Can You Sort Screens List?

[Mike Johnson]

Is there a way to sort the Screens menu list in Designer? They seem to end up in order of creation and I sometimes have a hard time finding the one I'm looking for. It would be nice if they could be sorted alphabetically.

Thanks,
Mike

[Eman]

Is there a way to sort the Screens menu list in Designer? They seem to end up in order of creation and I sometimes have a hard time finding the one I'm looking for. It would be nice if they could be sorted alphabetically.

Thanks,
Mike

Give your screens different names say, the master screen could be "John's Tech Project" (which is the startup screen and on it are the buttons which call upon the different screens when pressed) then "Room"names could be the sub-screens of the master screen but also under the "Rooms" you have the "Device" screens
So in other words in the designer they just appear in the order they were created. ====> So if your home has 7 rooms...................................you get the picture! But you could also have other master screens like garden (for sprinklers) and maybe security (for cameras). Then there is ADMIN screen which should ask for a password! This is where you put data like logs and other things which are important to you but not the simple user like family and guests. This also keeps your project pleasing to the eye with less clutter!
You can also have a master hidden screen which never shows but contains the behind the scenes event processing like when press a button on any given screen which in turn communicates with an element on that screen. ====> This helps a lot for scrap work and if you are not good at scripting! Remember it's out of view

Tip : Don't create screens (say for devices) separately in the designer to avoid clutter like you are experiencing now!
For example put all mini screens (pop up screens) contained with in a given screen you are designing at the time. But you can also open multiple screens then copy any objects (elements) from one screen to another then edit their properties afterwords. The system automatically labels them as copies until you edit them with whatever you wish.


Summary : The screens are scaled down to a manageable number.



Hmm, I hope that helps



Eman.

[Mike Johnson]

So in other words in the designer they just appear in the order they were created.

I appreciate the detailed response and tips. Some interesting ideas. The part quoted above is the specific thing I'm asking about. Is there a way to sort the Screens list by name?

Mike

[Eman]

I appreciate the detailed response and tips. Some interesting ideas. The part quoted above is the specific thing I'm asking about. Is there a way to sort the Screens list by name?

Mike

NO! That's why I took my time to try and make HSTouch Designer feel less boring. It's the results of your creation that would be interesting. You could also request the feature.

I hope that's the short answer.


Eman.

[Mike Johnson]

NO!

Thank you for making that abundantly clear!

For example put all mini screens (pop up screens) contained with in a given screen you are designing at the time.

Most of your suggestions I understand, some I've already done, but can you explain this one a little more?

Mike

[Eman]

Thank you for making that abundantly clear!



Most of your suggestions I understand, some I've already done, but can you explain this one a little more?

Mike

Mini screens are ones you create say for your devices and are of a lesser size than the total screen size, so in HSTouch properties edit " show another screen top of this screen" Then if a particular one is selected acts as a pop up but also has all the elements of a normal screen. There indeed more actions to set of closing them behind as you move to the next screen so to keep whatever they are appearing to on look good. You can of course center them or locate them anywhere by setting their properties.






Eman.

[drparker151]

The screens are displayed in the order that they are defined in the XML file for your project. Make a copy and then take a look at the xml file with a text editor

[Mike Johnson]

Mini screens are ones you create say for your devices and are of a lesser size than the total screen size, so in HSTouch properties edit " show another screen top of this screen" Then if a particular one is selected acts as a pop up but also has all the elements of a normal screen. There indeed more actions to set of closing them behind as you move to the next screen so to keep whatever they are appearing to on look good. You can of course center them or locate them anywhere by setting their properties.






Eman.

Got it. Interesting. I may have to try that...

BTW, nice screens you've created.

Thanks,
Mike

[Mike Johnson]

The screens are displayed in the order that they are defined in the XML file for your project. Make a copy and then take a look at the xml file with a text editor

Wow, that's a lot of data per screen. Rearranging them manually could certainly test one's patience.

Thanks,
Mike

[drparker151]

Wow, that's a lot of data per screen. Rearranging them manually could certainly test one's patience.

Thanks,
Mike

Sure is. I've fat fingered it before and accidentally copy and pasted an entire screen instead of an element. The only way I could find to completely remove the extra screen was editing that XML.

[Eman]

Wow, that's a lot of data per screen. Rearranging them manually could certainly test one's patience.

Thanks,
Mike

Have you seen this : https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ . If you have gone that route then that can help you see beter text!



Eman.

[Mike Johnson]

Yes, I have that. Great tool. But I still think a sort button would be better!

Mike

[Eman]

Yes, I have that. Great tool. But I still think a sort button would be better!

Mike

Until HST updates the software, then a good lesson learned for someone starting fresh is to write down a project (notes) and layouts in the order one wants do to things.
I always sketch out drawings with notes (I think it's good practice) for each project especially with all things HomeSeer. But also other things like woodwork.



Eman.