Tick Box for Data, Errors and Comms

[Randall75]

Hi Stu
 Could there be a tick box added so that it would not show the Good data, Comm Error, Sensor Errors, and Quality in the guage window like it does with Web tags
Since we have the status in tools menu where you can see it there
thanks
 

[WCDev]

Good point Randall!

[elagache]

Hi Randall, Stu and WeatherCat fans,

Could there be a tick box added so that it would not show the Good data, Comm Error, Sensor Errors, and Quality in the guage window

Hmm, with the WeatherCat Status Window - not only is that information redundant, but it is kind of a user-interface error.  The gauges window really should be just weather data. 

Would folks be really broken-hearted if Stu just removed the comms info on the Gauges window?  I know people can used to things and some folks may not want to have the status window open to save display real-estate.  However, every time we ask Stu for another option, it is work for him and makes the WeatherCat preferences more complicated.   Some folks have already griped about the complexity of the controls available on da' Cat. 

So, just a thought . . . .

Cheers, Edouard 

[UncleBuck]

I'm happy for it to go from the gauges window, in fact, I would like to see the gauges window dollied up a bit. 

[WCDev]

My intention is just to remove them unless someone comes up with a very good reason as to why they should stay.

As Edouard points out, I'm forever trying to avoid adding widgets to the UI - I see things users have to adjust as a failure of design. Sometimes you can't avoid them where there just has to be an option because there's no good sensible choice - a classic case we've just discussed recently is being able to choose a particular algorithm, but very often they aren't necessary. In WeatherCat you see maybe just 30% of the things I could have added to the UI were I afraid of annoying 1% of users, or simply couldn't be bothered to research what's the best sensible value or method of operation that a good 95% of users will be happy with and never think about.

Of course not offering options sometimes limits functionality. The way I get around this is to offer progressively expanding preferences (CWOP advanced, or additional FTP files for example) or by the ordering of tabs - for example the 'Advanced' tab of the preferences is on the far right of the preferences tabs (obviously rubbish for right to left readers but most of my customers are left to right readers).

It's a tough job 

[UncleBuck]

It's a tough job 

And a thankless one most of the time. I (and I'm sure many others) appreciate all the effort you guys put into this a program.
I worked in IT for 27 years and know that for every change we see there are MANY hours of investigations and planning and then MANY hours of coding and testing that go into it.

You guys do a brilliant job in keeping this running.

Col.

[Randall75]

Hi Cat Fans
 It was just a request did not mean to ruffle any ones fur if it happens fine if it doesn't I will still keep using WC like I have from the beginning no biggie
 

[WCDev]

No fur ruffled Randall  (I stood the cats down yesterday when we froze the 1.1.1 release - they're all on their well deserved Christmas holidays now ) You made a good point which then went on to a bit of discussion about UI - all good stuff 

[elagache]

Howdy Stu and WeatherCat fans, 

As Edouard points out, I'm forever trying to avoid adding widgets to the UI - I see things users have to adjust as a failure of design. Sometimes you can't avoid them where there just has to be an option because there's no good sensible choice - a classic case we've just discussed recently is being able to choose a particular algorithm, but very often they aren't necessary. In WeatherCat you see maybe just 30% of the things I could have added to the UI were I afraid of annoying 1% of users, or simply couldn't be bothered to research what's the best sensible value or method of operation that a good 95% of users will be happy with and never think about.

Certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness about this and your pragmatism Stu.  Weather monitoring isn't like a desktop where there are cultural expectations of what can and cannot be manipulated.  Your aesthetics Stu are as good as anybodies since after-all you have the combined passion for weather and software design.  By making such judgements you are not depriving us of choices, you are sparing us from chaos!!   

It's a tough job 

Certainly appreciate that Stu.  At least for me though, you have a very good sense of how to arrange things, so WeatherCat feels very comfortable to use.

Thanks for all the hard work!!

Cheers, Edouard