iDesk/FileNote

[ademir]

Dear Arjen,

Today, I have read your recommendation to install FileNote, if we have not already done so. Well, I have not. I have been using iDesk since the very beginning and am very happy with it and is used to using it. When you get older, you become more conservative. You don't give up easily what you consider something good. But this does not stop you looking for improvements. However, you hope these improvements (when available) are integrated to your original tool.

Unfortunately, you have revised your plans about the future of iDesk, if I understand it correctly. Thus, we have no other option but try FileNote or keep iDesk as it is. FileNote seems to have nice features (like "open with" plug in...and some more) which may worth trying. However, I want to try it, without harming my present status. So, the question is: Can I have both iDesk and FileNote installed at the same time? What are the effects of one on the other? Hotkeys? Previously set passwords, templates, encryptions... You name it...I will be patient and will not do anything before I hear from you.

Kind regards,

a.demir

[Arjen]

hi ademir

Although there is some overlap, I think FileNote and iDesk are complementary applications, i.e. they should both be installed.

iDesk contains an application manager, taskswitcher, note taker, password manager. I think the major strengths of iDesk are the task list, task switcher and hotkey launching of applications and files.

FileNote is a file manager. It's far superior to and a lot faster than the built-in FileManager application. Major strengths for FileNote are speed, versatile file management and macro support (which makes more sense in a file manager type application imho anyway).

Overlap is in the area of defining hotkeys for starting applications and files, but I personally feel that in that area iDesk offers more flexibility when defining hotkeys and therefore I don't use the hotkey functionality in FileNote.

FileNote and iDesk are both written in OPL and co-exist perfectly next to each other. Installing FileNote will in no way influence the way iDesk works. My recommendation is therefore not to de-install iDesk, but to install FileNote as well.

[ademir]

Dear Arjen,

Thank you for the very quick reply contents of which has been a big relief.

Kind regards,

a. demir

[Arjen]

Hi ademir

You're welcome

Just to clarify: iDesk development hasn't stopped. In fact a new release of iDesk is on it's way (hopefully next week). New features include:
- password and notes CSV export/import
- faster dialogs
- better semi-transparancy of buttons
- backlight enhancement (always on, on when charging, on for xxx minutes)
- integration of AutoType into iDesk (scripting actions and sending keys to other applications)
- several small bug fixes
- added startup type to startup folder (start always when iDesk starts or start only after reboot)
- fully configurable title bar and header (define what information to show where including font, color etc)

Best regards
Arjen

[monqs]

Although there is some overlap, I think FileNote and iDesk are complementary applications, i.e. they should both be installed.

Arjen, I have both iDesk and FileNote running on my 9500 all the time. Before I installed FileNote I had iDesk and BestFileMan running all the time, but FileNote has completely replaced BestFileMan now that you have provided the Bluetooth plugin for FileNote.

Both are excellent apps and though there are some overlaps as you say, each has its own strengths. I personally prefer the more flexible hot key arrangement on iDesk and the ease with which you can remove/reallocate a hot key on a temporary basis.

FileNote and iDesk are both written in OPL and co-exist perfectly next to each other. Installing FileNote will in no way influence the way iDesk works.

There is one little niggle. If I press Ctrl+H in FileNote to open the hex editor then this opens the Edit Hot Key dialog in iDesk. Using Ctrl+T in FileNote does not conflict in this way and opens the text viewer. I'm not sure why this should be so.

I'm also looking forward to the next release of iDesk. In particular the integartion of AutoType. However, I have one little concern and that is how will this impact on the memory usage? MobiReader is very particular about having a large amount of free memory, if I need to consult a number of documents and keep them open. I frequently open the task list in iDesk during the day and close down a number of apps.

One other little thing we discussed some time ago was the possibility to have iDesk automatically close down Web (which I never use) and Messaging (which I use infrequently) after a reboot.

Long live iDesk! and thank you for developing such a useful everyday app.

Regards,
Martin O'Neill

[Arjen]

There is one little niggle. If I press Ctrl+H in FileNote to open the hex editor then this opens the Edit Hot Key dialog in iDesk. Using Ctrl+T in FileNote does not conflict in this way and opens the text viewer. I'm not sure why this should be so.

Can you be a little more specific? Which dialog exactly is opened in iDesk when you press Ctrl+H? Can you send me a screenshot? As far as I know iDesk doesn't capture any other keys that the ones you've defined yourself.

I'm also looking forward to the next release of iDesk. In particular the integartion of AutoType. However, I have one little concern and that is how will this impact on the memory usage? MobiReader is very particular about having a large amount of free memory, if I need to consult a number of documents and keep them open. I frequently open the task list in iDesk during the day and close down a number of apps.

