Hi,
A Spread automatically "sizes" the Deck to that specified in the Spread and then deals the cards.
How about if it also MOVED the Deck to a Specified position as well?
If the Spread contains a lot of cards, space may be at a premium and it makes sense to have a specific position for the Deck.
A Spread may include some symbolism for the position of the cards on the screen.
N, S, E & W
Up and Down as Heaven, Humans, Earth and Underworld (Subconscious, Undesirable, Death etc)
Left and Right as Start and End
Left and Right as Sunrise and Sunset (the opposite of the above)
Left and Right with the Chinese Cultural Symbolism : Right as the Start, Left as End (which matches the Sun better!)
It's undesirable to tamper with these symbolisms! So a Standard/Universal position for the Deck is not really possible. However it's also undesirable to have the Deck covered up by, or "enmeshed" in with the Dealt Cards.
Therefore it would be nice if each Spread could define the Ideal Position for that Spread and Symbolic System.
If you have time before the final version is released???...
If not then prehaps sometime else...
Regards
Greg the Yeti
You might reply that I should use the "Parked Position".
Yes, except, the Deck does not have exactly the same functionality in "Parked Mode". You can Deal a Spread with a right click. You can Shuffle, but with the new Continuous Shuffle, you have to Click on the Deck to Stop it. In Parked Mode that "Un-Parks" it. That's anoying! So I've tend not to use Parked Mode.
If Parked Mode had full, Identical, Deck Functionality and to "Get Out of Prison" you had to do something other than a single left click (perhaps a Keyboard Shortcut - Ctrl + F, for "Free", perhaps?) Or is that one already taken? Perhaps a "Get Out of Prison" option on the Right Click Menu?
An Enhancement for Spreads
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Greg the Yeti
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Greg the Yeti
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Re: An Enhancement for Spreads
I note another, behaviour of the Deck when Parked.
With the Shuffle if you leave it shuffling and press Spacebar, only the first time will the shuffle continue. The second time the Spacebar doesn't draw, it stops the shuffle instead.
Since I'm hoping that you will enable "Spacebar-Loading" of Spreads, (cf other recent theme of Shuffles) that's no good, and this would also point me towards not using the "Parked Deck".
Regards
Greg the Yeti
With the Shuffle if you leave it shuffling and press Spacebar, only the first time will the shuffle continue. The second time the Spacebar doesn't draw, it stops the shuffle instead.
Since I'm hoping that you will enable "Spacebar-Loading" of Spreads, (cf other recent theme of Shuffles) that's no good, and this would also point me towards not using the "Parked Deck".
Regards
Greg the Yeti
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Re: An Enhancement for Spreads
I don´t think I have the time now to make a change to the spread format. I should be able to tweak the behaviour of the parked deck though. So, first of all, when the deck is parked and it is shuffling a single click should stop the shuffling and nothing else. If it is not shuffling it launches the deck again. If I did that would anything still be missing from what you can do with the deck while parked?
Regarding the "Spacebar-Loading" of Spreads, could you briefly go over that again? I thought from what you said before that you were talking about laying out a spread where you already knew which card you wanted in which position, but that is already covered if you deal the spread in Free Selection Mode.
Regarding the "Spacebar-Loading" of Spreads, could you briefly go over that again? I thought from what you said before that you were talking about laying out a spread where you already knew which card you wanted in which position, but that is already covered if you deal the spread in Free Selection Mode.
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Greg the Yeti
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Re: An Enhancement for Spreads
Regarding "Spacebar Loading" of a Spread.
No, nothing to do with already knowing the Cards - Indeed the polar opposite, it's supposed to be a new, better, more random method of getting your cards.
It relies on the enhancement you have recently done which allows the shuffle to continue - until you stop it. (I love this by the way!)
I noticed that pressing the Spacebar dealt a card, but did not stop the Shuffle. My suggestion was simply that this was a new way of getting user interaction into that random selection of the card, thus offsetting any deficiency in the Computer "Randomizing" Algorithm.
It works "As Is" already, if you are prepared to construct your Spread Manually!
My next suggestion, which I described as "Spacebar Loading" of the Spread, takes that the logical next step and allows you to select a Spread without stopping the Shuffle, then for the Spacebar Presses to feed those cards directly into the Spread, one at a time.
