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Number : 768 Date : 2001-10-10 Author : Dan Anderson Subject : Re: XXCOPY GUI-frontend prototype Size(KB) : 7
The prototype GUI interface is good to see and the approach will broaden the user base. I understand the comments from Mike on a more extensive and sophisticated structure and perhaps an extensive alternate version would be good in the future, but there's an issue of potentially diminishing returns as the GUI functionality gets more complex. Is it a working prototype? I tried using the browse key to select a subdirectory but it did not activate, but did go through the click motion. Congrats as you move into this next phase Kan! Regards, ...Dan ==================== ----- Original Message ----- From: Kan Yabumoto To: Sent: Monday, October 08, 2001 10:38 PM Subject: [xxcopy] XXCOPY GUI-frontend prototype > > Hi all: > > Several weeks ago, I mentioned that we had some GUI-based > XXCOPY frontend being developed. Although it is not finished, > a working prototype is just made available for download. > > Again, this is an exclusive sneak preview only for the > XXCOPY group members. It is available at the file section > of the Yahoo XXCOPY discussion group. > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xxcopy/files/ > > The filename is xxez2710.zip > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > XXCOPY-EZ > > > It does not come with any documentation. I was rather > surprised by the small size of the zipped file (one of > the smallest windows program file I've seen). Besides > the compactness, it is a no-frill windows program. > > ========================= > I n s t r u c t i o n > ========================= > > The program doesn't even have an installation tool. > > -------------------------------------------------------- > The following buttons are not working right now: > HELP (to start a HTML based help page) > BROWSE (to open up an Explorer-like directory tree > for source/destination selection). > MAKEICON (to create a batch file which corresponds > the command line (examine the text by > cliking the Detail>> button). > --------------------------------------------------------- > > Installation: > > All you need to do is to copy the XXCOPYEZ.EXE file > after unzipping it into the XXCOPY home directory where > your regular XXCOPY.EXE file is normally kept. You > should bring out its shortcut icon (using the Windows > Explorer) to the Desktop and double click the icon to > start. (You may want to choose the Yellow/Red XX icon > rather than other boring icons to represent the program. > > It was designed to be as simple tool as it can be for > those who are afraid of the Dos Box. Therefore, it was > deliberately stripped down. If the user does not want > to see any extra power of XXCOPY, he can just stay on > the top page and start the program. > > Running XXCOPY-EZ. > > 1. In the first page, you need to enter the source and > destination directory (no drag-and-drop supporte yet). > Also, the browse buttons are not working yet. > > 2. Select various switches from the Options and the > Advanced Option sections. At least, these major > switches are given with a terse explanations for > user convenience. > > 3 In addition to the selected major switches all other > switches can be spelled in the "custom options" > section. By having this feature (which allows you > to spell out any command switch strings), you are > not limited to the set of switches that are presented > in the Options and Adv. Options sections. > > 4. Once you are satisfied with the selection of options, > you are ready to proceed to the next step by > clicking the Start_Copy button. > > 5. The next pop-up window will let you launch the > XXCOPY.EXE program for real. But, before clicking > the Launch button, you may examine the current > XXCOPY switch settings (based on the user selection > in Step 2 and 3, the command arguments are compiled > to a one-line command line. > > 6. Click the Launch button which will then open up > a DOS Box and XXCOPY will be launched for you there. > Now, the DOS Box will behave just like the case > where you have typed a command line for the XXCOPY. > Now, the XXCOPYEZ's job is basically over once > the XXCOPY program has started in the DOS cox. > If the XXCOPY program need any additional user- > interactions, you are on your own to do whaterver > keystrokes that you may be asked to do. > > ---------- > > In conclusion, this prototype shows how we perceived > as a necessary (and stripped down GUI) front end for > XXCOPY. Since XXCOPY is a console based utility (with > its inherent advantage (being a console program), > we have to honor its intrinsic way of running. So, > whether you like it or not, the GUI frontend's job > was kept to the first step ---- to form a command line > which only a seasoned XXCOPY users can create. So, > by having this add-on, the hardest part of XXCOPY > operation was made easy. > > What we could have done better was to make a more > elaborate (possibly with a pull-down menu) presentation > of all the available switches. At least showing > all the switches and let users choose from what's > shown there would make it easier to use by not > forcing the users to memorize all the switches. > But, if we show all the available switches, they > will overwhelm the user (which defeats most of the > GUI approach in the first place). > > It has been like that during the past 8 months. > We are not too crazy about this idea anyway. > In our opinion, the XXCOPYEZ program will not > make XXCOPY any more powerful than XXCOPY itself > which is to be run in a DOS Box without GUI. > It seems that the existence of XXCOPYEZ is an > oxymoron. It is self contradicting with quite > a paradox. > > As you can see, besides the non-functional browse > buttons, the MakeIcon button is not working. > But, the idea of this utility was to allow a > novice user to run this program as sort of a > "wizard" which walks you through the selection > of command parameters for XXCOPY (the most > technically challenging part of the operation) > to create a command line string. The command > line string will then be stored as a batch file > and its shortcut (icon) will be created in the > desktop for future invocation by double-clicking > the icon. At least, it will accomplish the creation > of a batch file without going through an editor > and knowledge of batch file programming. > > I don't see why any IT professional wants this. > But, I can see those who hear good thing about > XXCOPY (but who are so afraid of a DOS Box) may > start using XXCOPY for cloning drive C: to > drive D: and run such a batch file by clicking > the icon (or move the icon into the StartUp > directory which will automate the process. > > Anyway, your comments on this program is welcome. > > Kan Yabumoto > Kan Yabumoto > > ======================================================================== > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! 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