UPDATE: Version 1.1.0 is now available to download

* See first post of this thread to download *

Notes:

• Now supports Incredimail
• Multiple instances are prevented
• The "button already exists error" is now supressed
• The System tray icon should now be removed when FFW closes
• Email clients can be started in their last (recorded) window state
• A 'Cancel' option has been added to close the systray menu
• On higher resolution screens the need for vertical scrolling has been removed.
• Now has user-defined background colour for shrunken appearance
• Toolbars are added when OE is restarted several times
• Corrected "indentity" typo
• XP style on XP machines

Great work.

Straight away though problems. I'm getting error dialogs.

The buttons still don't form or are greyed out. Often FF won't launch at all.

The maximised and shrunk views need to remember their position even after they are reloaded. It's no good the shrunk view always starting in the middle of the screen and always having to be moved.

Can you look at the inconsistences in colour of the tabs and "shrink", "send to tray" and other buttons. Would be better as block buttons like in the windows task bar and most programs that pick up the system colour.

Edit by Neo - removed duplicate image

And this:

OK, had more of a go with it. The errors and then FF not launching at all, with or without OE, seem to occur only if "add OE toobar buttons" is checked.

The other thing is, please remove the bold "Restore" command from the right click menu. It will look better/cleaner and it is clear now that, as with some other sys tray things, one click will restore the program.

Please make both sizes remember positions when reloaded as now it forgets each time.

Thanks again for your work. The buttons in OE just won't seem to come right.

Double post

This would be better if the expand button was the usual maximise little square next to the close cross. It would be neater then. Generally the white buttons and tabs should be redrawn in the usual block style, picking up system colours.

Hope you don't mind me being fussy, but in fact you need a fussy person to test. Thanks for noticing suggestions so far.

It is almost there now

Then PN can pay you and promote it. They should.

Just to praise you - the way you've done "cancel" in the right click menu is excellent, much better than the menu timing out, as now it stays open while you select "spam" or "not spam" for various messages.

With buttons turned on in FF and FF launching OE, sometimes buttons form and the sys tray icon appears after a delay, but buttons then grey out if you select a message in OE and when OE is closed the runtime error appears.

I like the right click menu so much I could now be happy without the toolbar buttons but if the option is there I want them to work flawlessly.

Where the error dialog says "OK" - that's how the buttons could be in FF when it is maximised.

About the tabs: They would be better perhaps like these. In particular, the Incredimail tab doesn't quite meet the outlined box edge and on the Outlook Express and other client setting pages the indent of the section (shadowing) is heavier on the left side and looks odd. The scroll bar is a pixel or two too narrow as well).

In a way small things, but an indication of a careful designer/creator.

All these things make a program a pleasure to look at and use.

Generally now (when the button option isn't on, which doesn't work) things are smoother than previous in operation.

I really think when you've perfected this, which you will very soon, Plusnet should put a page up to promote it and email customers.

You deserve a big thankyou from them.

Thank you for your suggestions etc. I think there has to be limit to what changes are made with respect to purely cosmetic issues.

The run-time errors with the toolbar buttons should be fixed now (ready for the next version).

FastForward will now recall the position of the normal, expanded window.

The tabs and other rounded buttons are completely designed from scratch by myself. Whether they should be rectangular blocks is a matter of opinion If it's really bugging you I could always make this optional, but I don't see it being a real problem In any case, I have now made their colouring tie-in to the system colours

Some people may prefer to have the Restore option available from the menu - I'm not sure you loose anything by having it there.

Unfortunately adding the square maximise button to the window title bar is not possible, when the window is in shrunken mode. However I think having a reasonably sized expand button makes it easier to click on

I don't think these are really bugs (for example, the Incredimail tab is not supposed to meet the RHS of the frame below) - the functionality is all there and that is the important thing

Yes, but I think I have spent enough time, energy and attention to detail as it is I estimate (conservatively) I have spent 100 hours (research and development) on this particular piece of software. I do not really want to spend more unless it is to add/repair key functionality.

I see your point about more work - could you just fix the alignment of the Incredimail tab. It really does look strange. And that Restore menu item makes the little menu too top heavy looking.

Is this a bug? - I just restarted the pc and FF forgot everything and reset, starting the setup wizard again.

I was thinking, you know you were saying you've spent a lot of time on this, well, also there's only been two people (me and the other person on here) helping you test it. Both also spending time on it.

The lack of commitment is Plusnet's. They should have been encouraging you, testing FF and so on as well.

I think PN owe you, I really do.

You've made a very useful little utility for them.

Update: Version 1.1.1 is available

* See first post of this thread to download *

Changes:
Normal position recorded
Fixed errors when OE closes with toolbar buttons
Revamped tabs and other buttons
About button

I have changed it slightly to show you how it should be - there is supposed to be a gap (as can be seen on that screenshot from "SG TCP Optimizer" that you posted, after the Registry tab)
This is optional now

New version will say it's saving the settings in the log - perhaps FFW had encountered an error when the PC shutdown and couldn't save the settings?

Yes, and I appreciate the help from you both I hope that more PlusNet customers can add their feedback too

Thank you for your comments - PlusNet did say they might pay something towards it, but they haven't as yet said anything further, so nothing certain at the moment

I've installed 1.1.1 and it is beautiful. Visually much improved.

I can't make the OE buttons work for me - still the same problems as explained before, But I like the way the menu from the system tray icon works so I'm happy with that.

There is one thing I think you've not quite got right.

The Spam, Not Spam buttons on FF need a little adjustment. You can see from the screenshot that the shrunk version has XP Luna style buttons along the top but I'm not using Luna - it needs to pick up Windows classic style.

Also, the Spam/Not Spam buttons (in the maximised version this shows the most) need a solid line under them (between the button graphic and the words Spam/Not Spam). The line now, as if highlighted by light, makes the buttons look odd or not level. Do you see where I mean? They are such nice buttons it would be a shame to spoil them with this.

The other tabs and buttons look perfect now - very attractive. The Spam/Not Spam buttons should colour when moused-over as the systray, wizard, reset and about buttons do though, not just go white.

Fantastic though, you're an artist!