1) Programmer has enabled "Continuous Shuffle" - Brill!
2) User Selects Deck
3) User Starts Shuffle (perhaps with "seed" if they like)
4) User Selects Spread (Currently this will stop the Shuffle - THIS needs changing)
5) User presses the Spacebar the number of times required by the Spread (this also needs some reminder to the user - I suggested that a "Flipping Card Windows Waiting Icon" should be enough)
6) The Cards feed directly into the Spread and are displayed on the Background in the correct position defined by the Spread. (With hopefully no intervening Dialogue Box!)
RESULT:
On top of the Computer "Randomizing Algorithm", the user can use a question as "Seed", and then can allow the shuffle to continue as long as they "Feel" is necessary. The individual Spacebar Presses then give each card an individualized "User Defined" extra Randomizing. That's three Randomizing factors for each card. The fact that the timing of the Spacebar Press would give each Card a different "Third Factor" would be a Killer Feature, making it possibly the best option to use for Shuffling.
It should also be pretty intuitive to use and very obvious to the user that it's an improved Shuffling Method! It should feel almost like actually Dealing the Cards!!!
I hope this clarifies any remaining ambiguity!
Regards Greg the Yeti
P.S. As a person who is fairly obsessive, I'm currently using an extra, that I didn't mention above (so as not to add further ambiguity!).
I start my "Shuffling Sequence" with a "New Random Deck", using Ctrl+Shift+R. This I use simply as the starting point for a seeded shuffle, i.e. I don't start with a "Deck in Order" but with a thoroughly "Purified" Deck. However relying on any one Computer Randomizing Method is probably not going to satisfy the real purists among us. Having two computer inputs and two user inputs to the Shuffle would sure feel convincing to me...
No, nothing to do with already knowing the Cards - Indeed the polar opposite, it's supposed to be a new, better, more random method of getting your cards.
It relies on the enhancement you have recently done which allows the shuffle to continue - until you stop it. (I love this by the way!)
I noticed that pressing the Spacebar dealt a card, but did not stop the Shuffle. My suggestion was simply that this was a new way of getting user interaction into that random selection of the card, thus offsetting any deficiency in the Computer "Randomizing" Algorithm.
It works "As Is" already, if you are prepared to construct your Spread Manually!
My next suggestion, which I described as "Spacebar Loading" of the Spread, takes that the logical next step and allows you to select a Spread without stopping the Shuffle, then for the Spacebar Presses to feed those cards directly into the Spread, one at a time.
1) Programmer has enabled "Continuous Shuffle" - Brill!
2) User Selects Deck
3) User Starts Shuffle (perhaps with "seed" if they like)
4) User Selects Spread (Currently this will stop the Shuffle - THIS needs changing)
5) User presses the Spacebar the number of times required by the Spread (this also needs some reminder to the user - I suggested that a "Flipping Card Windows Waiting Icon" should be enough)
6) The Cards feed directly into the Spread and are displayed on the Background in the correct position defined by the Spread. (With hopefully no intervening Dialogue Box!)
RESULT:
On top of the Computer "Randomizing Algorithm", the user can use a question as "Seed", and then can allow the shuffle to continue as long as they "Feel" is necessary. The individual Spacebar Presses then give each card an individualized "User Defined" extra Randomizing. That's three Randomizing factors for each card. The fact that the timing of the Spacebar Press would give each Card a different "Third Factor" would be a Killer Feature, making it possibly the best option to use for Shuffling.
It should also be pretty intuitive to use and very obvious to the user that it's an improved Shuffling Method! It should feel almost like actually Dealing the Cards!!!
I hope this clarifies any remaining ambiguity!
Regards Greg the Yeti
P.S. As a person who is fairly obsessive, I'm currently using an extra, that I didn't mention above (so as not to add further ambiguity!).
I start my "Shuffling Sequence" with a "New Random Deck", using Ctrl+Shift+R. This I use simply as the starting point for a seeded shuffle, i.e. I don't start with a "Deck in Order" but with a thoroughly "Purified" Deck. However relying on any one Computer Randomizing Method is probably not going to satisfy the real purists among us. Having two computer inputs and two user inputs to the Shuffle would sure feel convincing to me...
