Stackz 07 alpha version

[Chris]

Please download the latest alpha version of the new Stackz Flashcard Organizer from >>this<< page.


Please try, test and comment as much as you can!  :)

[Kinzokusei no Inu]

I've been playing around with the new version the last couple days.

The example sentence function is an incredible addition to the program and adds so much more usefullness to the software.
However, when I originally envisioned that, I thought of being able to access the example sentences by simply hitting a button from the test dialogue of each card.  Maybe next to the "undo" button at the top.  Would it be possible to add this in?  Right now it is quite fast as is....just highlight the main entry and hit F11....but I thought this would be even slicker.  I notice that the program is different in this way now.  Before I would just double-click the main entry and it would highlight the entire word...whereas now double-clicking just highlights the individual characters and you must drag across the word.  Of course, having an automated button would eliminate the need for highlighting the word entirely.

One thing that needs to be fixed right away is the auto-paste F6 analyze function (one of the coolest and most useful features of Stackz) is no longer working.

Keep up the great work.  I will continue testing and experimenting with the new version and report anything noteworthy I find.

[Chris]

Thanks for testing and replying! Please mention all the things you notice that have changed to the worse. In fact, the move to Unicode controls may have disrupted some functionality... But I'm not sure what you mean with the auto-paste F6 function - in what context is F6 no longer working? The ones I tested still seemed to be OK.

The example sentence integration will be further improved, this is just the first version at the moment. In particular there will be a function to extend lesson entries with example sentences.

[Kinzokusei no Inu]

I wonder if it has something to do with having both versions on the same machine?

When I run '06 the auto-paste F6 function works fine as it usually does.  However in the '07 version it doesn't work at all.  The text gets pasted into the dictionary as usual and it appears to scan the dictionary file....actually twice for some reason....and then displays no results.  I tried doing the auto-paste from a web-page as well as by highlighting an entry from the example sentence window and then hitting F6.  Both ways, no results are being displayed.

The dictionary however, seems to be functioning normally when I type something into it directly.  But, I just tried highlighting one of the dictionary results for something and hitting F6 from there and even that reacted in the same manner as I described above.

I'll keep trying different things and see if I can isolate a variable that will make a difference.

Edit:  I just downloaded and installed the 07 version on a different machine with no other versions of Stackz.  The results were exactly the same.  Still a problem with the analyze function.  No results are being displayed.

[Chris]

Hmmm.... what OS version are you using? I'm developing on XP pro (english). I am still not 100% sure if I understand what works and what does not. Please specify which of the following actions fail on your system. They all work fine here.

1. Manual Query
    Manually enter a kanji (copy/paste '食') into the dictionary and hit the 'Go!' button with the 'Analyze' option unchecked.
    Expected result: 378 results (depending on your dictionary/index file more or less)

2. Manual Analyze
    Manually enter a kanji combination ('皆既日食') into the dict and hit the 'Go!' button with the 'Analyze' option checked.
    Expected result: 3 results (皆既日食、　皆既、　日食).

3. F6 Query
    Select the kanji combination from above in the dictionary result list and hit F6.
    Expected result: one found match, since the 'Analyze' button is unchecked by the F6 button (query).

4. Context menu Query or Analyze
    As 3), but using the context menu items 'Query', or 'Analyze' instead of the keys.
    Expected result: one match (Query), or three matches (Analyze).

5. Autopaste Analyze kanji
    Activate the 'Autopaste' function, then copy a kanji to the clipboard ('食').
    Expected result: no matches since autopaste performs an 'Analyze' which is meaningless with one kanji.
    (hmmm yeah wasn't there the plan to at least show the exact match in this case..?  ::) well it's not done.)

6. Autopaste Analyze combination
    With activated 'Autopaste' function, copy a kanji combination ('皆既日食') to the clipboard.
    Expected result: three matches.



