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PA "Options" Menu

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RyGuy12
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PA "Options" Menu

I have noticed that one of my favorite features of PA is that I can install programs that are not formatted as portable apps, and they will still show in the PA Menu. However, PA searches for any exe file, and includes unintallers and supporting executables in the menu, making it quite dificult to use as it is very cluttered. I propose adding an options menu that can "hide" certain applications from appearing in the PA Menu. Who agrees?

J Neutron
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Hmmm

You'll find that this is a very popular reason that people download and use the R34 Mod Menu.

R34 Mod Menu Download
R34 Mod Menu Tutorials

Jim

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

John T. Haller
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Warning

And, as you should mention, this is unofficial and unsupported. It doesn't work with some apps. And has some known bugs. And you won't be able to upgrade from this to the next platform release. In short, it's not recommended for most users (just uber-techy geeks that like messing around with stuff).

Just to make sure you know what you're doing.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

MrElchbau
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Warning?

Just to make sure you know what you're doing.

I'm missing your matter-of-fact manner.

What will be happen by upgrading to the next release that will not be happen by upgrading from 1.1? Except of losing all custom settings 1.1 never got? Is there a error message implanted that pops up and displays "Sorry, no setup for the handful idiots who are using a mod?".
In my mind the menu is just a little piece of the whole PortableApps.com concept. There are two ways to handle the mods: let it be or build a "better" one. I'm happay about each mod cause so we're able to see what's necessary or possible. That's progressing!
It's just for geeks? Take a look around who the member and user are. How many female member we got? I think the people you talking about so depreciative ARE the most users. And the ones who commended other menus aren't enemies, far from it, I bet their heart loves PortableApps.com.

Life is crunchy, anywhere

wk
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I´m no mod, but please, calm down everybody

@ J Neutron: the new alpha behind the corner, sometimes it´s not very encouraging for developpers when they find your standard post in every request on new PAM features
-> it´s merely like the story of rabbit and hedgehog ("I´m already there") -
no need for competition.
And I love your stuff.

@ John, thanks for my grade "uber-techy geek", my sons gonna lol. I use R34 and am waiting desperately(?) for the progress in PAM official. But why bashing each other on a newcomer´s post (btw. the 1000.001st on the same topic)? And be sure, upgrading from R34 won´t be too difficult for all (I actually use two different folders).
And I love your stuff.

@ Mr Elchbau. No need too be rude -> perhaps it´s not meant that hard, but it sounds like that. We all appreciate your great work in pushing the whole PortableApps thing, not only in Germany. We all want a faster progress, but sometimes it´s better to wait another couple of days. The increase in rev releases shows that a lot apps have to be treated carefully.
And, I love your stuff.

@ RyGuy12. Welcome to PortableApps. For you as a newcomer I´d recommend to better follow the forum for a while and using the search button above. Not every idea suddenly coming to your mind is unique and completely new (see above). In fact a lot of posts on the same topic are more and more crowding/ stuffing the forum, so it´s becoming difficult to sort out the important ones. Please read a lot on the "howto" pages. Yet you might have missed any of those posts. So, the answer: this is coming with the next menu release. Search for the last PortableApps update post.
https://portableapps.com/node/16654

So, please calm down, everybody..

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisici elit, sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis .." Friday Next -
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John T. Haller
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Ummm

All I was saying is that it should be properly noted when people mention it. This is not an official build and it is not supported. It does have known bugs. And it doesn't work right with all of OpenOffice.org Portable's icons. This should be mentioned when a brand new user asks about it so that it's clear that this is the case. A new end user may not know all of the above.

I've had many people contact me thinking the MOD is an official release. It isn't. And the 2.0 release won't support upgrades from the MOD. The settings will not be preserved (shown/hidden icons, categories) and the themes are incompatible. If you try to upgrade a MOD install directly, it may break or show a broken theme. So new users shouldn't automatically be pointed to it with no caveats detailed. It's fine that some regulars here are using it as they already KNOW all of the above and understand that they're gonna have to manually remove the MOD or put it in an alternative directory before upgrading.

The menu MOD should not be promoted to a new user who may not understand all of that. That's all I'm saying.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

J Neutron
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Ok, ok

Sorry I didn't take the time to write out the three paragraph answer when I replied to the original poster.

I'm getting sorta tired of doing that.

Doesn't anybody ever search before posting?

OK, so just so that everybody is clear on the topic and everybody understands that I understand:

The R34 MOD Menu is a MODification of the original OFFICIAL PortableApps.com Menu that is the OFFICIAL menu that is promoted here and will be eventually (when?) updated to include some or all of the modifications of the OFFICIAL menu that make the MOD menu a MODification of the OFFICIAL menu.