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Greg the Yeti
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Re: An Enhancement for Spreads
Instead of the "Flipping Card Windows Waiting Icon" mentioned above, perhaps you could display on the Background a hollow outline of each Card Position in the Spread, replaced one by one with the Cards Drawn by the Spacebar.
Now yes, i know that might sound very much alike the "Dialogue Box" Method. But it would be just better not to have a Windowed Dialogue Box if at all possible. (I hate unnecessary "pop ups" as I've said elsewhere!)
Regards Greg the Yeti
Now yes, i know that might sound very much alike the "Dialogue Box" Method. But it would be just better not to have a Windowed Dialogue Box if at all possible. (I hate unnecessary "pop ups" as I've said elsewhere!)
Regards Greg the Yeti
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Greg the Yeti
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Re: An Enhancement for Spreads
Hi,
sorry I hadn't responded to your direct question about the Parked Deck. I had to think about it a bit...
While I think it is perhaps not the most consistent behaviour, what you mention above would be ALMOST enough to convince me to use the Parked Deck.
Your Suggestion:
Double Click: Parks the Deck
Single Click during Shuffle: Stops the Shuffle
Single Click not during a Shuffle: Releases the Deck from the "Prison"
Remaining "Bad" Behaviour: - Spacebar doesn't do the magical dealing of all the cards you want, while the shuffle continues. The second press of Spacebar (in the Dock) currently stops the shuffle.
A More Consistent alternative:
Double Click: Parks the Deck
Double Click: Un-Parks the Deck
All other behaviour identical to Un-Parked Deck
I can see how other users, having got used to the inconsistent "Double and Single" approach wouldn't like my suggestion. So I'm happy to go along with what you suggest:- IF you can get that magical Space Bar behaviour the same!
I see the "SpaceBar Loading of a Spread from the Continous Shuffle" to be such an "AAA" future development that it would be good to ensure that the SpaceBar behaviour of both is the same.
Regards
Greg the Yeti
Note:- While your suggestion keeps other users happy, I'm fairly sure it's the option with more work for you and with more possibility of "getting broke" and causing future problems for you! C'est la Vie!
sorry I hadn't responded to your direct question about the Parked Deck. I had to think about it a bit...
While I think it is perhaps not the most consistent behaviour, what you mention above would be ALMOST enough to convince me to use the Parked Deck.
Your Suggestion:
Double Click: Parks the Deck
Single Click during Shuffle: Stops the Shuffle
Single Click not during a Shuffle: Releases the Deck from the "Prison"
Remaining "Bad" Behaviour: - Spacebar doesn't do the magical dealing of all the cards you want, while the shuffle continues. The second press of Spacebar (in the Dock) currently stops the shuffle.
A More Consistent alternative:
Double Click: Parks the Deck
Double Click: Un-Parks the Deck
All other behaviour identical to Un-Parked Deck
I can see how other users, having got used to the inconsistent "Double and Single" approach wouldn't like my suggestion. So I'm happy to go along with what you suggest:- IF you can get that magical Space Bar behaviour the same!
I see the "SpaceBar Loading of a Spread from the Continous Shuffle" to be such an "AAA" future development that it would be good to ensure that the SpaceBar behaviour of both is the same.
Regards
Greg the Yeti
Note:- While your suggestion keeps other users happy, I'm fairly sure it's the option with more work for you and with more possibility of "getting broke" and causing future problems for you! C'est la Vie!
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Re: An Enhancement for Spreads
I understand what you mean now about the space bar dealing of a spread. Actually I think it is a great idea, or really two ideas, because first of all you would have to include dealing a spread card by card as part of the normal working of the program (i.e. when not shuffling) and then make sure that the space bar method works in the same way when you are shuffling. Unfortunately I don't really have the time left this summer, but it is definitely going to be top of my list for future development.
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Re: An Enhancement for Spreads
I've noticed another problem with this current version of Orphalese which might affect this thread about the Spacebar.
The Spacebar no longer seems to Draw a card in F4 "Free Selection Mode". Yes it is still dealing a card with the Deck as normal. It's still dealing a card, while the Shuffle Continues.
But do I detect a "Di-Vergence" in the Force? (Master Windu)
It seems as if the "Windows 10 ways of Doing things" are already impacting negatively on Windows 7 users. It is looking to me like "Current" Orphalese versions will become un-usable to us on Windows 7!