Note 1: There are two dictionary runs - the second one tries to look up the single kanji that are not part of any found kanji combination of the first run. That's a new feature, I'll have to stop flickering the dialog. Sometimes single kanji are relevant for the text comprehension, so I added this second pass and tried to insert the found individual kanji in the correct position... :-)

Note 2: The keyboard shortcuts are a bit confusing at the moment because F6 is now also used for 'Analyze' in the Example Sentence dialog, besides the formerly known raw 'Query' function of F6 elsewhere. I'll make that consistent across the entire application, everywhere F6 for 'Query' and Ctrl+F6 for 'Analyze', which is somehow easy to understand because then the Ctrl key represents the 'Analyze' check box.

[Kinzokusei no Inu]

Chris, I've found what was causing the problem.

When Stackz 07 was first installed, it automatically used the installed dictionaries I was using in the 06 version.  However, it did not automatically use the dictionary index file I was using for 06.

Before testing 07, I ran through the 6 steps on Stackz 06.  The results were exactly as you described with a couple minor differences  (in step one my dictionary returned 464 results for 食、and in step 5, when I auto-pasted the same kanji, it did return one result しょく)

Testing Version 07 as it was, turned up absolutely no results for any of the steps, but afterwards I went into the dictionary options and noticed there was no index file.  Proceeding to generate one, it overwrote the index file I had on my computer for Version 06.  Then, repeating your 6 steps, it now mimicked the results I got for 06.  Worked perfectly.  I also tested the Analyze function from the Example Sentence dialogue and that also worked perfectly.


For the record, I am using XP Home Edition Version 2002 SP2

I also have PocketStackz running on HP iPAQ and I'm happy to report no syncronization issues in connections with Stackz 07.

[Chris]

Thanks for this report, seems to be a minor thing then. But still very mysterious... I'll need to look into the way the index file is handled, maybe I'll find something....

many thanks again, that was very helpful.

[Chris]

Anyone has a similar problem with the index file? I did not find any explanation for this issue so far.

However, a new version is available for download. No big news, some small enhancements and performance fixes. See more on >>this<< page.

[James]

I've been experimenting with the alpha these past few days and am very happy with the direction you're taking.
Congratulations on yet another exciting update.  Stackz just gets better and better.   I especially like the inclusion of the Tanaka Corpus. 

When using Stackz, I try where possible, not to resort to using the mouse.  Preferably I would like to operate the keyboard entirely with my left hand and be free to write with my right hand.

With this in mind, I have the following issues with the release in its current form:

1.  Pressing F6 from a learn or test dialog only returns a meaningful result if there is only one attribute showing.  A test dialog with 2 or more attributes showing requires the user to highlight the search phrase first (mouse).  The new shortcut to 'Analyze' can be used as a workaround, however I would personally prefer the shortcut to be a single key rather than a combination.  I would be happy to have 'Analyze' as the default behavior and use Ctrl for the Query

2.  Pressing the Esc key from the Example dialogue does not return focus to the previous window. (back to the damn mouse again.  -  I couldn't get back with Alt TAB either)

3.  Pressing F11 from the learn/test dialog does nothing.  I would like to see example sentences without being required to highlight first.

The function to extend lesson entries with example sentences will be a great feature.  I imagine the example sentence would be split between an extra 2 fields in the learn and test windows and that the user would specify whether the entry or its translation is to appear first. 
I think it would be useful if the user were able to select some especially useful looking examples to always appear first.  It would also be nice to specify whether examples display in order of length or are chosen randomly.  Hope I'm not getting ahead of myself making suggestions before testing.  Anyway keep up the good work.  I really value this software. 

NB:  I haven't had any problems with the index file. 

Feature Request:
User defined shortcuts.  I think I've made this request before but I still find it cumbersome constantly moving my hand from the space bar to the arrow keys and back.  I would like to define keys more suited to my keyboard / study style.   I would probably use  , [d], [f], and the keys above and below. 

[Kinzokusei no Inu]

I think those are all good points in the above post.  In particular, I agree that as far as user functionality goes, having F6 as the default behavior for "Analyze" would be far better than for "query"

I also agree that reducing the amount of necessary mouse movement for the program is a good advancement.  My preferred method for using Stackz is to use the directional arrows with my right hand, and having my left hand free to hit the F-keys as desired.  For example...on the test screen (which is actually the only part of the program I use regularly), I can easily manipulate the cards, and upon seeing an entry that I'd like to scan the example sentence database with, having my left hand free to hit F11 (or whatever it may be) would be ideal.  As it is, having to manipulate the mouse to highlight the word and then hit F11 is a bit cumbersome.  (although a welcome improvement in the new version)

Regarding the index file thing, I might note that there were no problems once the index file was created.  The problem was the program was not using any index file at all, and not responding correctly, as I had assumed it was using the file from my '06 version.  After generating the file, it runs very smoothly.

