Favourite Effects Menu

[SAND33P]

I think i remember spotting something of the like somewhere around the forums, where there is another sub menu, like 'Artistic' or 'Blurs'. One that is called 'Favourites' and you can choose your favourite plugins to put into it in the Effects folder in program files? Any way to do this?

(Maybe in PDN 4 a way of doing this in the software, maybe right click on the effect to Uninstall, Add To Favourites etc)

^Pretty good idea :O

[Ego Eram Reputo]

The plugin author hard codes the location of the plugin, so I don't think this can be done (unless Rick has some trickery up his sleeve).

[BoltBait]

I deal with the overload of available plugins by simply not installing EVERY SINGLE PLUGIN EVAR!

[avim1968]

I deal with the overload of available plugins by simply not installing EVERY SINGLE PLUGIN EVAR!

I think i remember spotting something of the like somewhere around the forums, where there is another sub menu, like 'Artistic' or 'Blurs'. One that is called 'Favourites' and you can choose your favourite plugins to put into it in the Effects folder in program files? Any way to do this?

(Maybe in PDN 4 a way of doing this in the software, maybe right click on the effect to Uninstall, Add To Favourites etc)

^Pretty good idea :O

Hi SAND33P / BoltBait

I too think that such "Favorites" sub menu should be a part of the main effects menu even on the top.

I know we already had a desiccation about this subject few months ago, I asked for this feature also. (i can't find that topic ? )

this is not a problem of too much plugins installed, but more of an easy way to get to your Favorite plugin

faster then search for it on the menu.

like the plugins you use most would be there.

Rick and Ego provided the keyboard short cut keys as an answer, which does not work all the time since there are many

plugins with the same start letter. :-(

also the menu location is coded into the plugin and Rick (i think it was him) said that it would need to add code to support it

from elsewhere (if at all) and he is currently working on 4.0 and would deal with plugins in 4.x .

I can also add an out of the box idea that might make it , with Rick ;-) (i guess 4.x)

sort the plugin menu items , via their last usage.

meaning that the more we use a plugin effect, the closer it would be to the top of the effects menu.

saving us the time to search for it all the time.

what do you think ?

Avi

Edited December 4, 2012 by avim1968

[BoltBait]

OK, here's a solution for you: Create your own favorites menu.

You can do this for any plugin where the source code has been published. Simply recompile the plugin using CodeLab and specify "!Favorites" or "~Favorites" as your menu.

(Using "!" puts Favorites at the top of the list and "~" would put it at the bottom as the list is alphabetized.)

By giving it a unique DLL filename, you can run both copies of the plugin (original menu and favorites menu).

[Rick Brewster]

(Maybe in PDN 4 a way of doing this in the software, maybe right click on the effect to Uninstall, Add To Favourites etc)

Nope, sorry, not happening.

[avim1968]

OK, here's a solution for you: Create your own favorites menu.

You can do this for any plugin where the source code has been published. Simply recompile the plugin using CodeLab and specify "!Favorites" or "~Favorites" as your menu.

(Using "!" puts Favorites at the top of the list and "~" would put it at the bottom as the list is alphabetized.)

By giving it a unique DLL filename, you can run both copies of the plugin (original menu and favorites menu).

Hi bolt

Nice idea, i never thought of recompiling/changing the plugin code.

However I do want to take your idea a step forward , and maybe have a new standard added to plugin

coders and have then add a 2nd version of their plugin (only if they want) that would be under

a sub menu called "favorites".

this way people who use their plugin allot would be able to install the 2nd version that goes under the

"favorites" sub menu, and all others can use the regular version under the plugin menu.

I'm going to implement this and have two versions in the plugin i'm currently working on.

I think this would solve this issue where all sides are winners :-)

what do you think ?

Avi

[SAND33P]

Hi bolt

Nice idea, i never thought of recompiling/changing the plugin code.

However I do want to take your idea a step forward , and maybe have a new standard added to plugin

coders and have then add a 2nd version of their plugin (only if they want) that would be under

a sub menu called "favorites".

this way people who use their plugin allot would be able to install the 2nd version that goes under the

"favorites" sub menu, and all others can use the regular version under the plugin menu.

