Polywick Story Server is a unique one-pane organizer.

Features:
- one-pane calendar.
- one-pane address-book
- one-pane note-taking and organizer.


See teaser:
https://twitter.com/PolywickStudio

Hi,
Can you please provide more details. The screenshot appears to be of ECCO.
Thanks,
Peter

Polywick Studio wrote:

Polywick Story Server is a unique one-pane organizer.

Features:
- one-pane calendar.
- one-pane address-book
- one-pane note-taking and organizer.


See teaser:
https://twitter.com/PolywickStudio

Yup, that's definitely Ecco Pro...

very strange...


MadaboutDana wrote:

Yup, that's definitely Ecco Pro...

hi,

StoryServer is 32-bit Windows app, with internal 64-bit database system, which means, it does not have limitations as Ecco does.

For the 'EccoExt' bar, this was added-in for compatibility with importing files made with EccoExt extension.

This also means, features found in EccoExt, like the tray, pointer-enhancements, item-count and such, -- lot of effort was made to duplicate these features into StoryServer.

StoryServer was built ground-up from scratch, as a one-pane organizer.

All what you see, is effort from years of work.

I don't know if this Ecco clone is real or whether it's a joke.

Here are some screenshots.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fT6Nza4hRaur17aD8

So, "years of effort" to clone someone else's primitive software, including "look and feel". And you joined Twitter in August 2018. And Polywick Studio, to judge from the web site, makes web games, with nary a mention of productivity software. And *this* seems to be the *real* Twitter account for Polywick Studios:

https://twitter.com/polywick

Sounds fishy...

More discussion of "Polywick Story Server" here:

https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=46017.msg422677#msg422677

We made a second Twitter account because the Development team is different from the Arts team.


The original Ecco hasn't been updated since ~ 2008.
Slang stopped around ~ 2015.

At that time, we (that is, the developers here) were in contact with several Ecco users and they specified very specific way of doing this, and we followed their guidance.
They wanted the move feature to be in this manner, the notepads in that manner... and so on.

Anything different, they don't like it, or dropped us out from the feedback loop.

So after a few years of ins and outs, we made a break-through few months ago, and managed to develop, from scratch, the tree, notepad, calendar, address book system.

Please feel free to contact us via our company email on Polywick's website.

Is there a plan to sell this? When and how much?

Why is it a "server" -- does it require a host machine?

Polywick Studio wrote:

Polywick Story Server is a unique one-pane organizer.

Features:
- one-pane calendar.
- one-pane address-book
- one-pane note-taking and organizer.


See teaser:
https://twitter.com/PolywickStudio

If you developed it from scratch, why are you using original Ecco screenshots (as claimed by someone else here)? Or did you clone the Ecco interface as part of your development effort?

I really can't see the need for or the marketability of an Ecco *clone* in 2018. New, modern software that incorporates Ecco's better features, sure; but a clone? I imagine the remaining Ecco user base is vanishingly small, and those who remain are very fixed and inflexible in their ways, so it might be wise to jettison much of what they ask for and do what makes sense for today's market.

I don't think you did yourself any favors by posting a "teaser" on a fresh Twitter account sans any meaningful details like beta date, release date, cost, website, etc.

Polywick Studio wrote:

So after a few years of ins and outs, we made a break-through few months
ago, and managed to develop, from scratch, the tree, notepad, calendar,
address book system.

interface as part of your development effort?

Please see the screenshots and compare them vs. the original and you can see lots of minor and small differences.

sure; but a clone?

Really? Every person/company have expended effort and later... failed.

When they tried to add such features, they run into considerable difficulties, or give-up, without much success.

It's a tribute app - I like it!

If it works, of course.

I am pretty sure development on Ecco Pro ceased in 1997. It will be interesting to see what was improved and the program's overall capabilities. InfoQube has long since supplanted my Ecco databases and it would be counter-productive for me to roll back the clock. Never-the-less, I really would like to see what you have accomplished.

What database engine is used?

Will it import Ecco files? CSV import? What about export and printing?

Polywick Studio wrote:

The original Ecco hasn't been updated since ~ 2008.

What database engine is used?

Database is proprietary.

You didn't say whether it's possible to export data to common formats such as plain text, PDF, and/or Word? Without at least some export options, the software is dead on arrival.

tightbeam wrote:

You didn't say whether it's possible to export data to common formats
such as plain text, PDF, and/or Word? Without at least some export
options, the software is dead on arrival.