But, regarding index files...here is something I was intending to mention sometime in the main forum.  It is a bug in the '06 version but is also evident in the '07 version as well...so I might as well add it in here.  Has anyone else been having problems with the enam.dict file?  (Japanese Name file).  For years I used this file with Stackz without any issues.  Upon having to reinstall both the (at that time) new '06 version and the latest update of the file itself, I found that it no longer functioned properly with the program.  In previous versions, I had used the file without generating an index for it, and it always ran smoothly and as expected.  However, in '06/'07 Stackz, even for very common names it returns only a few results or none at all.  At first glance, the file appears to be missing data, so I checked with Jim Breen, and he kindly went in and verified that indeed the file at Monash is intact and complete.  Because I test Stackz on multiple machines I know that this is not a hardware issue as I always get identical results.  The bug becomes obvious when, if I do try to generate an index for the name file, the program attempts to do so, but in the end gives me an error message and it freezes up and crashes altogether.  I get this same result with '07 Stackz.

I'm not sure how many others are making use of the name file with Stackz, but I'd be interested in knowing what everyone elses experiences are with it.  I've always been very fond of the Japanese Name file, and used it a lot with the early versions of Stackz, so I must say I'm missing it a bit.  The one other dictionary file I use regularly is the Japanese Place Names files, which so far, I've yet to find any issues with it.


Regarding testing '07 specifically, I did find some more bugs which look to be easy fixes, but will experiment with the latest version that I see you've just put up before reporting.

[Chris]

Thanks for your comments!

I'll definitely look into the dictionary index issue as it looks like a bug.
The customizable keyboard shortcut issue is also quite high on the list!

[Kinzokusei no Inu]

I like how the example sentences are now sorted by length. 


Here's a few more things I noticed today.

When typing hiragana into the dictionary, it's now a bit unconventional because in order to enter words like にっけい　（日系） you must hit the "k" key 3 times instead of two.  As in n-i-k-k-k-e-i 
The usual tendency is to just hit "k" twice, so it's easy to mistype and get にっえい which of course doesn't make sense and won't give you any results.  Hitting the key 3 times to enter these types of kana combinations is unusual and unconventional so it's hard to get used to.


On the popup window that comes up over the dictionary results and example sentence results when you move the cursor over them, the phonetic translation seems to be offset to the right by one character space. It looks a bit odd this way.


So far, I haven't been able to get the new buttons at the right to work.  The ones beneath where you can bring up "all open lessons" at the side.

[Chris]

Well please note that this is an alpha version and not a beta, i.e. many things might and will change... especially the rightmost toolbar button thing is just the first elements of a new concept that MGHT be added in this version, or postponed to the next.

[Kinzokusei no Inu]

Today I noticed an issue with Stackz 07, when you create a new file or rename an open old file (save as...), it saves it in a format that the program itself doesn't recognize if you try to reopen it.  The file it saves, it does not automatically give it the usual Stackz emblem for the icon, and in order to reopen the files, I had to manually open the files using Stackz 06 by going directly into the folder before opening the program and resave them under a different name.  After doing that, there are no problems handling the files.

Stackz 07 seems to behave normally when opening and saving any file that has been previously created with version 06, but not with new files created itself.

Just to note, I always save all my Stackz files directly to the Pocket PC shared folder on my computer.  This has always worked ideal for syncronization purposes.
Though I can't see this having any bearing on what I'm experiencing at the moment with 07.

[Thx1137]

G'day,

I see that the readme doesn't say anything support for Vista but I tried it anyway. It crashes soon after the splash screen is displayed. I tried using Win XP SP2 compatibility, running as admin and disabling desktop composition but none helped.

2006 dictionary edition works fine.

Regards,
Steven.