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Two new tools worth testing - Direct Access and XYplorer
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Posted by Andrea Nagar
Apr 1, 2007 at 04:34 PM
I’m Andrea Nagar, the author of Direct Access.
I would like to thank Dominik for mentioning my software.
As you pointed out, Direct Access doesn’t offer a complete scripting language (as Activewords or other opensource tools like Autohotkey do) but it offers macros that allow you to enter input parameters when executing a command, insert the current date/time or a special symbol.
Although, adding a more powerful scripting language is definitely in the Direct Access development plans, my main focus is in usability. I believe that adding commands and executing them is much easier in Direct Access than in Activewords or Autohotkeys (where you have to manually prepare the file containing your abbreviations). For example, to create a new autotext, you just need to select the text and type CTRL+SHIFT+W, in any application.
On top of that Direct Access is actively developed (while Activewords is not) and very customer driven. I’d love to get suggestions from you: what do you like most? what features do you feel are missing from Direct Access?
Thank you.
Andrea
Posted by Dominik Holenstein
Apr 1, 2007 at 07:40 PM
Andrea,
Thank you very much for replying to this thread. I appreciate it very much.
I mentioned in my reply to the question from Stephen that I was thinking to give ActiveWords another try. But I won’t. Whay? Because the tool has not been developed further several time. Further, it is not that intuitive and easy to use than Direct Access.
What I would like to see in Direct Access: Scripting! Real scripting with a language like JavaScript or VisualBasic. Further, you could think of a visual programming system like Automise provides: http://www.automise.com/ You can click together the commands and instructions and arrange them in a hierarchical tree. This approach is very user friendly and allows users not being familiar with scripting and programming to develop their own little shortcut applications.
Dominik
Posted by Andrea Nagar
Apr 1, 2007 at 09:15 PM
Hi Dominik.
It’s my pleasure joining. An advanced scripting engine will be added for sure to Direct Access. I looked at Automize and this software is more oriented - I think - at creating automated and unattended scripts. Direct Access has a very interactive nature so the target is a bit different. I can see the value in the ability to create a batch of operations and controlling the flow.
I think that a new scripting engine will make it in v.2.0 (probably by the end of the year)
Andrea
Posted by Jack Crawford
Apr 2, 2007 at 06:32 AM
Dominik
Thanks for the two tips. I think I’ll probably move to Xyplorer. I have been using Powerdesk for many years, but it isn’t under serious development any longer. The new tabbed approach is enticing.
With Direct Access, what is the computer overhead when it is running? These macro/scripting short cut tools can be very hungry on PC resources.
Jack
Posted by Randall Shinn
Apr 2, 2007 at 01:57 PM
I am trying Direct Access, and I’m very impressed (even though I often don’t like .Net programs). This one is extremely fast, and the ease of use is wonderful. Setting up new shortcuts is fast and easy.
I’m tried ActiveWords twice, and used it long enough to purchase a license. I found it too slow in its response times, as well as being somewhat intrusive. Direct Access seems far superior to me. And it’s nicely designed in function, appearance, and ease of use.
I dropped ActiveWords in favor of MacroExpess, which has instantaneous response times, as well as elaborate scripting. It was the only program I tried that allowed me to create elaborate macros that worked instantly while working in an elaborate graphics program. But setting up a macro in Macro Express takes more time than in Direct Access, so all that scripting power can come at a cost.
Randall Shinn