Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG - Amiga Events - News

Amiga Events : Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG

Posted by amigakit on 2015/6/3 12:44:15 (2964 reads) News by the same author

Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG
The ultimate Classic & Next-Generation AmigaOS file viewer
Cardiff 3rd June 2015

A-EON Technology Ltd is pleased announce the imminent release of MultiViewer and MultiViewerNG, its advanced file viewer utility for Classic and Next-Generation AmigaOS systems.

As part of our ongoing commitment to developing quality software content for Classic and Next-Generation AmigaOS systems we contracted freelance AmigaOS developer Andy Broad and set him the challenge of creating the ultimate AmigaOS file viewer utility. We gave him outline specifications and the freedom to build the programme from the ground-up. Our only stipulation were that the software must integrate with our other A-EON Technology applications such as Personal Paint & ImageFX and to make sure that, wherever possible, the Classic version had most of the features of Next-Generation version.

We are please to report that Andy has exceeded all of our expectations and the result is MultiViewer a flexible application for viewing any type of file supported by the datatypes system. Two versions are being released: MultiViewer for the Classic AmigaOS and MultiViewerNG for the latest AmigaOS 4.1 systems.
Both of these programs provide the AmigaOS with many additional features, such as a tool bar, image scaling, slideshow mode together with file and image editing hotlinks to programs such as NotePad ,Personal Paint, etc. Both versions of MultiViewer may be run from the Workbench or from the shell. The programs behaviour is controlled by a range of options which may be defined as Tooltypes or command line switches. Default settings are loaded from the tooltypes in the main programs icon. A powerful ARexx interface and Scripting menu provides even more options. The default settings can be modified by the tooltypes in the projects icon or the switches and options provided on the command line. Additional tooltypes allow the defining of external editors and scripts which may be executed from a custom script menu. Once MultiViewer is running, additional features may be controlled via the tool bar, menu and keyboard shortcuts and multiple files. Full Ringhio support is also included and the NG version also includes multiple Tabs and the ability to view AMIStore screenshots.

We asked Andy to comment on his six months MultiViewer development effort. "It's been an interesting challenge exploring both the potential and limitations of the datatypes system in order to bring the original concept of MultiView up to date in MultiViewer. An additional challenge was exploiting the significant advances in the AmigaOS 4 Reaction GUI system whilst providing as much functionality in the relatively limited 3.X version as possible."

MultiViewer and MultiViewerNG will be available shortly from AMIStore & Amistore.net

MultiViewer to the future

Special thanks to the beta testers PJS, Severin and others for their work on finding bugs and providing feedback.

www.a-eon.com

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Author	Thread
328gts	Published: 2015/6/3 18:58 Updated: 2015/6/3 18:58
Home away from home Joined: 07/07/2009 From: Man Cave, Canada Comments: 3250	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG

ChrisH	Published: 2015/6/3 21:46 Updated: 2015/6/3 21:46
Home away from home Joined: 05/19/2007 From: England Comments: 3582	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG screenshot???

amigakit	Published: 2015/6/3 21:56 Updated: 2015/6/3 21:56
Quite a regular Joined: 12/04/2006 From: www.amigakit.com Comments: 741	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG Here are the screenshots:

Tuxedo	Published: 2015/6/4 10:53 Updated: 2015/6/4 10:53
Not too shy to talk Joined: 11/28/2006 From: Perugia, ITALY Comments: 339	how much? price? Or it was considered as MultiView extension?

amigakit	Published: 2015/6/4 12:06 Updated: 2015/6/4 12:06
Quite a regular Joined: 12/04/2006 From: www.amigakit.com Comments: 741	Re: how much? It is not an extension to MultiView. This is a package that has been written from the ground up over nearly half a year. The AMIStore price will be GBP £ 6 + vat / 8.40 EUR + vat / US $ 9.30 at current exchange rates

ChrisH	Published: 2015/6/4 18:13 Updated: 2015/6/5 19:08
Home away from home Joined: 05/19/2007 From: England Comments: 3582	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG @amigakit Thanks. Shame that pictures on Amigans.net are broken in Odyssey (I don't know which is to blame).

Tuxedo	Published: 2015/6/4 19:34 Updated: 2015/6/4 19:34
Not too shy to talk Joined: 11/28/2006 From: Perugia, ITALY Comments: 339	Re: how much? @amigakit ok thank you, hope that will be integrated in next releases of AmigaOS since the original MultiView was REALLY old(about 20 years atm...)...

Raziel	Published: 2015/6/5 5:11 Updated: 2015/6/5 5:11
Home away from home Joined: 11/26/2006 From: a dying planet Comments: 5622	Re: how much? @Tuxedo I don't think it will replace Multiview anytime if ever (it's a third-party "tool", not an OS compoment, if i understand correctly).

broadblues	Published: 2015/6/5 9:10 Updated: 2015/6/5 9:10
Home away from home Joined: 12/04/2006 From: Comments: 2387	Re: how much? @Raziel It's not an OS component quite true, it is a replacement in terms of functionality, the installer comes with an option to replace MultiView as the default tool in the def_icons where it's found. I also found that simply replaceing MultiView by renameing to MultiView.os and then copying MultiViewer to sys:utilities/MultiView worked very well.

broadblues	Published: 2015/6/5 9:12 Updated: 2015/6/5 9:12
Home away from home Joined: 12/04/2006 From: Comments: 2387	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG @ChrisH Pictures in amigans.net workig fine here in OWB and Oddysey so perhaps some config issue?

