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Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Michigan, USA

Greetings,

Is there a way to NOT wipe out all configurations when updating/upgrading PalmFiction? It is incredibly frustrating spending all the time needed to tweak it just right, only to have everything you've done be lost once you install an updated version. I am certainly less willing to continually update if I need to start from scratch each time!

Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 79 Location: Russia -> Moscow

There is no such way.

Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Michigan, USA

Thanks for the reply.

I am not trying to be critical, because I do like the program and can appreciate how much time and effort goes into it. But, I feel the inability to keep settings after updates seems to be a real detriment to the program. We all know the progam has many customizations. It is frustrating to redo these every time the program is updated. And, why even use other features of the program (categories, read status, etc) if they are wiped out every time there is an update? It doesn't make sense to me. I do not know what kind of target population the developers have for this program, but I am sure the general PalmOS user is going to feel it is not worth the time and effort to keep setting up preferences over and over. I consider myself a "power user," and I am beginning to feel that way myself.

Again, I am not trying to be critical; I am attempting to offer some constructive feedback to perhaps make the program better and more marketable. I know right now it is freeware, but PalmFiction is a top-notch doc reader, and I would have no reservations paying for it if it weren't free. I would not, however, pay for it if I had to start from scratch every time there was an update (which is how it is now).

Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 79 Location: Russia -> Moscow

1) IMHO, general PalmOS user doesn't often upgrade installed programs. Maybe most of users doesn't upgrade them at all.

2) Author state, that PalmFiction will remain freeware forever.

3) Each new version entoduces new capabilites and new options, sometimes a few of old tunings are not required anymore, because it replaced with more complicated... So every PalmFiction version uses its own format of preferences. Teaching PaFi to understand old formats is a big work, it can significantly complicate code. What do you prefer: more new capabilities, or easy upgrade?

At last, I havn't upgraded PaFi to 0.14, cause I am tired of setting up preferences again and again. 0.13 enough for me.

Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 5

Self Perfection, you answered your question yourself. You defend the decision to overwrite all preferences, but then say you're not bothering to upgrade because the extra effort of recreating them isn't worth it!

This *is* a great piece of software but there's more to gaining widespread support for a program than just coding. If this program is just for the developer's own benefit, then fine.

But Palmfiction won't get the recognition it deserves unless there's some thought given to other users as well. That means making sure they *don't* lose all their settings when they upgrade. That means making sure there's documentation in a language they understand -- which in today's world and for the widest possible audience, means English at least.

Like WildCelt, I'm not trying to denigrate the developers and others who have put this together. It's a smashing program. But without a little time off coding and thought for users, it is likely to remain a smashing, little-used program.

Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 79 Location: Russia -> Moscow

If making documentation and support of old preferences is so easy, why wouldn't you make this by youself? PalmFiction is OpenSource

Guest

Hey Guys, its in early beta and its free. Stop complaining and enjoy it or move on to another program.

Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 820

JustMe

PF isn't beta! As most of Open Source programs is always in development, but all numerical releases is stable.

Test (beta) versions often available for testers on forum, but no releases.

Guest

Sorry, I always thought that any software under version 1.X was still in beta. My bad.