Hi TightBeam, I didn't say anything because we were documenting on the Lua scripting parts.

Why are you so critical about us?

Plain-Text is straight-forward. There is a shooter which allows drag and drop into Plain-Text.

For PDF, did you see EccoExt export to PDF??

For exporting, there is export to RTF HTML and PDF via templates.
You specify a pre-made template and StoryServer will fill-in the blanks.

Hm, Lua scripting sounds interesting.

I think the reason people are sounding - from your perspective, disappointingly - sceptical is that your approach is somewhat unusual.

You're clearly lovers of the original Ecco, otherwise you'd never have spent the time you obviously have recreating the program; right down to the now rather old-fashioned interface.

But apart from a teasing screenshot, you've provided no real details of the program, except in response to doubtful queries. Doubtful, because to be perfectly honest, we do occasionally experience trolling on this forum, and I suspect many readers formed the impression right at the start that you were simply another troll trying to bluff Ecco enthusiasts into accepting a non-existent app as a genuine reincarnation.

Except that it appears you really have created a genuine reincarnation! And that it may not be a bluff at all! However, the details you've provided are still very limited, so people are still suspicious. That's the only reason you're hearing such apparently negative feedback - people suspect a bluff, and so far you haven't provided enough information to persuade them otherwise.

I tell you what: why not invite forum members to take part in a beta programme? That would sort out the sheep from the goats...

We look forward very much to seeing the product in its final form, in any case.

Best of luck!
Bill

Lua scripting sounds interesting.

If you're referring to this article we've recently posted:
https://medium.com/@polywickstudio/storyserver-lua-integration-ae19cda9e3aa

There's more coming - machine-level variables, startup scripts, new task dialog support and more!

Dang, so lurking under that old-fashioned exterior is an interesting, new-fangled engine!

Yes, I'm skeptical - as should anyone be skeptical, given such limited information and a screenshot nearly identical to that of an old software program. I imagine many on this forum have been burned in the past, or at least disappointed, by out-of-nowhere developers promising neat stuff and expecting instant buy-in. I think it's important to be skeptical, even cynical; it's a good way to judge developers by how they reply to baseline queries posed by people disinclined to take it all on faith.

I'd say your announcement was premature and ill-advised, but I'm glad to reserve judgment while you prepare a better reveal, and I'd be interested in taking part in the beta, as well.

The history of Ecco replacements has been grim. From promises to release the original code, various independent developers having something "in the works," re-branding of the original product, add-ons to make Ecco more robust, to screenshots of an impending release. EccoExtension and InfoQube are notable exceptions. So with this history in mind, you can appreciate the skepticism.

Jon

Story Server Folders
Polywick Story Server implements a one-folder organizer system. Polywick’s developers made extra effort to emulate the old faithful folder system.
What’s a tree?

A tree is a grid hierarchy with columns. The first column has lines to show a hierarchy stemming from one main root (“My Computer”).

For more:
https://medium.com/@polywickstudio/story-server-folders-a90471c312ce

StoryServer Power Tools — Tray, Keys Lock, External Graphics, Favorites and Distraction-Free
Power-Tool — Show Tray

Sometimes, Explorer crashes and the favorite tray App becomes invisible, leaving the customer unable to access the invisible App. Fear no more. When this happens with StoryServer, you have a second App handy — PolywickStoryServerShow.exe.

Registry-Free
StoryServer does not use any registry-specific features. It writes all of it’s configuration data to the %APPDATA% folder.


For more info:
https://medium.com/@polywickstudio/storyserver-power-tools-show-tray-registry-free-and-automatic-usb-mode-5f3c832dc8d


Power Tools — Tray, Keys Lock and External Graphics

In StoryServer, in the Tools menu, Option is implemented as a Windowless Panel, that, if you take your mouse-focus or cursor-focus off the Window, it auto-saves and auto-closes itself.

For more info:
https://medium.com/@polywickstudio/storyserver-power-tools-show-tray-registry-free-and-automatic-usb-mode-5f3c832dc8d

Is there a beta available to download?

Polywick Studio wrote:

Sometimes, Explorer crashes and the favorite tray App becomes invisible,
leaving the customer unable to access the invisible App. Fear no more.
When this happens with StoryServer, you have a second App
handy — PolywickStoryServerShow.exe.

No clue what this means. If Explorer crashes - which it rarely does - just restart it.