Raziel	Published: 2015/6/5 14:50 Updated: 2015/6/5 14:50
Home away from home Joined: 11/26/2006 From: a dying planet Comments: 5622	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG @broadblues Understood... What would you tell a guy who is still pondering whether to get this new software or leave it be and wait for it's (free?) integration into the OS later on (let's say 4.2). Also, it may bring new functionality when it comes to the UI, but it's still limited to the (missing) features of the underlying datatypes...it doesn't magically add stuff or patch datatype behaviour..am i correct? I know that a whole pack of new datatypes are being developed by salass00...will they get the same support in Multiviewer once available (especially if they feature new stuff)?

broadblues	Published: 2015/6/5 17:17 Updated: 2015/6/5 17:17
Home away from home Joined: 12/04/2006 From: Comments: 2387	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG Quote: Understood... What would you tell a guy who is still pondering whether to get this new software or leave it be and wait for it's (free?) integration into the OS later on (let's say 4.2). I guess you didn't understand then, it's not an OS component, it's not likely to be included in the OS anytime son, it's not expensive, so if you think you'll find it useful, buy it sooner rather than later. Quote: Also, it may bring new functionality when it comes to the UI, but it's still limited to the (missing) features of the underlying datatypes...it doesn't magically add stuff or patch datatype behaviour..am i correct? For picture datatypes, it uses the datatype only for loading and handles scaling rotation itself (using hardware acceleration in where available). All other datatypes display is handled by the datatype, but things like mouse scrolling by left mouse button dragging ( or middle where the LMB is used for selection like in the text gadget) are added. ARexx scripts add yet another layer of functionality. Quote: I know that a whole pack of new datatypes are being developed by salass00...will they get the same support in Multiviewer once available (especially if they feature new stuff)? Ofcourse if they are compliant datatypes they will work.

ChrisH	Published: 2015/6/5 19:10 Updated: 2015/6/5 19:10
Home away from home Joined: 05/19/2007 From: England Comments: 3582	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG @broadblues No idea why it works for you in Odyssey, but not me. I get a new tab opened, with the URL "about:blank" and the only thing showing is the thumbnail.

ChrisH	Published: 2015/6/5 19:12 Updated: 2015/6/5 19:12
Home away from home Joined: 05/19/2007 From: England Comments: 3582	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG @broadblues Any chance of a demo version of your program? It's a bit difficult to tell if I'd find it useful and/or like the way it works. (I dislike so many picture viewers that I wrote my own!)

broadblues	Published: 2015/6/5 21:21 Updated: 2015/6/5 21:21
Home away from home Joined: 12/04/2006 From: Comments: 2387	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG There no plan for a demo at this point, I'm not sure how you would sensible disable features and give a good demo of it's functioanilty. The projected price is relatively inexpensive, if you are not sure, then wait for forum feedback etc.

Raziel	Published: 2015/6/6 6:54 Updated: 2015/6/6 6:54
Home away from home Joined: 11/26/2006 From: a dying planet Comments: 5622	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG @broadblues Thanks for the summary

ChrisH	Published: 2015/6/6 10:51 Updated: 2015/6/6 10:51
Home away from home Joined: 05/19/2007 From: England Comments: 3582	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG @broadblues Quote: I'm not sure how you would sensible disable features and give a good demo of it's functioanilty Pretty easy, as it's be done for shareware picture viewers & datatypes. Off the top of my head: Plaster some brightly coloured text (like "unregistered" or "demo") in the middle of the picture, or even several places in the picture. For text-based stuff, I guess you could replace/insert text with "demo" at regular intervals. Anyway, that's just some ideas. I'm not demanding a demo, just suggesting/requesting one. If you don't want to do one (or not right now) then that's fine.

amigakit	Published: 2015/6/6 15:54 Updated: 2015/6/6 15:54
Quite a regular Joined: 12/04/2006 From: www.amigakit.com Comments: 741	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG For such as low cost item, I don't think there is much financial or practical merit in having a demo version produced TBH.

Antique	Published: 2015/6/7 14:47 Updated: 2015/6/7 14:47
Home away from home Joined: 11/30/2006 From: Norway Comments: 2640	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG When will this be available for purchase?

amigakit	Published: 2015/6/7 17:47 Updated: 2015/6/7 17:47
Quite a regular Joined: 12/04/2006 From: www.amigakit.com Comments: 741	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG Very soon- we are just completing the Installer and docs, plus last minute tweaks.

Antique	Published: 2015/6/7 20:01 Updated: 2015/6/7 20:01
Home away from home Joined: 11/30/2006 From: Norway Comments: 2640	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG Good to know. Need more stuff to buy at the store. :p

xenic	Published: 2015/6/8 16:32 Updated: 2015/6/8 16:32
Just can't stay away Joined: 01/06/2008 From: Pennsylvania, USA Comments: 1356	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG @ChrisH I don't think it even makes sense to create a demo version of a program that can be bought for the price of a fast-food hamburger meal

yoodoo2	Published: 2015/6/8 19:43 Updated: 2015/6/8 19:43
Just popping in Joined: 12/09/2006 From: The Bostin' Black Country Comments: 113	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG Excellent comment - completely puts the price into perspective! (although I do have a couple of £1.99 MacDo vouchers here ripped out of the Metro)

broadblues	Published: 2015/6/8 22:17 Updated: 2015/6/8 22:17
Home away from home Joined: 12/04/2006 From: Comments: 2387	Re: Introducing MultiViewer & MultiViewerNG Quote: Excellent comment - completely puts the price into perspective! (although I do have a couple of £1.99 MacDo vouchers here ripped out of the Metro) Sorry their veggie stuff is awful so I can't accept them as payment!