I'm going to implement this and have two versions in the plugin i'm currently working on.

I think this would solve this issue where all sides are winners :-)

what do you think ?

Avi

I reckon that would probably be the easiest way for it to happen, as a standard. Of course having users manually do it is probably simpler as a idea, but most of us are terribly frightened of the words 'code' (not me, but you get the idea).

[Ego Eram Reputo]

I don't like the idea of multiple locations for plugins. It leads to this:

Newb: "Hi. I'm new. I downloaded EER's UltraCool plugin and installed it. Now I can't find it."

NearExpert: "It's in the Effects > Pizza submenu"

Newb: "No it isn't".

EER: "Check which version you installed. It's either in the Effects > Pizza submenu or the Effects > FtangFtangOleBiscuitBarrel submenu."

Repeat this conversation for every effect in every tutorial

[Ego Eram Reputo]

Rick and Ego provided the keyboard short cut keys as an answer, which does not work all the time since there are many

plugins with the same start letter. :-(

The letter key can be repeated to cycle through each of multiple plugins in the submenu.

EG

Alt (C,R) enter or right arrow opens the Effects > Render submenu. And now

Mx1 = Mandelbrot Fractal

Mx2 = Multicolor Gradient

Mx3 = Mandelbrot Fractal

Mx4 = Multicolor Gradient

etc...

Enter starts the highlighted plugin.

[avim1968]

I don't like the idea of multiple locations for plugins. It leads to this:

Newb: "Hi. I'm new. I downloaded EER's UltraCool plugin and installed it. Now I can't find it."

NearExpert: "It's in the Effects > Pizza submenu"

Newb: "No it isn't".

EER: "Check which version you installed. It's either in the Effects > Pizza submenu or the Effects > FtangFtangOleBiscuitBarrel submenu."

Repeat this conversation for every effect in every tutorial

Hi Ego

In which language " FtangFtangOleBiscuitBarrel" = "Favorites" ?? :-) :-)

there would be only TWO options to look in under the effect menu.

​ether the normal/regular plugin location OR under Effects -> "Favorites".

so your UltraCool plugin can be under the main Effects menu -> Pizza OR under Effects -> "Favorites" -> Pizza.

and no other place .

Also if a one writes/wrote a tutorial it can add at the top a remark that that if you installed the regular plugin use

the normal menu and if you installed the "Favorites" version the plugin would under the "Favorites" sub menu.

no need to make so many changes in the tutorials.

I also think (as SAND33P) that there are people that don't know how to "code" so it should be up to the original coder

if its a non public code to add that "Favorites" option. and if its an open code, then the 1st person

who adds the "Favorites" to the public code would also add a link to it .

Its not a big deal and it would help many of the users here.

Avi

Edited December 5, 2012 by avim1968

[avim1968]

The letter key can be repeated to cycle through each of multiple plugins in the submenu.

EG

Alt (C,R) enter or right arrow opens the Effects > Render submenu. And now

Mx1 = Mandelbrot Fractal

Mx2 = Multicolor Gradient

Mx3 = Mandelbrot Fractal

Mx4 = Multicolor Gradient

etc...

Enter starts the highlighted plugin.

Hi Ego

Yes I know this and use it :-)

but still its too much keys and if you click one more then needed you must

use the mouse or arrows to fix. all this key pressing kind of takes the idea of "fast shortcuts" away :-(

why not make it easy for people and narrow the number of multiple/menus and clicks needed

to reach your UltraCool Pizza plugin :-)

Avi

Edited December 5, 2012 by avim1968

[jim100361]

However I do want to take your idea a step forward , and maybe have a new standard added to plugin

coders and have then add a 2nd version of their plugin (only if they want) that would be under

a sub menu called "favorites".

this way people who use their plugin allot would be able to install the 2nd version that goes under the

"favorites" sub menu, and all others can use the regular version under the plugin menu.

First, if you suggest that coders do this "only if they want", then what about the folks who still want to put it into a favorites submenu but can't because the coder didn't change the code?