The current version of iDesk (the one on my 9500) occupies 400 Kb memory. I'm not sure if this is significantly more than previous versions, but I have the feeling that it's still acceptable.

One other little thing we discussed some time ago was the possibility to have iDesk automatically close down Web (which I never use) and Messaging (which I use infrequently) after a reboot.

This is one of the features that's not working yet. Sometimes the applications get closed and sometimes they don't and the reason why that happens is unclear to me. I'll try to get it working in v1.50 though.

Long live iDesk! and thank you for developing such a useful everyday app.

Thanks for the compliment and you're welcome

[monqs]

There is one little niggle. If I press Ctrl+H in FileNote to open the hex editor then this opens the Edit Hot Key dialog in iDesk. Using Ctrl+T in FileNote does not conflict in this way and opens the text viewer. I'm not sure why this should be so.

Can you be a little more specific? Which dialog exactly is opened in iDesk when you press Ctrl+H? Can you send me a screenshot? As far as I know iDesk doesn't capture any other keys that the ones you've defined yourself.

Arjen, I have a problem getting a screenshot as when I press Ctrl+H in FileNote and then change to iDesk the dialog is already open. Any keys I press after this are interpreted as a new hot key for the button which is open. This is the same dialog as would open in iDesk normally when you select a button and then press Ctrl+H or menu (Button/Hotkey)

The current version of iDesk (the one on my 9500) occupies 400 Kb memory. I'm not sure if this is significantly more than previous versions, but I have the feeling that it's still acceptable.

Version 1.46 running on my 9500 occupies 384kB and so the increase is not much. This will use less memory than running AutoType separately. AutoType currently uses 172kB on my machine.

One other little thing we discussed some time ago was the possibility to have iDesk automatically close down Web (which I never use) and Messaging (which I use infrequently) after a reboot.

This is one of the features that's not working yet. Sometimes the applications get closed and sometimes they don't and the reason why that happens is unclear to me. I'll try to get it working in v1.50 though.

If this is too problematic, then it may not be necessary as it only takes a few keystrokes to close down Web and Messaging from the task list.

Best wishes,
Martin

[Arjen]

[quote=monqs]Arjen, I have a problem getting a screenshot as when I press Ctrl+H in FileNote and then change to iDesk the dialog is already open. Any keys I press after this are interpreted as a new hot key for the button which is open. This is the same dialog as would open in iDesk normally when you select a button and then press Ctrl+H or menu (Button/Hotkey)[/quote]I now know what you mean, but I cannot reproduce it. When I press Ctrl+H in FileNote, it shows the file in Hex and when I switch to iDesk the main screen is still visible (no hotkey dialog).

Can you post some version numbers (OPL runtime, iDesk, FileNote, Firmware)? Maybe the problem is in a combination of those.

[monqs]

Can you post some version numbers (OPL runtime, iDesk, FileNote, Firmware)? Maybe the problem is in a combination of those.

Arjen,
I don't know where to find the OPL runtime information. The file c:\system\apps\opl\readme.txt says OPL developer package v1.56. Is this it?

iDesk = Version 1.46(0013)
FileNote = 2.12 (RC8)
Firmware = 4.51(0)

Many thanks for any pointers in sorting this little niggle.

Martin

[Arjen]

Hi Martin

I've tried the same versions (luckily I still have a backup Communicator with old firmware), but I still cannot reproduce the problem.

Right now the only thing I can think of is that there is somehow a Ctrl+H hotkey definition in iDesk which is not attached to any program anymore (how this could have happened is beyond me). But, this would mean that if you press Ctrl+H in any application (not just in FileNote), that it should bring up the hotkey dialog in iDesk. Can you test this?

If this is the case, please check the "iDesk hotkeys" and "Other hotkeys" dialogs in iDesk (in the "View" menu). If you can find this hotkey in one of these dialogs, delete it. If it's not in one of these dialogs, the only other solution I can think of is that you email me the iDesk.hkd file from \System\Apps\iDesk so I can delete the offending entry and the send the file back to you.

[ram]

Hello Arjen,
I am a fan of your idesk,i like it,waiting for your next release.
Just wanted to know if you are integrating AutoStartS80 into new iDesk release?
Thankyou very much,
Reagrds
Ram

[Arjen]

Hello Arjen,
I am a fan of your idesk,i like it,waiting for your next release.
Just wanted to know if you are integrating AutoStartS80 into new iDesk release?

Hi Ram, thanks for the compliment.

AutoStart is already integrated in the current version of iDesk. iDesk automatically creates a Startup folder. If you open this folder and create buttons for applications or files in this folder, these files and applications will be started automatically when iDesk starts, but only if you set iDesk to autostart when the Communicator is rebooted.

Best regards
Arjen