[APBeta] V17

[Paul Rodman]

On Feb 1, 2009, at 05:47 AM, Tim Long wrote:

> MDI (Multiple Document Interface) is something that most people are
> moving away from, including Microsoft. As you alluded to in your post,
> Microsoft applications (particularly Office 2007) have already dropped
> MDI. In fact, I'm finding it quite difficult to find an application  
> that
> still uses MDI. In the world of multi-monitor support, it no longer
> makes any sense to enclose all open documents in a single application
> workspace. Having each document in a completely independent window  
> makes
> much more sense. On balance, I think AstroPlanner works the right way,
> with one separate window per document.
>
> That notwithstanding, there definitely is something odd about the  
> way AP
> works on Windows. That splash screen is the culprit and perhaps it  
> is a
> bug. Here's how things should work on Windows to be consistent with  
> the
> Windows 'look and feel':
>
> 1. When multiple documents are opened, each document opens in a new,
> independent window. Each window (document) should have its own item on
> the task bar (Windows may group or stack these task bar items, but
> applications shouldn't try to second guess that).
> 2. When a document is closed one of three things should happen -
> 2a. If there are multiple windows open, then the closing document  
> should
> also close its window.
> 2b. If the closing document is the last window/document and it was
> closed using the Close Window button (red X in the corner) then the
> window should close and the application should exit.
> 2c. If the closing document is the last document and it was closed  
> using
> File... Close, then the document should close, but the application
> should remain open with a blank workspace (i.e. not displaying any
> document).
>
> If you compare the above rules with the way Office 2007 applications
> work, I think you'll agree it is about right. Whether you _like_ how  
> it
> works is another matter, but if consistency with other Windows
> applications is the goal, then that's the right approach.

Thanks for that. I suspect I'm reasonably close. I can make the 2b and  
2c changes relatively easily, additionally remembering (in 2b) what  
plan doc was closed so that it can be reopened when the app is re- 
started (this isn't "standard", but is an option that's been around  
since V1.0, so I'll keep it. I find it convenient).

Paul R.