Second, let's assume that everybody re-codes (for the sake of argument), how many tutorials will also need to be re-written? When I've written tutorials I've intentionally provided screenshots to show the menu paths of where to find the plugin as the reader is following along. Certainly on my end all I'd have to do is to add a note at the beginning of the tutorial that if a reader installed the "favorites" version then all they need to do is go to their "favorites" sub-menu. But I would submit that for a newbie who is involved in a tutorial flipping back and forth between the tutorial and Paint.NET, it would be confusing. And what about tutorials that have been written, but the original author no longer frequents these forums and/or maybe have one posted offsite?

There are a lot of issues to consider and I think as much as you think it will simplify things, I think the reverse will more likely be the result. You may disagree with this, but look at how much folks are already trying to do as little as possible and still expect that the program is going to do everything for them. People aren't interested in the basics, everything needs to covered by a plugin or some "quick" way to accomplish something. Likewise, you're just throwing another something into the cogs for folks to consider rather than simply moving forward with what lies ahead.

...just my simple opinion - I'm not trying to be condescending or insulting, I'm just expressing to look at everything and human nature. People want to simply move on and don't want confusion which I think this is going to do.

[SAND33P]

Maybe a program that has a file browser in it, you browse for your plugin, and it works the codeylicious magic, making it into a favourite plugin? Which you then copy back to your Effects folder. Easier said than done i know, but im pretty sure that can be done?

In any case i am going to go delete some plugins now, i have far too many that i don't think even work

[midora]

It would be possible to write a plugin which enumerates the installed plugins (like pyros scriptlab).

So there may be a Favorites plugin in Advanced folder which shows a list of favorites.

Double clicking of an entry would execute the selected plugin.

Add and delete buttons could expand or shrink the list.

[avim1968]

First, if you suggest that coders do this "only if they want", then what about the folks who still want to put it into a favorites submenu but can't because the coder didn't change the code?

Second, let's assume that everybody re-codes (for the sake of argument), how many tutorials will also need to be re-written? When I've written tutorials I've intentionally provided screenshots to show the menu paths of where to find the plugin as the reader is following along. Certainly on my end all I'd have to do is to add a note at the beginning of the tutorial that if a reader installed the "favorites" version then all they need to do is go to their "favorites" sub-menu. But I would submit that for a newbie who is involved in a tutorial flipping back and forth between the tutorial and Paint.NET, it would be confusing. And what about tutorials that have been written, but the original author no longer frequents these forums and/or maybe have one posted offsite?

There are a lot of issues to consider and I think as much as you think it will simplify things, I think the reverse will more likely be the result. You may disagree with this, but look at how much folks are already trying to do as little as possible and still expect that the program is going to do everything for them. People aren't interested in the basics, everything needs to covered by a plugin or some "quick" way to accomplish something. Likewise, you're just throwing another something into the cogs for folks to consider rather than simply moving forward with what lies ahead.

...just my simple opinion - I'm not trying to be condescending or insulting, I'm just expressing to look at everything and human nature. People want to simply move on and don't want confusion which I think this is going to do.

Hi Jim

NO insult taken :-) and never from some one like you or others here in the forum!

I don't agree with what you wrote about the tutorials, I think you made it bigger deal from what it is.

and i'll tell you why.

1. we are talking about a very simple change , even a newbie would make the connections

look under "favorites" sub-menu, its not like going to long unknown sub sub menus.

people can make the small adjustment.. and some time pointing them there would be

just as good.

2. I have written many tutorials and guides and manuals in my life time, both software and hardware

and others. do you think that I or any one else rewrote all those papers since a new version came out

or a new and better way to do something or new instructions from the factory or developers ?

well I NEVER did , all that we have done was add a paper in the begining of the paper

saying what is new, what are the changes that need to be taken from now, what are the new

program tools added , what are the menu changes etc...

I can tell you that i Never got any complain back about this.

so such a small change of where to look for a plugin should not be beyond the reach of any one

and wont be so confusing as you say :-)

even if you look thru this forum you would see changes are made all the time and people coop with it :-)

and would get the idea after the first time they ask the question here in the forum.

This change would make peoples work simple and much faster.

No one would push coders to make changes to their plugins "right now" or at all.

just like you get some new things in new versions/release of software.

New changes takes time to make their way into the main stream .....

Avi

Edited December 6, 2012 by avim1968