This makes my ealier request all the more urgent.
Through my own fault I lost the previous version in updating to 9.4.1.6.
I run a non-standard Windows with many services turned off, mostly for securtity reasons. One of those is Windows Backup and "Rolling Back", which never worked on my MultiBoot System anyway (it repeatedly broke it!) I rely on myself for Backup. unfortunately because i trusted Orphalese I made this mistake of overwriting the old file...
Yes I have downloaded the Windows upgrade which supposedly put you in their upgrade path. But it hasn't been offered yet! AND I don't know if it will break my older machine, and will certainly require software updates which I can't afford!!!
I think the version I was using was 9.4.1.3.
I've lost that, and now it looks as if that might possibly be the last version usable to Windows 7 users.
I don't want to have to go back to 9.3.1.7.!! - after contributing to some of the improvements in 9.4!
PLEASE can I repeat my request to give us a link on the website to download that version. 9.4.1.3
PLEASE can you do this as a favour, since I have been putting a lot of energy and thought into helping with issues and suggesting improvements. PLEASE!
Regards
Greg the Yeti
If you can do me that favour, I can offer something in return.
Since I have a "MultiBoot" system. I can run two versions of Orphalese. I could run 9.4.1.3 for me on my regular system. But I could run the "Current" version to test and offer comments 2U.
It might be very helpful to you to retain my comments on "How bad things are getting for Windows 7 users"!
One favour - in return for another! GtY
WHEN they get round to offering me the upgrade, and IF by then I have enough money to do it I could probably also offer a Multi Windows view. Keeping Windows 7 on one system, but with Windows 10 on another to keep up with necessary Security issues.Perhaps you already do something similar. But I have quite a few times now seen things that others haven't (yet).
The Spacebar no longer seems to Draw a card in F4 "Free Selection Mode". Yes it is still dealing a card with the Deck as normal. It's still dealing a card, while the Shuffle Continues.
But do I detect a "Di-Vergence" in the Force? (Master Windu)
It seems as if the "Windows 10 ways of Doing things" are already impacting negatively on Windows 7 users. It is looking to me like "Current" Orphalese versions will become un-usable to us on Windows 7!
This makes my ealier request all the more urgent.
Through my own fault I lost the previous version in updating to 9.4.1.6.
I run a non-standard Windows with many services turned off, mostly for securtity reasons. One of those is Windows Backup and "Rolling Back", which never worked on my MultiBoot System anyway (it repeatedly broke it!) I rely on myself for Backup. unfortunately because i trusted Orphalese I made this mistake of overwriting the old file...
Yes I have downloaded the Windows upgrade which supposedly put you in their upgrade path. But it hasn't been offered yet! AND I don't know if it will break my older machine, and will certainly require software updates which I can't afford!!!
I think the version I was using was 9.4.1.3.
I've lost that, and now it looks as if that might possibly be the last version usable to Windows 7 users.
I don't want to have to go back to 9.3.1.7.!! - after contributing to some of the improvements in 9.4!
PLEASE can I repeat my request to give us a link on the website to download that version. 9.4.1.3
PLEASE can you do this as a favour, since I have been putting a lot of energy and thought into helping with issues and suggesting improvements. PLEASE!
Regards
Greg the Yeti
If you can do me that favour, I can offer something in return.
Since I have a "MultiBoot" system. I can run two versions of Orphalese. I could run 9.4.1.3 for me on my regular system. But I could run the "Current" version to test and offer comments 2U.
It might be very helpful to you to retain my comments on "How bad things are getting for Windows 7 users"!
One favour - in return for another! GtY
WHEN they get round to offering me the upgrade, and IF by then I have enough money to do it I could probably also offer a Multi Windows view. Keeping Windows 7 on one system, but with Windows 10 on another to keep up with necessary Security issues.Perhaps you already do something similar. But I have quite a few times now seen things that others haven't (yet).
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Re: An Enhancement for Spreads
The previous version 9.3.1.7, which is the version from the start of the summer that I was using myself on Windows 7, is downloadable from CNET here: http://download.cnet.com/Orphalese-Taro ... tag=button.
