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jopa66 Posts: 16
10/06/2019
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Something messed up with the new update. Gave up trying to fix it so, deleted the whole SyMenu folder and re-downloaded to start over. Now it will not create the three program suites and just puts everything into one long list of programs. I do know about the little button to put them all into folders by category but they do NOT go into folders for respective suites.
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
10/06/2019
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I removed the 3rd and 4th buttons that were able to separate the new installed programs by suites so now you have only two buttons:
- the first puts everything on the root;
- the second puts everything inside folders named accordingly to the programs categories.
Why this breaking change?
Because in a while the three native suites become one single suite. So NirSoft and Sysinternals will be added to the SyMenu suite.
You'll be able to create your own custom suites as you do today and probably we'll have a feature to add thirty party suites.
Anyway, when SyMenu puts the programs inside certain logical folders, you are free to re-organize your menu as you like. I strongly suggest to do that because the organization based on native category is not the best organization for everyone. You and only you know how your programs must be organized.
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jopa66 Posts: 16
11/06/2019
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Gianluca wrote:
I removed the 3rd and 4th buttons that were able to separate the new installed programs by suites so now you have only two buttons:
- the first puts everything on the root;
- the second puts everything inside folders named accordingly to the programs categories.
Why this breaking change?
Because in a while the three native suites become one single suite. So NirSoft and Sysinternals will be added to the SyMenu suite.
You'll be able to create your own custom suites as you do today and probably we'll have a feature to add thirty party suites.
Anyway, when SyMenu puts the programs inside certain logical folders, you are free to re-organize your menu as you like. I strongly suggest to do that because the organization based on native category is not the best organization for everyone. You and only you know how your programs must be organized.
Well, I'm glad I had a backup copy of the previous version. I will be using that and not updating! I'm just sort of irked that I spent so much time trying to "fix" something that could no longer be done and there was no logical reason why. I realize the original organization may not be optimal for everyone but, it at least helps to start sorting. As for combining SyMenu, NirSoft and Sysinternals all into one suite - well, I'll stay apprised of future development and see how it goes. Overall I do like this program. I'm just wary of these changes.
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
11/06/2019
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Well I have to tell precisely one thing because I'm suspecting it's not so clear.
When you have a certain logical item organization (all under the root, all under categories, all under a folder named accordingly to the suite, all organized with a custom criterion, or a certain mix of the previous scenario, or whatever you can imagine.....) SyMenu won't alter in any way your organization.
So why you tell you won't update your programs?
SyMenu is able to recognize a program that needs to be updated regardless its logical location.
Plus, if you clone a logical item, because you like to have more than one in different logical folders, SyMenu will recognize both of them and update all but won't move them.
Your organization is sacred for SyMenu.
Instead when you add something new, SyMenu doesn't know where you want it, so it will put it in a certain logical position accordingly with your preferences (button 1 or button 2).
Example.
I don't like the default categories organization so my strategy is:
- I add a new program on the root;
- I move it through the configuration form in a suitable logical category folder and sub folder.
So feel free to update all your programs because SyMenu won't (logically) move them in any way.
edited by Gianluca on 11/06/2019
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jopa66 Posts: 16
11/06/2019
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Hello... I did send you an email containing the error I received on auto update. (can paste again here if you wish). If I manually download the new version (zip format) and overwrite the older version, will it still retain my current "sort configuration" ? including the SyMenu, NirSoft and Sysinternals folders?
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
11/06/2019
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Usually when you update or force update a program, both from a remote package or from a manually downloaded one (local package), the previous configuration is preserved.
The only condition is that you leave the updating task to the SPS Manager form (Get new apps) because it knows how to update/overwrite every program preserving their configurations.
If you manual overwrite a program from the file system, you are on your own and further the SPS Manager doesn't know you already updated it.
If you have a problem with certain programs loosing their configuration, please let me or the related editor know because it's probably a bug.
Anyway to avoid problem, please always backup your programs before updating.
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jopa66 Posts: 16
11/06/2019
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OK. Thanx. You've now answered my next question - before I asked it! LOL. But, what I'm asking here is the SyMenu app itself. If I manually download the new version 6.08 (zip format) and overwrite the older version 6.07, will it still retain my current "sort configuration" of all the various portable apps? including the SyMenu, NirSoft and Sysinternals folders? What I don't want to end up with is a long list of 500+ folders that I need to manually sort out. This seems to be what I was facing yesterday when I deleted (actually just renamed) the old 6.07 folder, then tried to rebuild using the new 6.08. I tried importing from the old 6.07 folder but, could not maintain any kind of sort preferences. This is what prompted me to inquire here in the forum. Thought there was something simple I was missing but, now find out it is by design??
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
11/06/2019
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 yes, you are missing the simplest thing of all: the automatic update.
SyMenu can check if a new version is available and auto update itself with no problem for your program or configuration.
There is a native entry called "check for update" that does the job.
Anyway, if you want to update it be hand, even if I consider it senseless, overwrite the old package with the downloaded one. The configuration folder (config) and the programs folder (programFiles) are not available in the downloaded package so you can overwrite safely.
And please report here the result.
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jopa66 Posts: 16
11/06/2019
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Was the automatic update that messed things up. SyMenu would not even start after the update. Will do it manually and let you know. Thanks.
Attaching RAR of error message. The site doesn't like something in the message code so it won't let me just paste it here..
edited by jopa66 on 11/06/2019
edited by jopa66 on 11/06/2019
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jopa66 Posts: 16
11/06/2019
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Updated manually and everything seems okay. Also updated my current apps.
If I'm understanding the new process correctly, if I choose to install any NEW apps, they will be put into the root and I will then need to put them where I want them?
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
12/06/2019
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Strange thing.
Probably the previous automatic update gone wrong for some reason... Indeed the error is not helping very much.
Anyway the important thing is that you update in some way.
Regarding your question about the new process, no it's not precisely as you describe and, no, it's not a new process, but it's only the old process with less options.
To briefly recap:
- you have two options because you can decide that all your new programs will be located on the root OR that all your new programs will be located in a folder whose name is the same of the program category. So you have two options and not only one;
- only your NEW programs are moved on the root or into the folder-category. Every old program you update, REMAINS in its own folder.
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jopa66 Posts: 16
12/06/2019
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Okay. thanks for your help.
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