December 8, 2004
@ 04:52 PM
Comments [6]
Update on Newsgroup Support in RSS Bandit

Torsten has been hard at work on the UI for managing newsgroups in the next version of RSS Bandit. Below is a screenshot of what is currently checked into CVS. We'd love to hear any comments you have.

For example, the View menu behaves like a tabbed pane but we decided against tabs for some technical reasons. Is this confusing? Also I've suggested that we change the buttons on the top left named 'Identity' and 'News Server' to 'Add Identity' and 'Add News Server' to separate the fact that those buttons perform actions while the ones on the right act more like tabs in a tabbed pane. Agree? Disagree?

Speaking of which I need to test the code that handles binary attachments so if you know any public news servers that allow you to subscribe to binary newsgroups, let me now. Unfortunately there aren't any binary newsgroups on news.microsoft.com.


 

Categories: RSS Bandit

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Wednesday, 08 December 2004 18:06:56 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Overall I like it, but I don't think the tab-emulating menu buttons are a good idea. It's not the end of the world or anything, but this is the whole reason a well-known tabbing paradigm was created. People see tabs, they know what to do. They're going to balk at this at first, plus the fact that the menu can be repositioned which means it's not tied with the content it's switching and well... I'd just try for the standard tabs if it's not going to make you overhaul the whole architecture. ;)

As for "Add Identity" and "Add News Server" I agree 100%. If the fear is that they will take up too much menu space for "advanced" users, then you should just offer the standard set of options: "show text", "show icon", "show text and icon".

Just my 2¢,
Drew
Drew Marsh
Thursday, 09 December 2004 02:05:14 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Looks nice. I do agree with Drew, can I get standard tabs back (or as option?)

Cutting the startup time wouldn't hurt too...
A. Reader
Friday, 10 December 2004 07:59:42 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Supernews and Randori allow binary newsgroups.

adam...
Adam Hill
Friday, 10 December 2004 09:17:50 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I agree with Drew. IMHO it's a misuse of a toolbar as a tabctrl substitute. Instead, why not use a treeview ctrl in the EyeFinder? I've uploaded a possible rough design here: http://thomasfreudenberg.com/images/thomasfreudenberg_com/blog/16/o_NewsgroupsSubscriptions.png
Thomas Freudenberg
Friday, 10 December 2004 18:29:08 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Thomas's idea is my favorite. I think, I will go on with that approach. Thanks for all the feedback!
torsten.rendelmann@gmx.net (TorstenR)
Sunday, 12 December 2004 20:43:32 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Excellent. This is starting to look like a communications suite.

I suggest next add an pop3/smtp client with a decent address book and s/mime, and I can switch away from Mozilla Thunderbird for email. Then a managed-code web browser might be nice.

doug ransom
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