Having said that I am determined to get all the features working properly in Windows 10. Actually the only issue that has had anything to do with the windows version is that business about scrolling the pop-up notes (which I hope is now fixed for everyone). I will take a look at that spacebar not working in FSM, it is more likely to be because of me accidentally breaking something during my recent tinkering than anything related to your Windows version.
Whichever windows set up you eventually decide on I hope you keep up the feedback. It is very useful to have someone doing a bit of destructive testing and coming up with suggestions for enhancements. Continue with this process and the bugs eliminated will be.
Having said that I am determined to get all the features working properly in Windows 10. Actually the only issue that has had anything to do with the windows version is that business about scrolling the pop-up notes (which I hope is now fixed for everyone). I will take a look at that spacebar not working in FSM, it is more likely to be because of me accidentally breaking something during my recent tinkering than anything related to your Windows version.
Whichever windows set up you eventually decide on I hope you keep up the feedback. It is very useful to have someone doing a bit of destructive testing and coming up with suggestions for enhancements. Continue with this process and the bugs eliminated will be.
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Greg the Yeti
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Re: An Enhancement for Spreads
Hi and thanks,
I wasn't wanting to go back to 9.3, since I like quite a few of the changes you've made in 9.4! and some of them were direct work on suggestions I'd made, so it would have felt extra-bad to have lost those.
That isn't an issue now as compatibility now seems to be fine. And thanks!
For the future, if Microsoft tamper with Windows in such a way as to require programs to cease support for previous versions (which seems to be how Microsoft LIKE to operate!) then AT THAT TIME it would be very useful for users of the previous Windows to have access to the last 5 or 10 updates to Orphalese, so that they can work out for themselves the most up-to-date Orphalese that still works on their version of windows.
So I still say that relying on a single previous version from CNET is not the best option. It may not be the "Most up-to-date and Compatible Version". As it wouldn't have been in this case.
Also I'm not a fan of CNET and their requirements for the user when you download from them:-
You have to enable more scripts on their page than I like doing, scripts from all over the shop, and it usually takes 5 or ten minutes just working out which scripts I HAVE to allow and which third party scripts I can leave blocked, but still get the download (I use "No-Script" with Firefox, so that scripts are always under my "control" - just as "Pretty Woman" was a "Safety Girl", I'm definitely a "Security Guy"!)
Also on some downloads I've made from them, you have to manually turn off various "extras", advertising, toolbars, potential security risks, the ubiquitous McCaffee Anti Virus or a "Free Check Up of your System". Yuk Yuk Yuk!
I'd personally prefer if you made available the last 5 or 10 updates on the Orphalese Site (and clearly identified).
At some time in the Future, if a "Divergence in the Force" does happen, that would become very useful!
Regards Greg the Yeti
I wasn't wanting to go back to 9.3, since I like quite a few of the changes you've made in 9.4! and some of them were direct work on suggestions I'd made, so it would have felt extra-bad to have lost those.
That isn't an issue now as compatibility now seems to be fine. And thanks!
For the future, if Microsoft tamper with Windows in such a way as to require programs to cease support for previous versions (which seems to be how Microsoft LIKE to operate!) then AT THAT TIME it would be very useful for users of the previous Windows to have access to the last 5 or 10 updates to Orphalese, so that they can work out for themselves the most up-to-date Orphalese that still works on their version of windows.
So I still say that relying on a single previous version from CNET is not the best option. It may not be the "Most up-to-date and Compatible Version". As it wouldn't have been in this case.
Also I'm not a fan of CNET and their requirements for the user when you download from them:-
You have to enable more scripts on their page than I like doing, scripts from all over the shop, and it usually takes 5 or ten minutes just working out which scripts I HAVE to allow and which third party scripts I can leave blocked, but still get the download (I use "No-Script" with Firefox, so that scripts are always under my "control" - just as "Pretty Woman" was a "Safety Girl", I'm definitely a "Security Guy"!)
Also on some downloads I've made from them, you have to manually turn off various "extras", advertising, toolbars, potential security risks, the ubiquitous McCaffee Anti Virus or a "Free Check Up of your System". Yuk Yuk Yuk!
I'd personally prefer if you made available the last 5 or 10 updates on the Orphalese Site (and clearly identified).
At some time in the Future, if a "Divergence in the Force" does happen, that would become very useful!
Regards Greg the Yeti