ANN: Navigator

[rvs]

Well, I already kinda went for it in a different way

I've reduced the font-size used by ctb in listview on my DR. I couldn't reduce the line height by much though, but horizontal space is most important to me, so I'm pretty satisfied now with my setup.

Now that I have more available horizontal space I can perhaps add more columns with useful info (like the tags on a book).

[Iñigo]

Released version 2 in first message.

Changes:
- integration with CTB's LastRead view: books opened with Navigator update their lastread time
- new window for LastRead items: can open books or containing folder
- new window for last visited folders
- small UI improvements with new icons
- code cleaning

Iñigo

[HansTWN]

Inigo, integration with 800+ would be great. Now before install this and then have to uninstall it in a few days, is your new version of 800+ coming up very soon or will it take a while?

[Iñigo]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Inigo, integration with 800+ would be great. Now before install this and then have to uninstall it in a few days, is your new version of 800+ coming up very soon or will it take a while?

It will take some time, next week I'm in a trip to London and next 2 weeks I'll be on holidays, and my wife expect far from computers ;-)

[Iñigo]

Released version 3:
- new actions: delete files, mark as unread, create shortcut, open containing folder
- new virtual folders: shortcuts, recently added, recently opened
- in-program help, added README file to package
- code refactoring and cleaning
- fixed some bugs

Download from first message in thread.

Enjoy,
Iñigo

[Gogolo]

This is great, thank you! I missed this nice release for DR.
Gogolo

[fekhner]

Works great, thanks for the improvements ! A completely minor remark (maybe it is on purpose?): the icon for the new version has changed and is now identical with the icon for the inbox manager, so I changed mine back to the one of version 2.

[Iñigo]

Originally Posted by fekhner

Works great, thanks for the improvements !

wait for the new enhancements I'm currently coding...

Originally Posted by fekhner

A completely minor remark (maybe it is on purpose?): the icon for the new version has changed and is now identical with the icon for the inbox manager, so I changed mine back to the one of version 2.

I've got that nice icon and included as Navigator current icon as I prefer it.
The reason is because Inbox Manager has been/is/will be obsoleted by Navigator (and metadata in the DR, btw).
OK, I will explain this.

My (future) workflow for new books added to the DR:
I've configured DR to disable automatic thumbnail generation

-> connect with usb and copy new books in proper folders
-> run Navigator -> Go to Recently Added virtual folder (configured with 100 max items)
-> select books and edit: one by one or in batch mode (bulk)
-> fix title and author, generate cover thumbnail, set tags

Ok, this is the idea

We are almost there, I've already written the code to edit book metadata one-by-one (working superbly), and this weekend I'll write bulk edit.

Later I have to study Mackx's hack to see how he implemented multiple tags in global.db, and then add it to DR800+ and Navigator. I think this will be the hardest part.

Sound ok to you? ideas?
Iñigo

EDIT: added a screenshot. Doesn't it look gorgeus?

[fekhner]

That makes perfect sense of course. Looking forward to navigator v4

[Iñigo]

Hi all,

I've been making some improvements to Navigator during past weeks.
My initial plan was to finish the features and make a final release before end of year, but last weeks I've been quite busy so I haven't been able to write the code and new documentation, so it won't be possible.

As I will be a couple of weeks away on holidays, I'm posting now a raw new binary here as a season present ;-).
I don't include the full package, neither an updated documentation [1]. To install it, uncompress and substitute navigator binary in your DR device.

Hope you like. Best regards,
Iñigo

[1] You can always read the sources and see the new features in BitBucket repository as they are coded.

[fekhner]

thanks for the present, just installed it!

[MrWarper]

Hi everyone. I've been playing with this a couple of days as advised by Iñigo and here's my thoughts.

-I maintain my library via a computer and I just copy stuff to my readers for, well, reading and proofreading with annotations, etc. so I don't need the metainfo edition stuff (read: I won't work with it a lot, ever) but I think it is very cool, almost exactly what I'd dream of if I needed it. Good job!
-I mostly navigate the folder hierarchy in my SD card or go directly to recent/last folders so the streamlined UI would be perfect for me if Navigator were integrated on DR800+/MackxPatch and could be launched at system startup, effectively replacing CTB. Currently I have to open 'shortcuts' and launch Navigator, while I am just one tap away from 'navigating' via CTB upon boot...
-Granted CTB wastes a lot of screen space, but Navigator's font is too small and I don't need to cram so much info on the screen anyway. I'd prefer the font size to be selectable.
-If file names include the extension, the 'type' column is kind of redundant. Wouldn't it be better to take extensions off the file name column so there's a little more space for long titles, and put a small question mark (or whatever) on the type column next to 'unknown'/unregistered extensions/types?
-I rarely need to look at timestamps, others won't need extensions. What about some dialogue box to specify what columns to show, and in what order?
-It would be very nice to know what files are [not] annotated.
-The zebra-colouring of the table certainly improves readability, but it would be better if it were white-and-grey instead of grey-and-greyer.
-Make more conspicuous the column destined to select files for multi-file operations.

I know Iñigo says he is mostly off DR development now, but iRex is dead anyway, so this still looks like our fattest chance to see improvements some day... ; )
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On a different note -- @rvs, you say you modified the font used by CTB to save screen space. Would you mind explaining how you did it, or linking to a how-to?