FireNotes

[ProclaimDragon]

Introduction

FireNotes it's a simple desktop application used to take notes and store them in text files. If you are one of those persons that still uses notepad to take notes of whatever you need when you are at the computer, then, FireNotes is for you. Sure there are many notes applications out there but the reason I coded this one it's because I wanted a simple and neat application and not fully featured with lots of buttons and options and/or an application that simulates post-its. I wanted exactly what FireNotes is.

The way FireNotes works is pretty simple. An icon rests on the notification area, you click on it whenever you want to show (or hide) FireNotes, with a few clicks you can create a new note, wich is stored in a text file, move to the next or the previous note or delete the current note. All FireNotes settings can be accessed through a right-click on the notify area icon.

.NET Framework

FireNotes was coded under a .NET environment, meaning you will need the .NET Framework to properly run FireNotes. You can download the .NET Framework from the following Microsoft link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...57-034D1E7CF3A3

Screenshots

Revision History

Version 0.5 (25/01/2005)

?> Completely disabled the possibility to move the form window if Slide Effect is enabled.

?b> New Note Form can be canceled through Escape key.?/b> Changed a bit the Notify Icon clicks and 'Show' context menu option behaviors? Previous and Next buttons will continuously keep showing note?? XMLParser is now embedded into the executa>>? Added a little gradient title to the notify context >b>? Fixed bug where a note was saved with content from another note selected in the com>? Brand new dialog that concentrates all application se> ? SlideEffect enabled again, despite the known >

? The form window is now resizable (new >.

? Application name changed (again) due to tradema>s.

? Changed a bit the about box>cs.

? After deleting one note, the next one wi>own.

? Redesigned both save and delete >tons.

? Lots of minor bug fixes and>Version 0.4 (12/12/2004(1>4)

? Changed application name from nzNo>irePad.

? About box changed to fit the ne>nd name.

? All icons updated>new logo.

? Possibility to have FirePad's Window on the left s>he screen.

? Removed sound when pressing the Return Ke> Note Form.

? Settings are now also>hen exiting.

? Skybound VisualStyles componen>d to 1.0.5.5.

? Changed a bit the way notif>andles events.

? Added a notification for unsaved mo>ote (optional).

? Added a notification when creating a new n> already exists.

? Slide Effect disabled until Animat>Version 0.3.1 (01/10/2004si> (01/10/2004)

? Log Off, Shutdown or >Version 0.3 (22/09/2004Ve>3 (22/09/2004)

? Apply button on Font S>dialog now working.

? Uninstall icon replaced wi>ter quality version.

? Main Form and New Note Form are> allowed to be moved.

? Log Off, Shutdown or Restar> now working properly.

? C>a little bit optimiz>Version 0.2 (18/09/2004.

>on 0.2 (18/09/2004)

? Fixed>h Next/Previous buttons.

? Added possi>o change font properties.

? Added "note saved&>pup notification (option).

? Added a new comp>r XP Visual Styles support.

?<> was a little bit optimized.

?>s are now saved when>Version 0.1 (14/09/2004 fi>>Version 0.1 (14/09/2004)>Downloadolor:#0000CC'>Download

You can download FireNotes going to my homepage and get it in the download section.

Edited January 25, 2005 by Nazgulled

[+unabatedshagie Subscriber¹]

I haven't installed this but just one quick question, does it have hotkey access?

If it doesn't the perhaps add it in.

[vip]

where are the screenshots? :/ see, to be down ATM

[Elexir]

:) nice application, btw, there's a bug:

Make sure, there's only one Note in the application.

After, press the left/right button, you'll get an error...

Nazgulled, forgot try-catch statement (or something else)? :)

[kitchenutensils]

kewl work! well done

[SlimShady]

After, press the left/right button, you'll get an error...

I got an error here too.

Really great application.

2 suggestions:

1. Make the app remember the position of the window.

When I hide the app and show it again, I want it to return at the same position.

