latest version of DXbase. The way > it is now, user configuration and settings are stored in at least two > locations, that darned registry, and an ini file. No matter how hard I try > (I've even resorted to custom editing the .ini file line by line to copy > settings from the previous version to the new one) I end up spending an hour > or two setting window sizes and positions, fonts, colors, etc., every year > when I upgrade. There needs to be an easier way. > > 8. Speaking of an easier way, and related to #7, why can't DXbase upgrades > work like most other software upgrades? That is, all user customizations > are automatically transferred to the new version, old user files are > automatically changed to work with the new version if the file format > changes, and the old version is automatically overwritten or deleted. The > way it is now, I have to do way too much manual file and directory > management with every upgrade. > > 9. When I'm scrolling back in a Cluster or DX Info window, I would like > screen updates to this window to automatically be blocked. I'd like the > text and/or background color of the window to change to remind me that I'm > scrolled back and screen updates are blocked. When I scroll fully forward, > I'd like the window to change back to normal colors, and screen updates to > be automatically turned on again. (I know I can turn off screen updates > when I'm scrolling back, but I've got to find which button or menu selection > goes with which window, and I don't seem to use this function enough to > learn where it is. Why not have it be automatic?) This is especially true during contests, when spots are coming through licketly split. > > 10. When I highlight a QSO in the QSO log, or I click a call in a spot > window, it updates the statistics in the Summary window so I can see its > status. This is good. But, it would be easier to see at a glance the > relationship between the spot or log entry I've clicked and the bands/modes > I've already worked if the band/mode entry corresponding to what I clicked > would _blink_ (or be highlighted in some other way) in the Summary window > cell for some period of time. Example: A spot for Puerto Rico on 10M SSB > comes in. I already have PR confirmed and worked on lots of bands and > modes. I click the spot and the Summary window gets updated to show the > stats for PR. But I have to mentally think "the spot is for 10M SSB, so now > look at the 10M SSB Summary cell > to see if I need it." If the 10M SSB cell's entry (whether "*", "W", or > "C") were highlighted for a few seconds, I would be freed from this need to > make this mental translation. > > 11. I would like a simpler, more-user-friendly way of setting up and > switching Telnet Internet Cluster connections. The way it is now is very > cumbersome, with the Hosts file and the setup fields and the inability to > see what's going on (the handshaking) that happens when initially setting up > a connection. > > > (That I'm down to such a nit-picky list really shows how good DXbase is > already.) Some good ideas John. I have one big one to add. Make the Next Version DXBase 2004A so we get the years back in sync. hihi :-))) > > > John Pelham, W1JA > Antique Radio Web Site http://www.radiophile.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > DXBase Reflector - Please visit us on the web at www.dxbase.com > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > To UNSUBSCRIBE please visit: > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/dxbase > >
