Revised Slider skin with a Launcher Region

[jhollin1138]

ihenry & JTod,

I am currently tweaking my already tweaked slider skin.  One of the things I am doing is trying to take better advantage of v0.10.1.  Since the two of you seem to use my skin, is there anything you would like me to add, adjust or include?  (Obviously, anyone else can make a request as well.)

BTW, I have fixed the scrollbar from showing up if the system information region is hidden.  I will release it fixed, after I am done tweaking.

[ihenry]

Hi,

Thanks for the bug fixes - the skins is working great and yeah there were a couple of things - now you mention it
Only some simple things that other skins (Logika) have...

1. More RSS feeds 10 perhaps? With the final one display 3 columns of stock quotes
2. A Page counter too would be handy
3. A Last Refresh date / time

Thanks again,
Ian.

[jhollin1138]

1. More RSS feeds 10 perhaps? With the final one display 3 columns of stock quotes

The first part is easy with v0.10.1 since it allows you to set a variable to represent the number RSS.  The skin just needs to recognize the variable.  If you would like 10 feeds, you will just set the variable to the number of feeds you would like.  This is one of the reasons I am Re tweaking the skin.

The second part is a little tougher since I will have to generate a special set-up for a single feed to just display stocks.  It will work fine with an "if, then, else" statement.  The problem is the skin will have to know which RSS to use to display stocks.  So if I set the skin up to display RSS 10 for stocks, and you use RSS 9, it will display the wrong thing.  There might be another way, let me think about it.

2. A Page counter too would be handy

Not a problem, I will add something.

3. A Last Refresh date / time

Not sure how to do this one, I am sure there is a way.  I'll figure it.  Hey, everybody wants a challenge.  

[JTod]

jhollin,

Thanks for asking.  The skin actually meets my needs at the moment.  I keeping thinking about it.  Nice job with your skin.

JTod

[jhollin1138]

Thanks for asking.  The skin actually meets my needs at the moment.  I keeping thinking about it.  Nice job with your skin.

Thanks, I have always been one of those that can't leave well enough alone.  My wife is really beginning to hate TodayPlus.  I think I have been spending to much time tweaking the slider skin and not enough time talking to her.

[JTod]

jhollin,

My wife has the same concern.  She initially thought TodayPlus was really cool.  Now, she remarks "are you messing with that thing again."  It is kind of funny actually.

Anyway, I came up with an idea for your skin.  This is a similar concept as some other skins, but some of the ther implementations of this seem too cluttered.

Thoughts?

John

[jhollin1138]

I was already thinking about having a calendar displayed.  I was thinking of having the owner information displayed next to it.

One of the things I am always trying to do is maximize some of the space available for POOM.  I might actually have the region that is currently displaying the weather information.  During a reset, the owner/calendar is displayed.  Along with POOM, System information and the Launcher region.  Selecting weather, RSS or time will simply replace the owner/calendar section and will display in the same region.

How does that sound?

[JTod]

Sounds cool.  I like having as much space available for POOM as well.  Not crazy about having the owner info displayed, but I'd like to see the skin before making a judgment.  Skin away jhollin.  Looking forward to it!

Thanks - JTod

[jhollin1138]

If not the owner information, then what would you like to see?

I guess I could steal a page from Blazingwolf's Calendar skin and put the "icon controls" there, but I rather be able to "turn-off" the calendar to get a little more POOM area.  I could put the current weather and time and "icon controls" there like Lordtwisted's skin, but I have the same problem.  Maybe I will just put a picture of my daughter there and not you change it.  

[ihenry]

I too like the Calendar+ skin, but without the ability to turn the calendar off you do lose a large part of a small screen.  So having a calendar button could be useful.

I don't see Owner info as being important either - I think we all know our own names!  And there are much more interesting things that could be populated on our today screen.

The POOM space & format is crucial which is the main reason I use this skin too.  The Calendar / Task Info, perhaps could be altered to have tasks as a seperate button?

I think have all the clock info in the config would be better - so make the local one defined there - makes upgrading skin / TP+ easier.

Does anyone know if upgrading to 10.2 causing any problems / requires any chances to your tweaked skin?

[jhollin1138]

Does anyone know if upgrading to 10.2 causing any problems / requires any chances to your tweaked skin?

The last skin update should run fine under v0.10.2.  I am currently running my tweaked skin and v0.10.2.  Are you having a problem?

[jhollin1138]

Well I was thinking about what to do with the space next the calendar.  I think I have idea; I will base the layout on Lordtwisted's skin.  I am going to put current weather information and a clock to display a clock of your choice (maybe arrow right and left to change which clock is displayed).

As far as clocks go, I am going to going to do something similar to RSS feeds and allow you to advance to the next set of clocks.

Now I just need to stop packing the house for a move, and find the time.  If not before, I probably have time around Christmas shutdown.

[JTod]

Sounds good Jim.  One other option could be to inclujde a few system monitors under the date as illustrated below.  I personally think having a separate system monitors section is overkill and takes away from POOM.  Just a thought.  I look forward to whatever you come up with.  Good luck with your move.

JTod

[ihenry]

Just upgraded to TP+ 10.2 and now I've got a scoll bar appearing when I select my agenda.  Has anyone else noticed this?  

Other posts suggest it is releated to the skin???

[jhollin1138]

Just upgraded to TP+ 10.2 and now I've got a scoll bar appearing when I select my agenda.  Has anyone else noticed this?

I am not seeing scrollbars.  Here is a capture.

Edit: Removed attached image!