Comment File Editor - coded for fun

[Warp]

Hi all,
i wrote a small tool which may be useful to create comment files (Freeware with source code in Win32 assembler).

I like to ask you:
Do you find it useful to display an icon beside all displayed files ?
In that case the drawback is that loading a folder with a lot of files needs some time (seconds).
Also the RAM usage increases up to 8 MByte or more.
I like to say that for me the small icon option seems not to be very helpful.
I attach a screenshot of my program.
The program itself should be available in the next 10 days (current status: testing).

Just finished coding i noticed a simular program written by ledufe:
rejetto.com/forum/index.php?topic=3761.0

Running his program i realized that it is possible to include symbols inside a comment file.
So i add this option.


Now, my questions are:
Are there any other options available inside a comment file ?

@rejetto:
What do you think about a "Tools page" ?
For me it seems to be a good idea to place all available tools on one page (mp3ToIon, exiftool etc.).

@ledufe:
viva o Win32asm ... 



Warp



http:
//warp2001.dyndns.org:44792

[Ranger]

I think this could be a nice little tool. I personally use comment file's and I just do em one line at a time in one txt file.

Also a tools page is a great idea as well.

[Warp_]

Hi DNic41,

you wrote:
I personally use comment file's and I just do em one line at a time in one txt file.

Yes, i saw it in the wiki ...
Solved and included.


Warp

[ge2001]

Hi all,
here comes the first beta release of my HFS Comment Editor coded in Windows 32Bit assembler.
Imagine that this program is a beta, always backup your important files.
The program is freeware and tested under WinXP SP3, which is my OS.

I like to know if it works under Vista, 98 etc..
Feel free to report all Bugs.
Also your suggestions are welcome.


Short description:
------------------------------------------------
Select Folder   : Select the folder for which you like to create comments.
Symbols      : Select a symbol.
Insert Symbol   : Inserts the selected symbol into the text window at the cursor position.
Single Comment   : Create and save single comment files for every file in the selected folder.
Multiple Comment: Create and save comments in one textfile for all files in the selected folder.
Save Comment(s)   : Saves the comment(s). Depends on the selected mode ( Single / Multiple ).

If you toogle from Single Comment to Multiple Comment or vice versa the content of the
text window will be cleared and a comment file will be loaded if available.
For your pleasure you can paste the old content using the context menu (Right-Click inside the text window).

Selecting a file inside the file window in Single Comment mode loads the comment file.
In Multiple Comment mode a Right-Click inside the file window opens a popup menu with useful functions.
The target for all options is the text window at the cursor position.
In Single Comment mode you must save the comment before selecting another file.
For your pleasure you can paste the old content using the context menu (Right-Click inside the text window).

Before saving the new comment(s) the program creates a backup (.BAK).
After closing the program you should delete this *.BAK files.


Known limitations:
------------------------------------------------
Maximal comment size: ~63000 Bytes.
Clicking in a free area inside the file window hides the selection, which is still available but not visible.
I don't see a solution for this strange behavior.
There is another limitation, which i can't remember ...



@Rejetto:
What do you think about a "Tools page" ?
For me it seems to be a good idea to place all available tools on one page (mp3ToIon, exiftool etc.).
OK, i am a little bit bothersome. 




Warp

[r][m]

Warp
Thanks for sharing your work.
I tested on Win 98se.
The symbols list never appeared?

[Mark]

A Comment Editor is a nice touch.  However, IMHO, what good are all of those symbols?  The majority, if any, aren't used or needed in a file's comments.  

[ge2001]

Hi all,
thanks all for the response and for the bug report(s).

The Microsoft documentation says that the dropdown box should work on Win98.
So, i forgot to init the control. My fault.
The new version 0.21 beta should work on Win98.
Hey r][m, can you test it ?


Mark, take a look at my first post.
I'm not an expert using HFS, but starting a simular program from ledufe i realized
that it is possible to insert symbols inside a comment file.
So i include it.
I am not sure if there is any good reason for that ...
 




Warp

[r][m]

Warp
Tested your new ver 0.21 on win98se.
It worked fine. Symbols list was there. I can see how this will be
useful, and a time saver.

Could there be any way to select whether the .bak is generated or not?
I have to delete those, but they might be useful to someone else.

Would it be possible to make it so that we could
add our own things to the symbols list? Sort of
customize it to our own needs?

[ge2001]

Hi again,
i will add a checkbox to enable/disable the *.BAK option in the next release.
In this world everything is possible, any idea ? 
Maybe loading a (text-)file with individual options ...
 

Warp

[Ranger]

Ok finally figured out how to use it. Still have to manually enter the "=" sign after you insert the file and before you enter the comment.

I'm not sure how to use the symbol section however, how do I use those?

[r][m]

Maybe loading a (text-)file with individual options ...

That could work, maybe have it so we could edit out the symbols
we'd never use and add things like =80's Music, or some such, that
we might use repeatedly.

I'm not sure how to use the symbol section however, how do I use those?

Maybe like =Added to Server on %timestamp%. Experiment ! 

[ge2001]

Hi,
as i wrote before i'm not an expert using HFS ...

Using a symbol seems to be easy:
Place the cursor in the text window where you like to insert the symbol.
Select a symbol for example %timestamp% and press the "Insert Symbol" button.
Then you will see time and date inside HFS.
No "=" char needed.
As discussed before, i am not sure if there is any good reason for symbols inside a comment file ...
Maybe a power user could tell us any good reason.

If everybody agree I can add the "=" char while inserting the filename, ok ?

Yes, it is also possible to enable "in Place editing" the items in the drop down box,
but i prefer the option to insert new items.
The advantage is that the list can grow and the symbols remain untouched.
In that case the list must be loaded/saved on program start/program exit.
For me, as the programmer, it is much more easy to load all dropdown items from an extra text file.
I will think about a user friendly solution.
Anyway that option needs some time to code.
 

Warp

Yust got an idea.
Displaying a second dropdown box with custom items ...

[Ranger]

I'm not sure how to use the symbol section however, how do I use those?

Maybe like =Added to Server on %timestamp%. Experiment ! 

Ok I see how it used now, thanks.

[ge2001]

Hi,
here comes HFS Comment Editor 0.22 beta.

What's new:
Added the "=" char behind the filename while inserting the filename.
Checkbox to enable/disable the backup old comment file option.

The beta release messagebox at program start will be removed in the final version.



Warp

[r][m]

Checkbox to enable/disable .bak works here.
Didn't test them all, but I find that many symbols don't work in comments.
Many only work in specific [sections] of the template.

Still think a list that the user could edit to build their own
frequently used comments, with or without symbols would be
more useful.