OK i have a few feature requests i think that would help improve the usability of paf menu.
1. group by category: add a view feature to "Options" to list the apps according to their types e.g. all security apps get listed under the name Security, all utility apps get listed under the heading Utilities etc. might have to add category to the paf format so that the app builders can add the category to the code. Then add code to the paf platform to read the categories and for the grouping. this should be easy :).
2.Description in tool tip: Add description to the paf format so that app builders can add a short description of what the app does, so that when you hover over an app in the paf platform you can know what the app does. (this would be very useful cause sometimes i install new apps then totally forget what it does after a few days, and i know that i am not the only one)
3. add a "Find Target" option when you right click on an app, that would take you to the app's install directory. this would me very useful for me and I'm sure it would for many others too.
i might have a few others too but for another time. i might also be working on an automated way to make paf apps too, who knows ;p
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Categories are coming in the next beta of the menu.
I dont know about the others though.
And as for creating paf apps, the Portableapps.com Launcher is as automated as can be in my opinion. No need to reinvent the wheel
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate
The first and second suggestions makes good sense.
Sounds great that the categorization is coming in next beta. A custom categorization system - or folder system - is a great idea. Alternatively (or additionally) a scrollbar and/or possibility to resize the window would be great, too.
The description field would be awfully practical, I must agree - most apps do have a logical name, but admittedly not all. I find the author field a good idea, but description would be even better.
The third I find a bit too much, as there's already the file tool at the right side, but if it's generally requested I'd guess it wouldn't take much to add it to the right click menu. Just seem a bit lazy to me hehe.
Several of the parameters possible in the PortableAppsMenu.ini would also do nicely in the Options menu IMHO, like the RemainVisible and DisableAppLanguageSwitching options. Other things - and some of the suggestions - may be better kept in the ini files, like the user definded start/stop scripts or custom rightside icons (to mention some of the recent ones).
The Beta 5 is working absolutely awesome for me, but am looking forward to the next version of course. Great work.
Number 1 is coming out in the next beta. We should be seeing that any day now according to John's post. I wouldn't be surprised if number 2 will also be following suit. There's currently a description in all the app's appinfo.ini. Maybe you're just ahead of your time :P.
And unless you're a coding prodigy stick to PAL that's a pretty solid automation process as is :).
Release Team Member
Can hardly wait... 8)
One extra suggestion thou - ability to change the app interface from single to double click for app start would be pretty awesome. I know it's a start menu/toolbar style interface, but I've often found myself double clicking, thus launching apps 2x.
And - for some reason usually on Vista machines - I've also experienced a tendency to have the app under the cursor started when clicking Manage apps > Install new program.
I can't file that as a bug, thou, as I've been using laptops with touchpad at the time, so it might just be me & my phat phingers...
But the suggestion stands.
My replies are numbered as to which question the represent.
There is a place for a "Description" in the App\AppInfo\appinfo.ini file, but I do not know how a tooltip which displays this when hovering over an app in the Menu would be particularly helpful.
(usually you know what an app is for before you install it on your FlashDrive, no?)
Perhaps it could be added into a "Developers Build", or (probably more likely) a
ShowDevOptions=Trueoption (or something similar) could be added toX:\PortableApps\PortableApps.com\Data\PortableAppsMenu.inito enable this (and any other options that might confuse less technologically minded individuals)Might that last one be possible PortableApps.com Menu Developer(s)?
(is John T Haller still the only one working on the PortableApps.com Menu? or have I been absent from the PortableApps Scene that some other dev(s) have joined him?)
~3D1T0R
Just had a comment on number 2. You obviously don't give technical support to family members: "What does this button do again?"
Having descriptions for applications that people might use from time to time but aren't intimately familiar with isn't a bad idea. It's not so much for me but for other people I assist, and who aren't as techncially proficient or close to the pulse.
This feature is one of the things I like about Cylog's Toolbox, and one of the reasons it's very user friendly.
I do give Tech Support to Family & Friends, but I guess I hadn't thought it through fully.
Thinking about it more fully, it might be nice to display a short description (e.g. "FTP Client" for FileZilla, & "Virus Scanner" for ClamWin) instead of the Publisher in the tooltip. Maybe a "ShortDescription" for this use could be added to appinfo.ini?
~3D1T0R
And not just for family & friends...
I mostly use a 1.8" portable hd as tool repository with 150+ portable apps. With that large number it sometimes is difficult to remember the name of the one seldomly used app I have in mind for a special task. And some names are creativly chosen at best so that I sometimes just have to try.
Would a more simple name like
ShowBrowseOnAppsor the like not make more sense? Anyway, I'm sure this'll be well considered.If it's just for this option, yes.
But I was thinking that
ShowDevOptionswould also show other things that a Dev would want, but an "End User" would not (e.g. Options>Refresh Theme [for theme creators] or something)Maybe however all Dev Options should be listed individually? idk, I was just thinking of what I would do, and since I'm not the lead developer for PortableApps.com Platform (or even developing it at all) it's not my call, just a suggestion.
~3D1T0R