2. Make the window resizable. That would be great.

Great job!

[Ultra Frosty]

Nice. w00t!!!!!

[bangbang023 Veteran]

I haven't installed this but just one quick question, does it have hotkey access?

If it doesn't the perhaps add it in.

hotkeys are very difficult to add in. As developer of another note app thats been on hold now for way too long, I've looked at it also. Give him time. He may be able to get it in, but this app is just starting and I htink it would be wiser to iron out some flaws first before throwing in such a tie in to the OS.

[ProclaimDragon]

I'm writing this at the top so the mods can see it fast. Please someone with access remove the [PLACEHOLDER] from the topic title? Thanks...

-

Wooww... so far, more replies than I thought I would get... :)

HotKeys

hum, never really thought of that as I don't really use that everywhere, besides Windows+L to switch user in XP when I'm out of the computer... so I don't really understand the essence on how to create them (not talking about the code). If you could drop me a line about on what exactly you want, every aspect of it, it would be great. And I'll see what I can do, though bangbang023 says are difficult to had and I'm going to say I believe him or not cuz I never tried and never really though on how to do it so I reste my judgement on that and then we'll see what I can really do about it. If it's easly added in the enxt version, fine, if it's not, we'll have to wait.

Screenshots

They are suppposed to be working... When you can't see them, try refreshing the apge to see if it works, I hope I don't ahve the same problem in this host has I had with my rpevious one where some people from some places couldn't see my website at all, while some others could.

Left/Right buttons when there is only 1 note

I tried to fix all the bugs like that about the left/right buttons but I guess I missed that one, I'll take I look tomorow, cause now it's late and I'm bit tired.

Remember app position and make it sizeable

I have thought of that before but I decided to release it like this first before doing that cause the way I develop this, it will be somehow troublemaking to add those features. The window is always in the left side and always somewhat almost centered vertically on any screensize. If I make it sizeable and remember the position I'll have to much more calculations for the slide effect and the show/hide form action, and it will be hard to make it perfect.

First, the sizes would have to a multiple of 10 (or something, haven't really though of it) I guess, so I don't have problems with the slide effect and it would always be snapped to the screen edges.

Second, if I let it be on any position of the screen I would need to know wich of the four screen edges is the application more near to make the slide effect to that place. That will also be a little hard to code.

Final thoughts

Although I made this for me and it's working just the way I want, I'll be glad to fix all the bugs found and to add all the features requested. However, you have to keep something in mind: I'm not promissing anything, I'm 20 years old, I have a life, and school is about to begin so I can't dedicate my life to this, I'll fix bugs and add features as I can't promisse you anything. And I have some other stuff that I want to see finished, for instance, my PHP blog script (wich will also be public) as I don't find any script that fits my needs and I want to ahve my blog up as fast as I can, though I'm not really in a mood to finish, just the admina rea left anyway... Just so you know.

Thank you all for showing at least a bit of interest on nzNotes. ;)

[kombolcha]

:o the third of its kind.. gotta try this tomorrow..

[Schmoove]

hotkeys are very difficult to add in. As developer of another note app thats been on hold now for way too long, I've looked at it also. Give him time. He may be able to get it in, but this app is just starting and I htink it would be wiser to iron out some flaws first before throwing in such a tie in to the OS.

Not that hard. I have a C# class for that. There are limitations, but a lot is possible. If you or anyone wants that just let me know and I'll send it to you (including some explanation on how to use it).

[DAvenger of RadLight]

Going to try asap :)

[breaf]

Preparing to Dry this , thanks a lot!

[shmengie]

nice job, i like it. i second the motion for hot-key functionality. you're off to a really good start!

[QuarterSwede]

Great job only I get an error when I try to save the note (I assume that is what the green check mark is for).

[ProclaimDragon]

yes, the green check mark is for that... I couldn't fin any errors so far about that nor anyone reported that, could you please be more specific and explain me how can I achieve the same result so I can test it and fix it?

