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davidekholm

Posts: 3,483
Registered: 18-Oct-2002
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 11 Jun 24, 17:35   in response to: davidekholm in response to: davidekholm
b8 is now available. I updated the texts file as well so it's easier to grab the updated install archives

Changes:
  • Implemented Virtual Groups
  • Lots of bug fixes to Project Groups, including crashed MultiMaker
  • Projects within Virtual groups can be dragged onto other Virtual groups
  • Projects within real groups can be dragged onto other real groups or Virtual groups

(I've spent quite some time ensuring that project references within virtual groups are updated when moving, renaming and deleting projects)

Virtual groups works just like the recent projects group, i.e. it simply keeps references to a group of projects by the use of a text file that lists the paths to each project. A project can belong to as many virtual groups as you like. Virtual groups can be sub groups of other groups as well.

Let me know what you think!

Installers:
Windows: https://jalbum.net/download/jAlbum-install.exe
Mac (Intel): https://jalbum.net/download/jAlbum.dmg
Mac (M1): https://jalbum.net/download/jAlbum-M1.dmg

The latest service-release beta is available here: https://jalbum.net/download/beta/jalbum-core.jar
davidekholm

Posts: 3,483
Registered: 18-Oct-2002
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 11 Jun 24, 17:36   in response to: JeffTucker in response to: JeffTucker
Thanks for the encouragement Jeff! I hope b8 is even more pleasing to work with than b7.
JeffTucker

Posts: 8,225
Registered: 31-Jan-2006
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 11 Jun 24, 19:26   in response to: davidekholm in response to: davidekholm
Just started to play with b8, and one initial question. Wouldn't it be cleaner to keep all of the text files for virtual groups in the user's config directory, rather than elsewhere, like My Albums? I notice that the files are split between those two locations.

Also, I'll test this, but are virtual groups immune to Windows registry issues, like installing Java 8?
JeffTucker

Posts: 8,225
Registered: 31-Jan-2006
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 11 Jun 24, 19:36   in response to: JeffTucker in response to: JeffTucker
Having problems already. I cleared the decks, and started fresh.

I created an Atom Demos group, and it appeared. I created a Jupiter Demos group, and it didn't appear. I can drag projects into Atom Demos, but I can't access Jupiter Demos at all. Tried a re-launch, but no better.

There are both a My Albums\Atom Demos folder, and a My Albums\Jupiter Demos folder. But the project-groups.txt file in my config directory shows only the first one.

Edited by: JeffTucker on 11 Jun 2024, 13:37 - sorry for all the post edits. :(
JeffTucker

Posts: 8,225
Registered: 31-Jan-2006
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 11 Jun 24, 19:45   in response to: JeffTucker in response to: JeffTucker
It works properly, but only if I follow the following procedure:

  • Launch jAlbum.
  • Create a new virtual group.
  • Drag projects from Recent Projects into it.
  • Close jAlbum.
  • Launch jAlbum.
  • Drag projects into it.
  • etc....

If I skip any step, like not immediately adding projects, or leaving jAlbum open, the creation of subsequent groups fails.
JeffTucker

Posts: 8,225
Registered: 31-Jan-2006
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 11 Jun 24, 19:54   in response to: JeffTucker in response to: JeffTucker
Attachment ss012379.png (26.3 KB)
And BTW, the lack of any click-drag feedback is really problematic. It's very tough to tell which group you're dragging a project into. That's with the system standard L&F. With other L&F choices, like FlatLight, the selected group highlight is so dark, the name of the group can't be read. Screenshot.
RobM

Posts: 3,843
Registered: 4-Aug-2006
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 11 Jun 24, 21:57   in response to: JeffTucker in response to: JeffTucker
Attachment Xcode-Dark.png (155.8 KB)
Attachment DefaultLF.png (172.1 KB)
JeffTucker wrote:
And BTW, the lack of any click-drag feedback is really problematic. It's very tough to tell which group you're dragging a project into. That's with the system standard L&F. With other L&F choices, like FlatLight, the selected group highlight is so dark, the name of the group can't be read. Screenshot.
The default L&F setting on my Mac is horrid, I prefer using 'Xcode-Dark'.
RobM

Posts: 3,843
Registered: 4-Aug-2006
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 11 Jun 24, 22:01   in response to: davidekholm in response to: davidekholm
davidekholm wrote:
b8 is now available. I updated the texts file as well so it's easier to grab the updated install archives

Changes:

  • Implemented Virtual Groups
  • Lots of bug fixes to Project Groups, including crashed MultiMaker
  • Projects within Virtual groups can be dragged onto other Virtual groups
  • Projects within real groups can be dragged onto other real groups or Virtual groups

(I've spent quite some time ensuring that project references within virtual groups are updated when moving, renaming and deleting projects)

Virtual groups works just like the recent projects group, i.e. it simply keeps references to a group of projects by the use of a text file that lists the paths to each project. A project can belong to as many virtual groups as you like. Virtual groups can be sub groups of other groups as well.

Let me know what you think!

