Suggestions for Gallery Remote
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sgartner
Joined: 2003-10-05
Posts: 16 |
Posted: Fri, 2003-10-31 02:53
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Paour, As requested, here are some suggestions for Gallery Remote. As I get more people using it I'll post more. Everyone: Please comment and after I have confirmation that there are no hidden features here I'll post these to SF.net. I think it would be clearer to *not* put any number on the entries (instead of url.99 just use url) for the "merge" properties file published by a site. Since this is a special properties file there is no real conflict (as there is in the client properties file). This file is for one specific server anyway since you wouldn't be able to tell multiple servers if they were Server definitions in the dialog should be titled, not just URLs. For techy people reading the URL is enough to tell us what gallery we are connecting to. For non-techies (like my Mom, or my boss ;-) a description would be preferable. Then I would change the prompt on the main dialog to simply "Gallery" instead of "Gallery URL" and in the preferences change it to "Galleries" instead of "URLs". An option to auto login would be nice, especially for those people (the majority is my guess) who only have one gallery in the list. When they launch Gallery Remote it would auto-connect to the last gallery used (or the only one). Or, maybe you could let them mark one as the "default" in the preferences. The button on the main dialog to remove an image from the list to upload is marked "Delete" and has a trash can on it. There is no clear indication that this will not delete the actual file on disk. This will scare and confuse non-techies. If you instead marked the button "remove" (with or without the trash can) then it would not be so scary. When saving a .grg file there is no warning dialog before you overwrite an existing file. When opening the file|save dialog, there is currently no memory of where you were last. The "add pictures..." dialog remembers where I was, why does the file|save dialog forget? Also, the program does not remember that I last opened a specific grg Standard keyboard shortcuts would be great (like Ctrl-S for Save, Ctrl-O for Open). The program saves a backup GRG file just before uploading the pictures. However, it doesn't detect if the program is started again without having uploaded the pictures. A dialog asking if the user wants to restore from the backup file (which otherwise most users won't even know is there) would be very cool. This would go along with the previous suggestion to keep a "current file" opened. Thanks, |
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Posts: 1479
Many very good suggestions that would make it smoother sailing, and raise the overall quality of GR. It's hard to arbitrate between adding new features (much-requested things like an applet version of GR, remote manipulation of images already on the server, etc.) and polishing existing features and fixing small but annoying bugs.
I would be grateful if someone was willing to help out. So far, most people who have offered to help drifted off after a couple days, realizing that they didn't have time, or that it wasn't was easy as they thought (or disgusted by the code quality, although GR is now much cleaner than it used to be).
Any takers?
Posts: 1479
Specific points:
It shouldn't be a big deal for admins who create these files to use .99, so I prefer to spend development and testing time elsewhere...
Good suggestion. I recently spent some time disambiguating URLs that are the same except for the username. I now wish I'd thought of your solution before.
Yes, it would...
I'll do that right away, you're right!
Regarding .grg files and save/load (including an auto-backup), you're right again, it would be great.
Posts: 16
Paour,
I am definitely willing to help. I am a long-time Java programmer, but haven't done a lot of Swing (which, I assume, is what you are using here). However, I haven't been accepted yet into the developer pool for Gallery. I have been told that I have to wait until they determine if I am serious before they will allow me to get to the code. I'm willing to wait, but once I am in I'll be happy to help. You can look at my resume at http://www.pingbot.com/resume.html or at my skills profile on SF.net (user "sgartner") at https://sourceforge.net/people/viewprofile.php?user_id=225853
Scott
Posts: 1479
Scott,
I don't know what you would want to do with PHP if you're an experienced programmer, and I need your help much more than the server-side guys do ;-).
You can get the code for GR (and Gallery) from SF.net CVS whenever you want, and if you'd like to fix some of the problems you highlighted, please do so and send me a patch. After that, you can join full-time if you want.
Pierre
Posts: 1479
I meant an experienced _Java_ programmer. No insult meant to PHP-heads...
Posts: 1378
Wish I could help you out, but my programming experiences is many years in the dim dark ages.... More than happy to test out your wonderful applications and give you a few pointers on bugs although...
Posts: 1378
PS: What happened to Build 12 of Remote 1.2? I see it in the CVS on sourceforge but for some reason it has not made it to http://jpmullan.com/galleryupdates/ .
Posts: 16
Pierre,
I'll do that tonight and see if I can find some time to go through it this weekend and at least get to the point that I can rebuild the jar myself and tweak the program.
As to the other, every language has its place. I now claim to be fluent in 21 different programming languages. PHP is just number 22 and has come in handy more than once. I feel that you can't really claim to be a master toolsmith unless you have more than one tool.
Scott
Posts: 1479
Yes, I recently rebuilt my linux box, and I haven't set up the auto builds yet. I'm in the process of doing so and new builds should start showing up over the weekend.
Posts: 1479
Daily builds are back up.
Posts: 1378
Excellent, did you see my post regarding testing of the auto configuration??
Posts: 1479
The one where you offered to help? Yes, I gratefully accept. In general, offers of help are implicitly accepted, always
Posts: 1378
No this one...
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Ok I have created a complete Gallery Remote Configuration file and setup a URL to handle this requirement.. Gallery successfully loads the new settings however it does appear not to be reflecting those new settings in 1.2 B12 (This feature actually does not work at all in 1.1).
Guessing I believe that gallery remote needs a "refresh" to reflect the updated properties (restart when updating the new preferences??) as it is still reflecting the outdated values..
Posts: 1479
You shouldn't need to refresh. Can you post the URL to the config file?
Posts: 1378
Will do I just setup a testing example for you to log into and PM you the details..