I'm about to release 0.2 tieh the bugs reported so far fixed and a font dialog so you can choose the font size, face, etc and it would be nice to ahve that bug fixed too.

Thanks.

[QuarterSwede]

Ok, not sure what is going on. I tried a couple of more times but it never crashed again (maybe I had hit the next button instead?). Anyway, I thought the green check mark was suppose to save the notes? When I click on it it does nothing. I mean, I can add new notes and switch back and forth but clicking on the green check mark doesn't do anything. Is it suppose to save each note to a seperate text file somewhere?

[EDIT] Ok, I feel like an idiot. The notes are saved in the Notes folder in the appliactions folder. For some reason, I don't know why, but I thought they would be saved to the Desktop. The only thing I think you need to add is a dialog box that says the note is saved when you click the green check mark. Maybe not a dialog box but something that will let the user know.[/EDIT]

[SlimShady]

Here's a bug I found and how to reproduce it.

• Delete all notes (if you have any)
  
• Click on "NEW NOTE"
  
• Enter a random name
  
• Click on "Arrow Right" or "Arrow Left"
  

[QuarterSwede]

Oh and another thing, multimonitor support would be nice. As it is right now, when I show the notes it appears on the left side of my right monitor and then slides to the right side of my left monitor. Take time to invision what I just said. I suppose if it were a real pain to fix for you I could just not have it slide, which works as well.

[ProclaimDragon]

Here's a bug I found and how to reproduce it.

• Delete all notes (if you have any)
  
• Click on "NEW NOTE"
  
• Enter a random name
  
• Click on "Arrow Right" or "Arrow Left"
  

that was already reported but thanks... and I've already fix it, just waiting to finish some stuff and release v0.2

@Jstphish

woow... I don't even know where to start to try and fix that, though, I didn't really understand what's happening. Can you try and explain it to me more detailed?

[Ultra Frosty]

Nazgulled when 0.2 is done, can you send me the beta of 0.2 to see how my 'suggestions' came out before you release it on Neowin?

[ProclaimDragon]

sorry b0b, too late... I just compiled the final build of v0.2 :D

Here's the change log for this version:

Version 0.2 (18/09/2004)

- Fixed bug with Next/Previous buttons.

- Added possibility to change font properties.

- Added "note saved" popup notification (option).

- Added a new component for XP Visual Styles support.

- Code was a little bit optimized.

- Settings are now saved when changed.

- Minor bugs fixed.

Download v0.2 Now!!

[ProclaimDragon]

Guess this version is flawless... nobody seems to report any bugs :D ... or maybe, no one download it :(

However, I find a bug, well, not exactly a bug, something I forgot before compiling, to remove the Apply button in the font properties. So clicking Apply won't do anything... and cause of that I make you a question here:

As you know, you click on the OK button, new font settings are applied, the font settings window is closed. If you had the button Apply (working as it should), you click on Apply, new settings are applied, the font settings window remains opened so you can change settings again if you don't like the changes you just did.

My first option was to remove the Apply button and for applying new settings you would ahve to press OK, but as I stated before I forgot to remove the button. So, for the next version, you think I should remove the button or should I code it?

[ProclaimDragon]

Guess I was wrong... Here's v0.3 with some bugs fixed and other things.

Changelog for this update:

Version 0.3 (22/09/2004)

> Apply button on Font Settings dialog now working.

> Uninstall icon replaced with a better quality version.

> Main Form and New Note Form are now not allowed to be moved.

> Log Off, Shutdown or Restart system now working properly.

> Code was a little bit optimized.

> Minor bugs fixed.

Download v0.3 Now!!

[PsiMoon314]

Hi,

The default font seems to be Lucida Console at 975 point :D

This makes it difficult to read anything you type in a note :happy:

Changing the font size via the Font Size Menu option seems to fix this.

Regards

PsiMoon