PA - Preferred Skin ?

[Sir Richard]

Hi All,

Currently PowerArchiver 2011/12 hosts;

1 default Classic Toolbar and 20+ downloadable skins via website.

The user can also select 6 preinstalled Ribbon interfaces ranging from office 2007/10 with Black, Silver and Blue.

So significantly more classic old style than modern.

Do you as a PowerArchiver User prefer Ribbon or Classic?

[Luxor]

Just being curious but why is your thread titled "PA - Skin's Future"? when it's really just a poll asking which one we use.

[Sir Richard]

Originally Posted by Luxor

Just being curious but why is your thread titled "PA - Skin's Future"? when it's really just a poll asking which one we use.

Cheers, have updated.

I am just interested in what is the PA users favourite GUI.

[Luxor]

Originally Posted by Sir Richard

I am just interested in what is the PA users favourite GUI.

I got that.
That's what made me think it was a strange title.

[moles42]

I was a die-hard classic user for most of my PA days and defended it vigorously especially since I was an avid user of Marc A. Foumberg's skins but since the introduction of additional options in PA I feel the ribbon layout suits me better for ease of access...it took me a while to adapt but it won me over in the end.

[Luxor]

Very similar to my use Moles.

If I'm feeling rebellious I switch back to the classic skin.

[TBGBe]

Which should I opt for when over 90% of use is via shell extensions ??

I use main window only when configuring (options, profiles etc.)
Admittedly I prefer Modern for that - but only because of QAT (I'm lazy) - not for the skin.

[Sir Richard]

I like to clarify it further with you Luxor.. you know so your able to understand it.

[Luxor]

Ahem!

Originally Posted by Sir Richard

Miss title to be fair

Nothing wrong with my understanding.

[Sir Richard]

Originally Posted by Luxor

Ahem!

Nothing wrong with my understanding.

Looking into things and picking them apart to look clever . thanks Luxor

[Luxor]

Originally Posted by Sir Richard

Looking into things and picking them apart to look clever . thanks Luxor

Picking apart?

[TBGBe]

Yes, she's always fair, whenever she wins the title!

[Sir Richard]

Originally Posted by tbgbe

yes, she's always fair, whenever she wins the title!

[Luxor]

Very good Terry.

[Sir Richard]

Luxor you make me smile at times. Thats all that you need to know.

PS: Do you have your forum set to not show when your online?? because whenever you reply your forum light is on red. Yet at the bottom of the forum start page it says your currently online

[Luxor]

Originally Posted by Sir Richard

Luxor you make me smile at times. Thats all that you need to know.

Aw, shucks!

Originally Posted by Sir Richard

PS: Do you have your forum set to not show when your online?? because whenever you reply your forum light is on red. Yet at the bottom of the forum start page it says your currently online

Can't remember to be honest. <runs off to check>
Yes I'm Invisible. Ready to pounce from the shadows when required.

[Sir Richard]

Ahh gotcha! It just helps when i can see green because i know how soon i need to bother to reply to a message or how long to wait till i reply

If it wasnt for being on these forums for so many years and understanding how to check if your online without the green light im sure that "Pounce" would un nerve my slightly.

However, as you un nerve me anyway it doesnt really matter.

[Luxor]

Originally Posted by Sir Richard

If it wasnt for being on these forums for so many years and understanding how to check if your online without the green light im sure that "Pounce" would un nerve my slightly.

However, as you un nerve me anyway it doesnt really matter.

You're not the first to say that Richard.

[spwolf]

you know i was just about to post a poll on our Facebook page.

I feel that time has come for Modern interface to shine.
We simplified it in PA 2012 a bit yet made it more advanced :-).

Question is NOT what you guys like - you guys can change your setting anytime. Question is what average joe prefers - he gives PA one chance and does not know to change skins.

So will the new modern interface with no default preview but with Preview smart tab and color coding be too much? Or will it be easier to use than before?

[TBGBe]

Originally Posted by spwolf

So will the new modern interface with no default preview but with Preview smart tab and color coding be too much? Or will it be easier to use than before?

Notm sure what the smart tab is? Is that the coloured Preview beside the QAT? I just think that looks confusing.

Also shouldn't those zip files be coloured? Preview supports Zip.

