Author Topic: More shortcut keys (Read 38125 times)

quark · « **on:** 24 Aug '03 - 19:16 »

I've looked around and read the FAQ, but I can't find anything about this, so here goes: It should be possible to control everything with shortcut keys.

I almost don't use the play-window because I use the keyboard to control XMPlay instead. What I miss, though, is to be able to open the play window and do other stuff with my keyboard. I hate using the mouse!

Is this possible already, and I'm just blind (or search-challenged), or isn't it possible at all? If not, I think this is a feature you should consider in future versions of XMPlay, especially as I don't think it costs much to implement it.

Thanks!

quark · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Aug '03 - 19:20 »

Also (off-topic, of course) I wonder if the playlist window is possible to dock like an ordinary window, not be "always on top" and be visible in the task bar (while XMPlay is not).

The reason for this is because I rarely have any use for the XMPlay window, but the playlist window is very useful. As I use keyboard much, it's now almost impossible to use the playlist window as it isn't an ordinary MS Windows window, but an internal modal(?) XMPlay-window.

Pike84 · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Aug '03 - 19:41 »

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What I miss, though, is to be able to open the play window and do other stuff with my keyboard

By "play window" do you mean the info window (where also the playlist is)? If this is the case, you can set any key from options dialog's 'hotkeys'-tab to open it. I think bringing up the main player window via keyboard command is not possible at the moment.. It's actually a bit surprising seeing as there has been a hotkey for opening the info window for quite some time

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I wonder if the playlist window is possible to dock like an ordinary window, not be "always on top" and be visible in the task bar (while XMPlay is not).

The info window doesn't act like an ordinary window, so you can't set it to be visible in the taskbar on its own. Anyway, as mentioned, you can bring up the playlist/info window by setting a hotkey for it. I'm not sure what you mean by "docking like an ordinary window" since normal Windows's windows aren't dockable whatsoever.. Docking of the info window to the main player part, has been suggested though, and I'm sure Ian can add that one some time

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quark · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Aug '03 - 20:17 »

I think that the main window should be possible to open via hotkeys. I know that the info window already is -- I use the hotkeys a lot.

What I meant about the "dockable playlist / info window" was that it should be dockable to the ends of the screen, but also that it should be an ordinary Windows window so it could be more managable.

I kinda mislead in saying "dock like an ordinary window". Sorry about that.

Pike84 · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Aug '03 - 22:40 »

Ok, I understand now. I agree for the most part, except perhaps the info window being a normal Windows window; wouldn't that affect its looks?

quark · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Aug '03 - 23:34 »

I don't see why it has to affect its looks. It can look and feel exactly like the XMPlay window, can't it? I just want to be able to use ALT + TAB to get to it in windows, as I don't like using the mouse more than necessary.

Pike84 · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Aug '03 - 00:05 »

Oh, I see.. What I first thought was that it would be just a window, whose looks you can set in Windows's 'Display Properties' under 'Appearance' tab. But your suggestion would actually require the info window to be a separate program, since ALT + TAB switches between different programs. I don't think that would be very sensible

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[edit]Well ok, ALT+TAB also switches between explorer windows, which aren't really separate programs, but that's about it

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Irrational86 · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Aug '03 - 04:57 »

Alt+TAB doesnt switch between programs, it switches between windows that have a Button in the taskbar. Which a program can have 200 windows and all of the with buttons in the taskbar, so its all in how Ian uses the CreateWindowEx or the CreateDialog (right?) function...

quark · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Aug '03 - 05:36 »

I see no problem with the info-window having a taskbar button, to be honest. Also, I'm kinda not a skin-loving freak, so if the info-window needs to have a plain look to be a seperate window, I'm all for it!

Pike84 · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Aug '03 - 15:30 »

Hmm, looks like I was a bit hasty in my replies

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Anyway, it's probably not so simple after all, because many users (me included) aren't happy with info window having a taskbar button. What would be the point in "Always in tray (no taskbar button)" then? Also, even though I'm not so concerned about the looks or so, it would seem a bit harsh to "ruin" the window's appearance, just to have a taskbar button for it (well, if it's required.. I'm no expert at these).

quark · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Aug '03 - 21:30 »

The info-window should of course have its own preferences regarding "show in system tray only" etc. When it comes to the looks of it, I can't see that it should matter if the window has it's own taskbar-button or not.

The whole point is really just to provide XMPlay with as much keyboard-navigation possibilities as feasable, of course without too much effort. Wherever keyboard-navigation can be embedded without hassle, it should be. Please.

Pike84 · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Aug '03 - 21:55 »

Well.. You can already bring up the info window via a hotkey, so adding a taskbar button for it wouldn't really add to navigating with keyboard, would it? If people still really want the taskbar button for the window, then I guess I don't have much against it, just as long as it doesn't has to have it, but would be only optional. Of course it's ultimately up to Ian.

quark · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Aug '03 - 23:59 »

If I open up the info window with a hotkey, it gets focus. When it looses focus (another window is clicked), I have to press the hotkey twice to first close it, and the reopen it for it to get focus. That's not optimal.

