PhotoFiler 2.10

PhotoFiler is an extension to the RISC OS Filer which adds an image thumbnailing facility. With PhotoFiler loaded, the file type icons for Sprites, DrawFiles, JPEGs and ArtWorks are replaced with a miniature version of the picture.

Version 2.10 is its first official update in 12 years.

Changes in this version include:
- You can now install PhotoFiler via PackMan
- PhotoFiler no longer reads directly from zero page.
This makes it usable on RO5 when zero page protection is enabled.
- ArtWorks support is now OFF by default.
This is due to stability issues I’ve not managed to solve. :-(
- The license is now a BSD 2-clause simplified license.

PhotoFiler remains freeware.

As before, the source code is included. It’s also hosted on github <https://github.com/dpt/PhotoFiler> If you have positive changes to contribute you are encouraged to do so.

Install via PackMan, or direct download link:
http://www.davespace.co.uk/software/photofiler210-1.zip

Excellent! I shall have to replace my ‘hacked’ zero page version with your real one :)

Excellent! (too)

Of topic, but did you see my mail about Toolbar?
There is a bug that permits to crash random running apps.

And it’s also one of my favourites RISC OS tools :)

As before, the source code is included. It’s also hosted on github <https://github.com/dpt/PhotoFiler> If you have positive changes to contribute you are encouraged to do so.

Nice to see the software updated. Out of interest did you previously have reports of difficult to reproduce errors? That was the usual consequence of zero page access.

There might be a need to update a few pages here and there.
Github is displaying things as the old 2008 version, your web pages still say an update date of 2013 and both locations point at the (2008) v2.08 version.

You may have noted recent discussions about hiding the ! on applications in the base OS. Had you considered offering the code to ROOL for integration?

Excellent David! Thanks a lot :)

Version 2.10

As already noted by Steve, github is reporting release 2.08 on both last commits on master branch and on the only release tag, maybe you still need to push your latest changes for release 2.10 on github?

Thank you for releasing !PhotoFiler a welcome addition to RISC OS.

I installed !PhotoFiler via PackMan and it created a new directory called “Desktop”. A small ask… Can you change the PackMan installation settings so that I can put it somewhere else? Is that possible?

A very useful utility, thanks David.
Two things: as already stated, it would be nice if the installation path could be made configurable.
And I was thinking if the program icon could ‘vanish’ from the iconbar. It’s true that nowadays the iconbar space it’s not so limited as in the past, but it is also true that with a large number of icons it is difficult sometimes to find the right program.
But that creates two problems – one, that the icon represent the program and is in some respect its ‘personality’ (and PhotoFiler has a nice one too!), and that the icon holds the place for the program configuration. For the former I have no solution.
But for the latter, I was thinking if the Configuration window of !Boot could contain a sort of directory, named for ex. Third Party, where programs like Photofiler could have their icon for configuration etc. I seem to remember that my old RPC RO4.39 had a plug-in system in Configuration for that.

I was thinking if the program icon could ‘vanish’ from the iconbar. It’s true that nowadays the iconbar space it’s not so limited as in the past, but it is also true that with a large number of icons it is difficult sometimes to find the right program.

The iconbar icon has only two menu items, Info & Quit.

If you follow Quit, you will see that just the iconbar front-end can  be quit, leaving what you require.

The supposed “path” issue is not an issue at all unless you blindly follow the package manager. You can move it to wherever you like!

I was thinking if the program icon could ‘vanish’ from the iconbar.

The choices option ‘Control panel – Auto-quit’ does that. Useful for running at boot. Regain access by holding down CTRL on running the app.

There is a comprehensive help file.

Two things: as already stated, it would be nice if the installation path could be made configurable.

More a Packman problem than a PhotoFiler problem.
I vote for a “download and put where you want”.

Can you change the PackMan installation settings so that I can put it somewhere else? Is that possible?

There’s no ‘Components’ line in the PhotoFiler package control file. This causes the components window in PackMan to be blank so it’s not then possible to install/move it somewhere else.

Thanks for the feedback folks.

Chris Gransden is correct: I’d not added a “Components:” line. That’s added in the version I’ve just uploaded to my site (direct link: http://www.davespace.co.uk/software/photofiler210-2.zip ). Hopefully that will percolate through the system soon.

Stefano Bertinetti:
- As others pointed out, auto-quit for the frontend has been in there for two decades or so.
- Yes, PhotoFiler’s frontend ought to be a Configure plugin so it doesn’t eat icon bar space, but it predates that system.

Paolo Fabio Zaino:
- I’ve pushed my updates to github. The holdup was that this release had been sitting in limbo since June.

Steve Pampling:
- I’ve not had any contact from anyone about PhotoFiler in quite some time. I had no idea if it was used any more, but saw the patched copy floating about (grumble).
- If ROOL want to hide plings they can work it out for themselves I’m sure. It’s about two or three ARM instructions.

David Feugey:
- I’ve just now mailed you back about Toolbar.

@ David

- I’ve pushed my updates to github.

Thanks a lot! I can see them now :)

If ROOL want to hide plings they can work it out for themselves I’m sure. It’s about two or three ARM instructions

Well, I was actually thinking of the whole package. Configure options for the features because some people seem to have a nostalgic attachment to the desktop exactly as it is, warts and all.

@David
Good that you are still around and improving PhotoFiler. I would like have something like this as standard in RISC OS as it is standard in all other OS I know. (I am organiser of the RISC OS Cloverleaf crowdfunding project). I tested Photofiler also 1 month ago. But I would like it to work always not just after dragging the folder onto it. I guess there is an option for it?

@Stefano Bertinetti
But for the latter, I was thinking if the Configuration window of !Boot could contain a sort of directory, named for ex. Third Party, where programs like Photofiler could have their icon for configuration etc. I seem to remember that my old RPC RO4.39 had a plug-in system in Configuration for that.

Yes that is a good idea. But I would put the third party config icons just under the standard configuration icons with a separation line.

I’ve not had any contact from anyone about PhotoFiler in quite some time. I had no idea if it was used any more, but saw the patched copy floating about (grumble).

Grumble? I did contact you at the time. Your response seems to have vanished into the ether, but from memory it pointed to this thread, which contains some updated code. I simply shared a pre-assembled copy for the benefit of people that didn’t have ObjAsm available, and with 2.08 being open source I didn’t think this was a problem. Sorry if I caused any offence.

Steve Pampling:

PhotoFiler was intended as a stopgap. It’s a patch that sits outside the Filer code, and because of that it has quirks (thumbnails are too small, can’t cope with ellipsis, etc.) Better to do it properly in the Filer itself like ROL did. ROOL have already done a weak variation on QuickFiler.

It’s just the perpetual question of finding some poor sap with the spare time and the inclination to give it away for free to do the work.

Stefan Fröhling:

I don’t understand what you’re describing. PhotoFiler is on by default. There’s nowhere to drag directories to. Are you confusing it with Thump?

Chris Mahoney:

We are now mortal enemies.
Not really. Looks like I totally forgot about that tweet, sorry!

It’s just the perpetual question of finding some poor sap with the spare time and the inclination to give it away for free to do the work.

90% of the reason for making OS source code open?
Allow a talented person¹ to modify and add so that Joe public can smile and say thank you.

¹ Not me, but it must be relatively easy because I’ve actually twiddled with a few bits to add (pretty crappy) code for some key shortcuts myself. Probably has more bugs than a tramps overcoat and never tested beyond RPCEmu/RO5.27
So, with talent and time things could be nice…

@Stephan
Maybe you mixed it up with rRAW. There you need to drag a folder to the program icon to open the filer-like thumbnail window?