[spwolf]

Originally Posted by TBGBe

Notm sure what the smart tab is? Is that the coloured Preview beside the QAT? I just think that looks confusing.

Also shouldn't those zip files be coloured? Preview supports Zip.

smart/conextual tab turn on based on what file you have opened and/or selected.

i have it in mind to add tools tab for instance as well, that would show tools applicable, used on that file you have opened.

[Micke]

Hi!

Originally Posted by spwolf

So will the new modern interface with no default preview but with Preview smart tab and color coding be too much? Or will it be easier to use than before?

Personally, it feels like the colors is way too much I it really doesn't help me at all when I look in the filelist of the Archive. There are too many different colors in the list and if I would have to choose between the clean white background of the filelist or the one you have with different colors, I would choose the clean white background.

If I have understand this correctly, the user will have the option of turning these colors off and use the white background instead and the question is if the colors should be turned on by default. I think it would be better if they where turned off by default. If you choose to have different colors in the filelist then I have a suggesion of how you could improve this.

Let the user have 3 different settings for the color coding of the filelist.

1) Same as you have in your screenshot with colors for filetype, maxsize, maxcompression etc.
2) No colors at all with white background (default settings)
3) User defined color coding of the list.

With user defined color coding, the user can choose to set a color for a specified filetype and then the whole row will have the same background color.

Example: If I choose to have all files in the archive that have the .xps fileextension set as lightblue, then the filelist will have white background for all the files except for the one that have this extension.



The filelist will be easier to read with only one color of each row instead of different colors in different columns of the same row

Kind Regards
Micke

[spwolf]

two very different sides to PA 2012 :-)

[spwolf]

p.s. Richard - our Classic works on any Windows OS and our Ribbon works on any Windows OS... you dont have to limit it to XP or Win7.

p.p.s. There are over 20 skins, 5 per page :P

[Sir Richard]

Originally Posted by spwolf

p.s. Richard - our Classic works on any Windows OS and our Ribbon works on any Windows OS... you dont have to limit it to XP or Win7.

p.p.s. There are over 20 skins, 5 per page :P

"SIGH" I wasnt reffering towards "compatibility" but visually styled... classic is like XP. and modern like vista, windows 7 & 8.

reference the skins.. do appologies.. i shall amend.
So we have more old style skins and significantly less modern.

2012 Looking Good

[Sir Richard]

I think the idea of a Smart Preview Tab is a good idea and concept! something that can be expanded on.

Also it is similar to Office when you select a file such as a picture a new Tab appear enabling you to alter the picture.

So you are keeping powerarchiver coherent with a international office application.

Thats good for business and home users too.

The question should be, if the user doesnt like the smart tab is it possible they can turn it off and switch to the old preview screen???

ow and to clarifiy before i get it in the neck from you guys "again" im not complaining.. i personaly am happy with a preview tab.. but until get to test the program in real life i cant say for sure. I am just asking a question and suggesting a possible solution.

[spwolf]

Originally Posted by Sir Richard

I think the idea of a Smart Preview Tab is a good idea and concept! something that can be expanded on.

Also it is similar to Office when you select a file such as a picture a new Tab appear enabling you to alter the picture.

So you are keeping powerarchiver coherent with a international office application.

Thats good for business and home users too.

The question should be, if the user doesnt like the smart tab is it possible they can turn it off and switch to the old preview screen???

ow and to clarifiy before i get it in the neck from you guys "again" im not complaining.. i personaly am happy with a preview tab.. but until get to test the program in real life i cant say for sure. I am just asking a question and suggesting a possible solution.

sure, you can leave preview always on... smart tab just give you bigger area to work with than that tiny toolbar we had on the top of preview...

so basically gives you easy access to preview when you need it and more screen space when you dont.

[spwolf]

as part of Win8, Windows Explorer will have similar contextual tabs that show up depending on what file we selected... it makes sense, very simple to use while keeping you with all the options.

[spwolf]

now the question was - is new PA 2012 interface with color coding too complicated looking at start to be default?

[Luxor]

Originally Posted by spwolf

now the question was - is new PA 2012 interface with color coding too complicated looking at start to be default?

Speaking for myself, no it doesn't look too complicated at all.