Sonny Software

First off, Bookends 10 seems like a great update to the program. Being able to view (almost) everything in the main window is the right direction for the program to take. I just had two minor points to ask about:

1. If I maximize the BE window and then quit, when I reopen the program, the window defaults to a very small size. Why can't it remember that it was maximized? It does remember other window sizes on exit (as long as it's not maximized).

2. (Really minor) The Preview.app icon for the attachments button at the bottom just doesn't work well with the other B/W icons. Does Adobe allow the use of their "spirograph" PDF symbol in other programs? That would look better. Maybe a pair of glasses (to "see" the PDF), or just the letters "PDF"? There must be something that would better match the other icons. (I told you it was minor!)

Thanks.

Doug

I would add to this the ability for the list view to "remember" the size of the formatted pane and the attachments pane separately.

When looking at the PDF, I have the pane quite large, about 2/3 of the window. By contrast, if I open the formatted pane, I only want about 2 lines at the bottom.

Again, very minor points

Bookends *does* remember the window size and status of all panes. Are you saying it doesn't for you?

Open the List View, make it the say you want, then close it. Reopen it. For me it opens to look just like it did when closed.

As for the pdf icon -- it's also for images and text files. But I don't disagree with you. I tried to fine a spirograph that looked good that small, but couldn't find one.

Anyone -- feel fee to contact me with images that can be used instead (height 23 pixels max, can't remember the width at the moment).

Jon
Sonny Software

Jon,

Bookends forgets the window size (and pane sizes) when you zoom or maximize the window to fill the whole screen, and then quit while the window is maximized like this. If the window isn't maximized with the zoom button then it does remember the window and pane sizes. BE9 had this problem as well.

And I'll keep an eye out for a good icon!

Doug

As for the pdf icon -- it's also for images and text files. But I don't disagree with you. I tried to fine a spirograph that looked good that small, but couldn't find one.

Perhaps a paperclip, since that's the symbol for attachments.


I agree with Danzac that it would be nice if the bottom pane were to remember its size separately for attachments and viewing the formatted citation. I have found myself dragging the divider up every time I switch to attachment view, and down every time I switch back to formatted view.

The reason we are all so picky, Jon, is that we live in Bookends. At least I do. So please forgive us if we make fussy suggestions about the arrangement of the new furniture.

Doug wrote:Bookends forgets the window size (and pane sizes) when you zoom or maximize the window to fill the whole screen, and then quit while the window is maximized like this. If the window isn't maximized with the zoom button then it does remember the window and pane sizes. BE9 had this problem as well.

But it does! I know I coded it, and I've tried it two or three times just now under different conditions, and it remembers just fine.

1. Open db with List View.
2. Maximize List View.
3. Command-Q
4. Relaunch Bookends -> window is maximized and panes arrayed as before.

If this doesn't work for you, please try it on a fresh db. If *that* doesn't work please contact me directly and we'll try to figure out the problem.

Jon
Sonny Software

nicka wrote:Perhaps a paperclip, since that's the symbol for attachments.

That's already used for opening the attachment pane (paper clip inside a rectangle, or document)

nicka wrote:I agree with Danzac that it would be nice if the bottom pane were to remember its size separately for attachments and viewing the formatted citation. I have found myself dragging the divider up every time I switch to attachment view, and down every time I switch back to formatted view.

Ah, that's different. Bookends remembers the size of the pane, not what was in it. Something to consider, but difficult to implement. If you had a large viewing pane, switched to formatted, resize the window to a small size, then went to attachment view it would be too small, and the window would have to expand (like a drawer), which is not how paned windows work (they "pop-in"). And I'll get more hate-mail about desecrating the UI (just kidding).

Jon
Sonny Software

Jon wrote: 1. Open db with List View.
2. Maximize List View.
3. Command-Q
4. Relaunch Bookends -> window is maximized and panes arrayed as before.

Jon, did the above with my regular database and with a new one, and in both cases, BE reopened with a tiny window instead of maximized. Sorry.

Doug

Jon wrote:

nicka wrote:Perhaps a paperclip, since that's the symbol for attachments.

That's already used for opening the attachment pane (paper clip inside a rectangle, or document)

How about spectacles or binoculars (or something to signify viewing)?

Doug

Doug wrote:Jon, did the above with my regular database and with a new one, and in both cases, BE reopened with a tiny window instead of maximized. Sorry.

Then I am at a loss. It must be something system-specific. Can you try another Mac, by any chance?

Jon
Sonny Software

Doug wrote: How about spectacles or binoculars (or something to signify viewing)

If you or anyone has a sample the right size, please send it along and I'll take a look (don't snitch the MS binoculars, which I find ugly).

Jon
Sonny Software

Jon wrote:Then I am at a loss. It must be something system-specific. Can you try another Mac, by any chance?

I can't, but I *am* on a new Mac. I just moved over (about a month ago) to a Macbook Pro, and this problem occurred with BE9 on my old Powerbook.

BTW, I deleted all my preferences just to be sure, and the problem still occurs.

Doug

The locations are saved in the database itself, not any preference file. Since I can't reproduce this there's not much I can say. You can send me your database and I'll try with that, if you like (zip it first, and tell me exactly what to do).

Jon
Sonny Software