Workspace and (Auto) Updates

Lord_Helmchen · December 26, 2014, 02:46:24 PM

I experiences some issued with current handling of Workspaces (see https://www.photools.com/community/index.php?topic=3956.msg26478;topicseen#new). Also there are several other threads about users who do not favor current behavior too, but the discussion seems to be slightly fragmented. So I tried to summarize the current outcomes.

My aim is to give Mario some guidance, what's wanted by IM users.

You could select as many options as you like.

If you think I've missed one discussed option let me know (in an early stage of this discussion), so that I could add it.

There is no end date - until Mario has decided, if/how he's going to change IM.

jch2103 · December 27, 2014, 01:26:35 AM

I decided I should provide some background on my vote for option #4 (no auto update). First, I use IMatch on a 1920x1080 desktop monitor and a 1600x900 laptop, with no extra monitor(s) (yet). Consequently, my useful options for re-arranging my workspace(s) are somewhat limited. Second, I've been reluctant to try too many workspace variations in part due to not feeling like I'm in complete control; put another way, I've been concerned that if I try some changes that I end up not liking, I'll have too much trouble getting back to my original layout. Bottom line: I suspect I'd be more likely to experiment if option #4 were available, and more likely to set up a set of layout alternatives for different tasks.

With different equipment, I might have a different opinion.

RalfC · December 27, 2014, 04:34:57 PM

I'd like option #3 but there should also be the possibility to save the changed layout with a new name.

Regards,
Ralf

ColinIM · December 27, 2014, 06:40:29 PM

Quote from: jch2103 on December 27, 2014, 01:26:35 AM(....) I've been reluctant to try too many workspace variations in part due to not feeling like I'm in complete control; put another way, I've been concerned that if I try some changes that I end up not liking, I'll have too much trouble getting back to my original layout.(....)

This (uncertainty) is exactly what is stopping me from developing a set of task-related layouts which really suit my needs.
In the meantime I am still working with one - rarely changed - single layout which is "just good enough" to get my work done, whether I am (a) assessing image quality in the Viewer, or (b) assigning Keywords or (c) changing other metadata ... for example.

(I voted for option 4 only.)

Colin P.

Mario · January 03, 2015, 02:08:34 PM

Although only 16 users voted for this, I know that the concept of switching workspaces is awkward for some users. The idea was that you pick one workspace to be the active workspace (load workspace...) and from then on all changes are stored to that workspace.

I decided to change this for IMatch 5.3.

IMatch now has a 'virtual' active workspace. All workspace-related settings you make are automatically stored to this workspace. When you close and reopen IMatch, this workspace is restored. You can save the active workspace under name to persist the current state.
Loading a saved workspace no longer makes it active, but instead copies the settings from the saved workspace into the active workspace. All changes made to the active workspace after that are again stored in the active workspace but don't affect the saved workspace.

See the release notes for more info.

Lord_Helmchen · January 03, 2015, 02:11:22 PM

Thanks! Sounds good!

Let's see how it's in daily work.

Ferdinand · January 03, 2015, 02:20:41 PM

I think that this is a very good development, as it brings IMatch into line with a lot of other software. The idea of something being saved generally means that it is.

ColinIM · January 03, 2015, 04:42:53 PM

Thank you Mario,

This will be - for me - a very welcome adjustment to our management of multiple workspaces, and I look forward (even more

) to version 5.3.
Colin P.

Carlo Didier · January 03, 2015, 06:40:58 PM

Great! Now I can use the workspaces without fear.
Thanks!

Mario · January 03, 2015, 07:13:30 PM

I used workspaces without fear for two years, on three computers.
What fear did you have?

Carlo Didier · January 04, 2015, 05:19:56 PM

Quote from: Mario on January 03, 2015, 07:13:30 PMI used workspaces without fear for two years, on three computers.
What fear did you have?

See my post here. I just lost my workspaces constantly if I didn't go through the strict discipline of saving to a temporary workspace as soon as I had switched to a certain workspace. Essentially what iMatch will now do automatically, just very cumbersome to do manually. As soon as I forgot to save temporarily, I was sure to loose my (manually saved) settings inadvertently.

Workspace and (Auto) Updates

How shall the handling of updates of Workspaces be