Win500 learning curve

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RickS31

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As a relatively newbie and learning all the ins and outs of both the scanner (106) and the Win500 software, I hope I'll be permitted a couple of comments here on the programming software.

First, please let me preface my comments with the fact that I've been in computers as a vocation for nearly 30 years. I've sold and managed both major software as well as hardware projects. Many of the smaller companies I worked for also used many of us old pros for application testing, QC and UI evaluation in the development and beta phase.

First, Win 500, for the dollars, is a nice fully functional package. It does do everything Don says it does and, once the learning curve is reached, does do it quite nicely. However, there are just a couple of things I'd like to suggest. First, this product absolutely needs a GOOD and complete, as well as context sensitive Help file. Personally, and only IMHO, I'd stop any further product development and concentrate on getting the help file done. There is just way too much complexity left up to the user to try and ferret out through trial and error. Luckily, there are very experienced users on our forums that are more than happy to help. But even so, much of the basic functionality is left up to user discovery as to how it really works. No real place to understand what is required. I was ultimately able to figure out how but there were a lot of cusswords till I did, especially after trying to find help files and finding none.

Second, more concentration on the user interface. It's not bad but, for newbies, could be more intuitive perhaps with more guidance screens as you add systems and such. Kinda revolves back to help.

Again, please take this only as constructive and with total reverence. I know how tough this is for small developers. I'd be happy to provide any other info on the product if desired. Above all, it is a good product and I have absolutely no complaints as to what it does and does well.

Rick
 
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RickS31

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Thanks Mike.

I have been through that excellent instruction many times. It was definitely one of the posts I used to understand the software and it's ability to capture info from RR to load into my scanner. But, I tend to be one of those anal retentives that take each piece one at a time. First is to try and understand the scanner itself so I know how it works. Second try a simple connection, free package of software taking advantage of the cable and drivers like Scan ID Tracker. Last, go to Win500 after reading everything I can get my hands on including the forums and UtahRadio's excellent tutorial. As I saw that, it was aimed primarily at downloading info from RR. A good thing believe me. However, that's still a bit of a ways off for me till I totally understand the software and scanner. Right now, I have used the RR Db to provide the manually entered info to use with Win500 and have used Win500 to fill in the scanner with the stuff I want from that.

My comments are totally aimed at understanding manual operation of Win500 to place info in the scanner. Again, it does that faultlessly. It is only understanding the process and steps (and software idiosyncracies) in doing it. Something a complete and context sensitive help system would help with.

Hope that makes sense.

Rick
 

Highpockets

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Thanks Mike.

I have been through that excellent instruction many times. It was definitely one of the posts I used to understand the software and it's ability to capture info from RR to load into my scanner. But, I tend to be one of those anal retentives that take each piece one at a time. First is to try and understand the scanner itself so I know how it works. Second try a simple connection, free package of software taking advantage of the cable and drivers like Scan ID Tracker. Last, go to Win500 after reading everything I can get my hands on including the forums and UtahRadio's excellent tutorial. As I saw that, it was aimed primarily at downloading info from RR. A good thing believe me. However, that's still a bit of a ways off for me till I totally understand the software and scanner. Right now, I have used the RR Db to provide the manually entered info to use with Win500 and have used Win500 to fill in the scanner with the stuff I want from that.

My comments are totally aimed at understanding manual operation of Win500 to place info in the scanner. Again, it does that faultlessly. It is only understanding the process and steps (and software idiosyncracies) in doing it. Something a complete and context sensitive help system would help with.

Hope that makes sense.

Rick

You seem to be giving this allot of thought. Why don't you start writing things down and before you know it some kind of useful help file will come alive. Then add it to the RR or Utah Wiki for all to share, that's the way the Win500 Guide got started.
 

ka3jjz

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It might even be possible if Don S were to add a link to that wiki in the help section of his program....we have such a link to the user manual for FreeScan which is in our wiki, so it's not like it couldn't be done...

73 Mike
 
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