CTRL key during startup

BenAW · August 29, 2013, 03:24:14 PM

When holding the CTRL key pressed while starting IM5 from the Start menu or the Taskbar you can access a special startup menu.
When starting IM5 by double clicking on an icon you have to be lightning fast with pressing of CTRL or it will be missed.
Can the time to recognize the CTRL key be increased somewhat in the last case?

Mario · August 29, 2013, 03:50:47 PM

I check for Ctrl as late as possible, but it needs to be quite early during the program start because many things depend on it.
Maybe instead of double-clicking you can right-click the icon and choose "Open" while holding down <Ctrl> ?

BenAW · August 29, 2013, 04:01:42 PM

Quote from: Mario on August 29, 2013, 03:50:47 PM
Maybe instead of double-clicking you can right-click the icon and choose "Open" while holding down <Ctrl> ?

Works OK, same as the other options.
My point is that CTRL after double click has to be so fast, that most users will see it as not working.
So I suggest to either insert a short delay loop (0.5 sec?) or don't mention the CTRL double click in the Help and only mention the other 3 methods.

Mario · August 29, 2013, 06:56:12 PM

I just checked. The Ctrl check comes fairly late, after loading resources from the XML file and all that. That's quite a while after IMatch has been started.
Do you release the Ctrl key before the dialog shows up?

BenAW · August 29, 2013, 08:00:07 PM

Quote from: Mario on August 29, 2013, 06:56:12 PM
Do you release the Ctrl key before the dialog shows up?

No, I keep the CTRL key depressed, but I have to press it within milliseconds of the second click, otherwise it won't be noticed.
(using SSD disk for Windows and programs, also for the IM dbases)

Mario · August 30, 2013, 08:33:44 AM

Strange.

Loading the resources and preparing all the stuff takes about 2-3 seconds on my machine. Then IMatch does the check for the CTRL key (the splash screen is still visible at this time).

BenAW · August 30, 2013, 12:41:20 PM

Quote from: Mario on August 30, 2013, 08:33:44 AMLoading the resources and preparing all the stuff takes about 2-3 seconds on my machine. Then IMatch does the check for the CTRL key (the splash screen is still visible at this time).

I tried it on both my machines, and it takes super human speed to beat the system

(both systems have SSD disks)

It SEEMS that you have to press the CTRL key BEFORE the splash screen is displayed, otherwise the keypress will go unnoticed.

jch2103 · August 30, 2013, 01:55:27 PM

Exactly my impression too (also using SSDs).

Mario · August 30, 2013, 03:33:12 PM

Sorry, can't change this.

The check for the Ctrl key is done when IMatch needs the info. I cannot add a delay or several seconds just to give the user the chance to hold down the Ctrl key . This would cause a slow down in every IMatch start, for the odd chance that the user wants to hold down Ctrl.

If you have such fast machines, just use the "Open" command while holding down Ctrl. This will work even if your double-click is not working.

BenAW · August 30, 2013, 04:00:24 PM

Quote from: Mario on August 30, 2013, 03:33:12 PM
Sorry, can't change this.

The check for the Ctrl key is done when IMatch needs the info. I cannot add a delay or several seconds just to give the user the chance to hold down the Ctrl key.

QuoteSo I suggest to either insert a short delay loop (0.5 sec?) or don't mention the CTRL double click in the Help and only mention the other 3 methods.

I suggested ~0,5 sec., but option two, just remove the mention from the Help, and adding the "Open with CTRL" is fine with me.