The MOD menus came about because many people where tired of waiting for the OFFICIAL menu to be OFFICALLY modified/upgraded. These people seem to have a certain number of specific requests that include:

  • Categories/folders
  • Hiding excess EXE files
  • Renaming applications
  • Putting applications where you want

The R34 MOD Menu addresses all of these frequent requests.

The reason that the link to the R34 Mod Menu download and the R34 Mod Menu tutorials refer to a different web site is that the OFFICIAL site (here) does not OFFICIALLY support or condone use of modified menus, NO MATTER HOW GOOD THEY ARE or how easily they would answer the needs of people asking question.

Evidently stonewalling people and having them NOT use PortableApps.com is more important than helping them actually use the portable applications.

Everybody OFFICIALLY happy now?

Jim

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

John T. Haller
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Hang on a minute

Hang on a minute, Jim. Nowhere did I say you needed 3 paragraphs of stuff. Just the words "unofficial" and "unsupported" would be nice. Nowhere in your post or on the page you linked to do either of those words appear. We don't know how experienced a new user might be (this was that user's first post) which is why I mentioned it in the first place.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

pmlabrier
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All that was listed is two

All that was listed is two URL's for the MOD. While it is NOT an official portableapps.com or officially supported by portableapps.com, it IS supported and most of your questions can be answered in this forum.

If anyone, newbie or not, installs software without checking it out themselves first then they get what they deserve. Especially if it has MOD in its name.

BTW: Why is this thread in the Portable Apps Development category?

Paul

J Neutron
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Unofficial and Unsupported

OK, I can certainly use the words "unofficial" and "unsupported".

I'd really like to see a page or FAQ that contains "acceptable" boilerplate that we could point people to that explained all of this. That would help cut down on the repetitive answers and ensure that the answers included all of the bits and pieces that are important.

As I said earlier, that when someone comes here and asks for help, we should not be merely saying, for example: "You can't do categories so you'll just have to wait." That only minimizes the person's desire and pushes them away from this whole (otherwise excellent) system. We don't want to do that.

We want to be saying "There is a way for you to get what you want and still use 99% of the concept and software that makes up this site."

If they are asking these questions, they have already expressed a desire to go beyond the basic "put them all in one place because that's the easy way" and gives a clue to their experience level.

And oh... if you say that the tutorials do not say "unofficial" or "unsupported" you are very mistaken. There is a paragraph or two on every page that I wrote that says that. You might want to check on that since I know you are a stickler for accuracy.

Jim

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

John T. Haller
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I Do / Download Page

I often respond when users have inquired that categorization/renaming is coming in the next release but that if they want there are unsupported/unofficial modifications and forks which do it already.

And for the unsupported/unofficial remark, I was referring to the download page. There's no such warning there and 99% of users won't look at that tutorial.

We won't be adding a recommendation or link from any of the pages on PortableApps.com because it is entirely unofficial and not recommended for users. It's a dead-end support wise as there's no upgrade path back to the official platform in the next release. Much the same way when a user wants something very specific from a Firefox build and there are unofficial Firefox builds in the mozillaZine forums that address their needs but Mozilla would never recommend them from mozilla.com.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

NeoRame
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"... and 99% of users won't

"... and 99% of users won't look at that tutorial."

Nope, 2/3 our visitors look to the tutorials Wink (i have checked our stats Biggrin )

*EDIT*

we have edit the download description:

Attention:
This Mod is unofficial and unsupported by PortableApps.com

Hell was full, so I came back!!!
Sorry for my lousy English!!!

wk
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To let the steam off..

I´d suggest an "off topic" or "general" forum post on the situation with official PAM, unofficial forks. All fibres should be bundled to achieve the best, so perhaps some things should be spoken out loud to describe the actual situation. PAM Mod, the decision on taking first or second will depend on lots of personal predilections. From the evolutionary point development forks tend to diversify and, very often, to die. Let´s try the opposite by improving one official PAM in thoroughly testing all forks on everyday feasibility.
A special post could clarify the today´s situation, the recommendations for user´s with different skills (sooner or later an "advanced" user preselection will also come with official PAM) and of course the "inofficial" status (= use at your own risk) could be expressed.
Once this is posted everyone can refer to that topic -> saves a lot of time.
What do you think?

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisici elit, sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis .." Friday Next -
"May The Schwartz be with You!" Yogurt the Yoda

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