Looks good, I found that to remove a project from a virtual group you just use 'Remove from list', easy.
JeffTucker

Posts: 8,225
Registered: 31-Jan-2006
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 11 Jun 24, 22:05   in response to: RobM in response to: RobM
RobM wrote:
The default L&F setting on my Mac is horrid, I prefer using 'Xcode-Dark'.

The system standard Mac L&F is a hot mess. Laza's settings panels, in particular, are a complete disaster with that L&F. On my Mac, I use FlatLight.

Hate the dark L&F's. Maybe they're fine if you're sitting in a darkened room with no lights on, but otherwise, they're an accessibility nightmare. I suspect that most people who don't like the light L&F's have the monitor's brightness turned up way too high, which is the way most of them come, out of the box.
davidekholm

Posts: 3,483
Registered: 18-Oct-2002
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 12 Jun 24, 16:42   in response to: JeffTucker in response to: JeffTucker
JeffTucker wrote:
Just started to play with b8, and one initial question. Wouldn't it be cleaner to keep all of the text files for virtual groups in the user's config directory, rather than elsewhere, like My Albums? I notice that the files are split between those two locations.

If you like centralised config files, then use the "+" button to add "root project groups". Their references are stored under jAlbum's config directory. If you prefer distributed config files (allowing a virtual project group to be relocated), then right-click the "My Albums" node and select "New Virtual project group"

Also, I'll test this, but are virtual groups immune to Windows registry issues, like installing Java 8?

Yes
davidekholm

Posts: 3,483
Registered: 18-Oct-2002
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 12 Jun 24, 16:46   in response to: RobM in response to: RobM
RobM wrote:
JeffTucker wrote:
And BTW, the lack of any click-drag feedback is really problematic. It's very tough to tell which group you're dragging a project into. That's with the system standard L&F. With other L&F choices, like FlatLight, the selected group highlight is so dark, the name of the group can't be read. Screenshot.
The default L&F setting on my Mac is horrid, I prefer using 'Xcode-Dark'.

I am aware of it. It "only" happens if you've chosen a dark desktop color theme and use the Mac look & feel. I can address it, but then the title bar will always show in dark text on bright background.
JeffTucker

Posts: 8,225
Registered: 31-Jan-2006
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 12 Jun 24, 16:55   in response to: davidekholm in response to: davidekholm
Attachment ss012380.png (6.9 KB)
davidekholm wrote:
If you like centralised config files, then use the "+" button to add "root project groups". Their references are stored under jAlbum's config directory. If you prefer distributed config files (allowing a virtual project group to be relocated), then right-click the "My Albums" node and select "New Virtual project group"

This doesn't correspond to anything I'm seeing. The "+" button gives me a dialog where I can choose virtual/non-virtual, and specify the folder location. There's no convenient way to access the config directory, as far as I can tell.

Screenshot - this is what I get when I click the "+" button to create a new group (I long ago renamed My Albums to jAlbum Temps, because of the way I use it - my real albums are all elsewhere).

Also, I'll test this, but are virtual groups immune to Windows registry issues, like installing Java 8?

Yes


Confirmed in a quick test. Installing JRE 8 left my project groups unmolested, though jAlbum is treating me like a stranger today.
davidekholm

Posts: 3,483
Registered: 18-Oct-2002
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 12 Jun 24, 17:13   in response to: JeffTucker in response to: JeffTucker
JeffTucker wrote:
And BTW, the lack of any click-drag feedback is really problematic. It's very tough to tell which group you're dragging a project into. That's with the system standard L&F. With other L&F choices, like FlatLight, the selected group highlight is so dark, the name of the group can't be read. Screenshot.

I've adjusted the colors now in b9, available here: https://jalbum.net/download/beta/jalbum-core.jar

Too bad that the otherwise excellent FlatLaf library hasn't set those defaults right.
JeffTucker

Posts: 8,225
Registered: 31-Jan-2006
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 12 Jun 24, 17:26   in response to: davidekholm in response to: davidekholm
davidekholm wrote:
I've adjusted the colors now in b9, available here: https://jalbum.net/download/beta/jalbum-core.jar

No change. With the Windows standard L&F, there's no visual feedback that tells you which group you're dragging a project into.

But the biggest problem remains. This is a simple demonstration. Launch jAlbum, and try to create three new virtual project groups. You can't.
davidekholm

Posts: 3,483
Registered: 18-Oct-2002
Re: jAlbum 35 beta for testing
Posted: 12 Jun 24, 17:43   in response to: JeffTucker in response to: JeffTucker
JeffTucker wrote:
It works properly, but only if I follow the following procedure:

  • Launch jAlbum.
  • Create a new virtual group.
  • Drag projects from Recent Projects into it.
  • Close jAlbum.
  • Launch jAlbum.
  • Drag projects into it.
  • etc....

If I skip any step, like not immediately adding projects, or leaving jAlbum open, the creation of subsequent groups fails.


I don't know how I could have missed that. Should now be fixed in b9, available at https://jalbum.net/download/beta/jalbum-core.jar
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