Vortesys
User/Global Program Groups
Mimic the NT 3.x behaviour of having separate user and global program groups. "Each user has their own set of program groups that they may edit and alter without affecting the groups of other users. There are also global groups where all users will see the same thing. Typically these groups will not be alterable by a regular user." (text copied from http://toastytech.com/guis/nt351.html )
Implementation planned, there's a check mark in the new program group dialog to do this. These groups were formerly called "Common" groups. Once regular group support works this will be added shortly after.
Planned implementation is still in the air... thinking about where to store these groups and how to retrieve them in comparison to standard program groups without things getting in the way, maybe I can read/write to the common groups key (which I would store under HKLM) before then checking and reading/writing the user key for the other groups.
Some sort of indicator a group is a common group besides having (Common) in the title would be nice as well....
Checking NT3.51 and NT4, Common groups have a computer in their default icon, perhaps do that? Admittedly doesn't work with custom icons, but for custom icons a user can probably rely on the "(common)" in the title or their own memory. Also, maybe add a tooltip on hover so users can read the full group name when the group is minimized, so the "(common)" tag isn't obscured?
[reference screenshots for icons] :
[nt3.51] (program groups )
[nt4.0] (start menu groups )
Sounds like a good plan. Minimized groups are going to appear as title bars since Windows draws them that way at the moment, but once I've learned enough about custom drawing I can draw then 3.x style and then add tool tips.
- Different default icon (if icon hasn't been changed in the dialog, change icon to common/user group depending on selected box)
- Tool tips on program groups with long names when minimized
Hopefully the user's memory will take care of most of the problem. I can also draw a miniature computer over whatever icon the user picks for more clarity..