Properties

The properties dialog controls many of wconnect's settings.

A lot of properties have very long descriptive names. But this makes it difficult to refer to them in the documentation, so I've given them short names in brackets. E.g. the AutoLogin parameter is the one described as "Login to the server immediately wconnect is run, and whenever contact is lost. (AUTOLOGIN)". Generally the short name is the equivalent variable in the config file.

Changes are saved out to the (user's) config file when wconnect exits. (The 'Append log...' parameter is not saved.)

But from the config file it's possible to mark parameters as global: changes to these parameters aren't saved out. Although there is no way to spot a global parameter in the properties dialog, a warning pops-up if you try and edit one.

The properties dialog has a nonstandard okay/cancel system. The essential point is this: whatever the values displayed when wconnect exits, those are the values wconnect should be using.

Dismiss   The Dismiss button is visible when nothing has changed; it just closes the dialog. In this mode the Apply button is always disabled.

Apply   As soon as you edit a property the Apply becomes enabled. Clicking the apply button closes the dialog and instructs wconnect to try and effect the changes you've asked for.

Undo All   When you edit a property, the dismiss button changes to Undo All; clicking this button cancels all your changes but does not close the dialog. Once you've undone your changes you can then Dismiss the dialog.

I've opted for this approach because--surrepticiously shoulder surfing--I've seen new users confused by the 'okay' and 'cancel' buttons. I've also seen users who should know better using the the close button on the title bar as an okay button; they're then left wondering why their changes haven't happend. I'm hoping this is a step towards a better solution (how often is the cancel button used anyway?) I will continue to watch people and see if this is an improvement, or if its more confusing for a dialog to somtimes need one click to close and sometimes require two; but this is a running debate, email me your observations, suggestions and criticisms.