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Posted by Mark Nevarrik
Dec 31, 2017 at 02:46 PM
This has been some great feedback. I’ve released a new version addressing some of the issues that have come up, I’m very appreciative for the opportunities revealed to improve. The biggest issues fixed were a duplicate column going white when its clone was closed, and restoring the functionality of the “reset column to root.” Full changelog here: https://innovationdilation.com/changelog.html
Thanks again, and if there is any more feedback—I’m listening, you guys are the experts :)
Posted by Sharknader
Jan 2, 2018 at 07:18 PM
Mark, I wanted to post this given all the negative feedback you received for the application. I’ve played around with it for a bit and actually tried using the application for its intended purpose, namely to use it as a canvass to explore a particular problem. For that purpose, it works great. It’s a great brainstorming application for people who tend to think in outlines as opposed to mind maps. I find mindmaps overwhelming quickly, but as a long-time user of Workflowy and Dynalist, being limited to a particular outline part at a time is restricting in terms of trying to keep all related concepts in focus. There are of course workarounds in those apps, but none as elegant as quickly opening a sub-item in a new side-by-side column. My only gripe is that I wish I could start a new column from any sub-item (even before it has any children).
But overall, I have a very positive impression of this application and view it as a quick mind-mapping tool for people inclined to outlines. It’s like Drafts for iOS. You need to get your thoughts out but not quite sure where, but you don’t expect to store your data in the app once you have a cohesive idea/solution.
Posted by Mark Nevarrik
Jan 16, 2018 at 08:48 AM
I wanted to post an update addressing some of the great feedback I have gotten. I didn’t want to make this thread a blog of updates, so I batched it all up into one post.
bobmclain wrote:
>2. With software so simple, I didn’t think I’d need a help file. But I
>guess I do. I created a new “column” to the right of the existing
>(default) column. Everything I write in one column is duplicated in the
>other column. This can’t be correct, as there’s no point (that I can
>see) to this behavior. I want multiple horizontal columns that are able
>to contain *different* content - content that, ideally, I can drag back
>and forth between columns.
>
I recorded a short ~7-8 minute demo of some of the features at https://innovationdilation.com
The last part is on columns, and starts at around 6:20.
Chris Murtland wrote:
>* I closed the column that had my root node. I don’t see any way to go
>back up the tree in a column that is set to some child of arbitrary
>depth, so now I am trapped in a sub-tree.
>
As of 31 Dec 2017, there is a reset column command to revert back to root.
>* Is the only way to clear the filter to run the filter again with an
>empty string? I think it would be great to clear a column’s filter with
>the Escape key.
>
As of 2 Jan 2018, there is a clear filter command, but as Ctrl + Shift + F, because Escape already gets you out of edit mode.
> Also, I am used to a filtered outline automatically
>expanding to show the matches, but I can see how not doing so could also
>be useful at times. Maybe an option? I know, the options dialog is
>getting rather cluttered.
>
As of 15 Jan 2018, filtering by text expands matching elements. But only matching elements, so if you later remove the filter, items that weren’t previously matched keep their collapsed state.
And filtering operations go on the undo stack, along with their expanded state.
Slartibartfarst wrote:
>7. The bottom bar of the GUI seems to have a poor selection of
>contrasting (or non-contrasting) colours and fonts, making some of the
>text difficult to read. This is a problem in ergonomic visual
>perception. Unless they have been developing military software or
>graphics displays, most developers would probably not appreciate this
>comment (though they might have lots of opinions about it).
>
As of 31 Dec 2017 the contrast was improved for the bottom bar.
>I think Mark’s website definitely needs an RSS feed defined. I cannot
>abide registering for “push” news via “Newsletter” registration (I won’t
>do it), but I always use “pull” news by subscribing deserving websites
>(e.g., OutlinerSoftware.com).to my BazQux feed-reader.
>
There is no newsletter, only a notify list for when the mac version comes out. I didn’t have the foresight to think of using it for anything else, mailchimp makes you name your list and I named it “Mac notify list.” But I like the idea of an RSS feed.
Franz Grieser wrote:
ruudhein wrote:
>
>>Each indent can become or be shown in its own column (right-click
>>→ new column).
>
>I know. I expected the command to create an empty new column for new
>notes (as it is not called “Show in new column”).
>
As of 31 Dec 2017 this has been changed to “Open in column to left/right.” I should have known better; before it was something like “open” and then it got changed to “new” which you are right, is misleading.
washere wrote:
>5: Stabilize:
>Crashes: C0000005 etc
>Opening app or inserting columns makes the file go away and gives blank
>screen, another func brings it back!
>etc etc I have not had time to red comments in this thread yet, prob
>have similar issues, i’d list’em to replicate
>
I’d like to think that most of this has been fixed as of 15 Jan 2018, most of these problems stemmed from moving an element in one column that was the parent of another column. This gets hit when playing around with small lists, but doesn’t happen much with my personal database. My apologies, it was released too soon and I’m sorry to have had so many of you hit this early on.
>6: Bottom bar: Try smaller laptops, does not fit
>either compact it so it fits, abbreviate or one word on top of other etc
>or better yet, convert to top toolbar with text lable on
>mouse-hover-focus
>
Fixed as of 2 Jan 2018.
Sharknader wrote:
>Mark, I wanted to post this given all the negative feedback you received
>for the application.
>
I super appreciate the comment Sharknader. I’m happy with negative feedback too, they were all opportunities to improve the software and that’s motivating.
>My only gripe is that I wish I
>could start a new column from any sub-item (even before it has any
>children).
>
I think opening up a sub-item as a new column is wise, especially when you are just starting out and playing around. I will try it, I think I choose the parent if the selected element didn’t have children because of root element. So many decisions you have to make while programming.
Thanks again everyone for your input.
Posted by tightbeam
Jan 16, 2018 at 11:05 AM
Mark Nevarrik wrote:
I wanted to post an update addressing some of the great feedback I have
>gotten. I didn’t want to make this thread a blog of updates, so I
>batched it all up into one post.
Thanks, Mark. I appreciate you taking everything in stride and using it to improve the software. I’ll take another look at it.
Sharknader: There was no “negative” feedback here; just helpful feedback. Nothing improves if no one complains.
Posted by Chris Thompson
Jan 16, 2018 at 02:49 PM
I finally got around to reading the “Design Philosophy” document. It’s interesting how similar the ideas are to the incremental formalization ideas that are behind Tinderbox.
Mark, if you’ve never read Bernstein’s “The Tinderbox Way”, you’d undoubtedly enjoy it. Probably doubly so if you chase down some of the academic papers on spatial hypertext the author refers to in that book.