Instead, if the window had its own taskbar button, I could press ALT + TAB to switch from my other active windows to the info window, and it would get focus and everything would be like cuddly bears and pink clouds.

Pike84 · « **Reply #13 on:** 26 Aug '03 - 02:04 »

Not optimal :laugh:?? How much more time does this second press of the hotkey take of you? Probably less than pressing ALT+TAB once, because of the more complicated process requiring pressing of two separate buttons at once

. Oh, whatever.. This discussion is reaching the point where I couldn't care much less

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quark · « **Reply #14 on:** 26 Aug '03 - 05:56 »

Heh. Well, as I'm using two keys (CTRL + keypad ',') to open the info window (as well as for every other XMPlay hotkey-function), I still have to press two buttons, and then it's not "right" to close/open the window. The right thing to do is move the window into focus, and this is done with ALT + TAB.

Ian @ un4seen · « **Reply #15 on:** 26 Aug '03 - 15:31 »

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If I open up the info window with a hotkey, it gets focus. When it looses focus (another window is clicked), I have to press the hotkey twice to first close it, and the reopen it for it to get focus. That's not optimal.

If you're not using the main window anyway, you could just minimize XMPlay to the tray, and then use the info window hotkey when you want - when you do, it'll be on top.

Ralesk · « **Reply #16 on:** 26 Aug '03 - 17:43 »

Ian, could we get tooltips every time when we're in tray-only mode? I sometimes forget that I haven't minimised the program back, so it's practically buried under everything else, and then song changes are unseen ^^;

On another note, Rah', you made some icon, and I always forget to ask you about it, could I/we all have it again?

Pike84 · « **Reply #17 on:** 26 Aug '03 - 22:22 »

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Ian, could we get tooltips every time when we're in tray-only mode? I sometimes forget that I haven't minimised the program back, so it's practically buried under everything else, and then song changes are unseen ^^;

Good idea :idea:.

Zarggg · « **Reply #18 on:** 27 Aug '03 - 21:32 »

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Ian, could we get tooltips every time when we're in tray-only mode? I sometimes forget that I haven't minimised the program back, so it's practically buried under everything else, and then song changes are unseen ^^;

Don't you mean "un4seen"?

Ralesk · « **Reply #19 on:** 27 Aug '03 - 22:29 »

Only when you hotkey Random Track

quark · « **Reply #20 on:** 28 Aug '03 - 20:56 »

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If you're not using the main window anyway, you could just minimize XMPlay to the tray, and then use the info window hotkey when you want - when you do, it'll be on top.

Well, this kind of special navigation isn't very user friendly. Switching between windows should work universally in every program, e.g. with ALT + TAB. Hiding windows away like the info window is today leaves me pressing the info window hotkey two times to get the window focused, which isn't exactly optimal. :p

But, if you do as BoggyB tips you to:

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Define a set of WM_USER + x messages for controlling XMPlay from other applications. A possible use for them (off the top of my head) is to drive XMPlay with a gamepad by using a small VB prog to capture gamepad actions and send messages to XMPlay.

it would be possible to make plugins to XMPlay, which I then could make myself. My own homegrown info window would be just fine, if it's difficult to change the existing one to fit my needs.

Ian @ un4seen · « **Reply #21 on:** 28 Aug '03 - 23:18 »

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Well, this kind of special navigation isn't very user friendly. Switching between windows should work universally in every program, e.g. with ALT + TAB. Hiding windows away like the info window is today leaves me pressing the info window hotkey two times to get the window focused, which isn't exactly optimal. :p

You should not have to press the hotkey twice, as when XMPlay is minimized to tray, the info window should stay on top when opened. So it really isn't any more effort than pressing ALT+TAB... and you don't even have to press ALT+TAB multiple times to scroll through the list of running program either

quark · « **Reply #22 on:** 29 Aug '03 - 06:21 »

Well, Ian, the problem isn't wether the info window is visible or not, it's about focus. To get focus to the info window, I either have to use the mouse, or double-press the hotkey. It would be a better solution to be able to press ALT + TAB instead, that's all I'm saying.

ALT + TAB doesn't do anything good today as the info window doesn't have its own taskbar button.

Ralesk · « **Reply #23 on:** 30 Aug '03 - 12:23 »

Well, no.

if you have minimised the XMPlay, there will be NO info window. One time the global hotkey will bring the info window (guess, preferable a playlist) AND bring it in focus. You don't have to touch the mouse or anything. Do what you want in the window, press the hotkey again so it goes away (makes more sense when the xmplay is tray-minimised or in mini mode, thus, always on top), and then your previous program will get the focus back...

Tsorovan · « **Reply #24 on:** 30 Aug '03 - 22:31 »

I think you are all misunderstanding him.
He's got the info window visible, he's working in other programs. He wants info window focus without hitting the global hotkey twice (don't know why, because alt+tab would be much slower, but oh well...).