Re: Re: Re: UNDO and Mathematica - how useless
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg98461] Re: [mg98417] Re: [mg98357] Re: UNDO and Mathematica - how useless
- From: Murray Eisenberg <murray at math.umass.edu>
- Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:54:28 -0400 (EDT)
- Organization: Mathematics & Statistics, Univ. of Mass./Amherst
- References: <200903251042.FAA24502@smc.vnet.net> <200904090955.FAA06846@smc.vnet.net>
- Reply-to: murray at math.umass.edu
Ordinary saving the notebook keeps overwriting with the new version. A much better solution, in the absence of a more complete undo/redo facility, would be DrMajorBob's "Bare Bones Backup" button or, for more complete control, the backup facilities in David Riess' WorkLife FrameWork. DrMajorBob wrote: > The best advice I can givi is "save early and often"... but I admit that's > not a replacement for Undo. > > I've gotten used to the situation, as most of us have, but Meitnik still > has a point. > > Bobby > > On Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:48:55 -0500, meitnik <meitnik at gmail.com> wrote: > >> An open letter to WRI, struggling with undo. >> >> I am a disabled user (but am creative and intelligent) and a >> prospective Home Edition buyer (I have finally got the funds in place >> today). I *need* an Undo that really works. I make lots of typing >> errors and yes logical errors too. Besides, being creative and >> learning is making big and small mistakes and rethinking ones >> direction. Forgiving software was part of the tech paradigm shift in >> the 80s and 90s. Did WRI miss that while mastering CA patterns? While >> learning Mathematica using a trial version, I already lost time/code >> and become frustrated several times dealing with undo (sometimes it >> sorta works sometimes its just stupid). Why make it so hard to undo? >> Does not your QA fight for a real undo? Does not marketing understand >> undo is a key selling feature? Perhaps for many all the power of >> Mathematica alone compensates for its limited undo. >> >> I have owned hundreds of software apps, beta-tested just as many over >> my 30 years. I have never seen software that just fails so badly at >> understanding undo. Perhaps a tutorial on how to deal with undo is >> wanting, does one already exist?. At least document well how undo >> works now. Offer tips and tricks how to manage mistakes/errors in >> one's work other than the brute force of save as and duplicating >> cells. Finally, As a Mac user, undo is one of the prime directives of >> OS X gui guidelines. WRI, don't you like having and using a real undo >> for all your Mac apps (and later for Windows too). Yes, doing a real >> undo is hard, but it is worth it and shows real respect to your users >> both new and old. Come on guys, you are all smart enough! >> >> If you are wanting to make the Home Edition market succeed, than you >> need a reasonable undo working shortly in 3-5 months, not 2 years >> later. I do not need to buy now Home Edition but I really want it now >> but at the cost of dealing with unpleasant software? I value my time >> and efforts, and yes undoing mistakes. Important features matter to >> overall productivity and a sense of polish -- undo is one of them. You >> want a sale, I want software that works as expected. I can wait it >> out, for I waited 20 years for Mathematica to be within my reach at >> age 50. A few more months or years is ok with me. I can set aside >> those funds for another day. Maybe a formal petition is needed for a >> proper undo?? >> >> If I have erred in my reasoning or understanding how undo currently >> works, please educate me to be a better productive user of >> Mathematica. I am willing to learn from my mistakes. Forgiveness in >> people or software is cool. >> >> Thank you for enduring my rant. I am off to soak my painful fingers >> now... >> > > > -- Murray Eisenberg murray at math.umass.edu Mathematics & Statistics Dept. Lederle Graduate Research Tower phone 413 549-1020 (H) University of Massachusetts 413 545-2859 (W) 710 North Pleasant Street fax 413 545-1801 Amherst, MA 01003-9305
- References:
- Re: Re: UNDO and Mathematica - how useless is it?
- From: DrMajorBob <btreat1@austin.rr.com>
- Re: Re: UNDO and Mathematica - how useless is it?