ComicRack Localization

The next release of ComicRack will support localization (e.g. ComicRack running in Spanish).

If you want to help to bring ComicRack to your language, had over to the forum for more information.

ComicRack v 0.9.54 released

Again a release that mainly incorporates user suggestions.

Build 0.9.54:

• NEW: List Layout Management
• NEW: Size of Info Overlays can now be adjusted
• NEW: Copy/Paste of selected values to multiple eComics
  

• CHANGE: Changed the rar code
• CHANGE: Wheel page transition delay is now time based (1 second)
• CHANGE: Cursor keys also have a page transition delay
• CHANGE: Added tooltips to trackbars in Preferences Dialog
• CHANGE: Moved Workspaces Menu entry
• CHANGE: Cleaned up Toolbar
• CHANGE: New Folder, New List and New Smart List commands are now Dialog based
  

• BUG: Using "Open in new Window" in the File Browser did open two windows
• BUG: Minimize to Notification Area did not remember maximized state
• BUG: Not drawn '&' in tree node names
• BUG: Fixed wrong culture on background threads

hf

ComicRack v 0.9.44 released

This build includes some minor improvements and hopefully lets ComicRack finally run on x64 systems.

Build 0.9.44:

• CHANGE: Merged Color Adjustment/Pages Tab in the Comic Dialog
• CHANGE: Comic Dialog now reads thumbnails in the background (no more hangs when using over slow network)
• CHANGE: Remove dialogs only use cached thumbnails (no more hangs when using over slow network)

• BUG: Fixed wrong ghosting color for textboxes
• BUG: Fixed missing background thumbnail processing if one thumbnail was used multipe times
• BUG: Fixed wrong icon in secondary browser windows (was still the old RC icon)
• BUG: ComicRack should now properly run on x64 systems

hf

ComicRack v 0.9.43 released

This one brings a language property for eComics, better high quality thumbnails and a detailed and variable control for the magnifier.

Build 0.9.43:

• NEW: Language Property for eComics
• NEW: Detailed Magnifier Control (width, height, opaque, zoom)
  

• CHANGE: Much better multi resolution handling for thumbnails
• CHANGE: Added "Unspecified" entries to the Search Browser
• CHANGE: Added "Imprint" to Search Browser
  
• CHANGE: Dropdowns in Comic Dialogs are now sized appropriately
  

• BUG: Fixed Double Click on Browser Arrows in the Reader
• BUG: Changed tooltip texts for browser buttons
• BUG: Fixed stack close button for long stack names
• BUG: Fixed eaten click in Magnifier
• BUG: Browser arrows in preview
• BUG: When preview was in zoom mode next/previous button actually did part navigation

as always
hf

ComicRack v 0.9.31 released

This will be it for this week. Did all the things I planned to do and more :)

The new fade in of thumbnails gives the application a much calmer feeling.
Switching back to 256 pixels for thumbnails has IMHO a neglectable influence on display quality, but is a huge performance improvement.

As always, finally the (very) short list of changes.

Build 0.9.31:

• NEW: Fade in of thumbnails
  

• CHANGE: With all the new visual stuff for thumbnails (fade in, page curl, peek into inside of comics) I came to the conclusion that the performance hit of 512 pixel thumbnails is just too big.
  Switched back to 256 pixels.

ComicRack v 0.9.30 released

Quick, small and fast. That's how we do builds here :)

Build 0.9.30:

• NEW: Background saving of changed data
  

• BUG: Fixed crossthread bug in combination with the optional python script console
• BUG: Fixed gray lines in quicksearch textbox

ComicRack v0.9.27 released

Pulled a fast one this time.

An ugly bug hit ComicRack. Inker data was not stored to exported XML files or embedded into existing eComics. This meant, that when the eComic was removed from the library and readded the Inker info was lost. Sorry to all people who lost data because of this.

Also full screen mode should now work properly on Vista machines.

This version introduces basic Python Scripting support. It includes one small sample script that exports all comics into a CSV file with a few columns. The script support will be extended with the next version. I will also add some documentation in the future.

List of all the changes for Build 0.9.27:

• NEW: Drag & Drop of books directly into explorer (desktop etc.) to copy files
• NEW: Basic Python Scripting engine
  

• BUG: Fixed fullscreen on vista (cursor and slow switching)
• BUG: Inkers where only stored in the database and not in xml files or comic files.

hf

First donations

Yep :)

I have received two donations. Thanks to one of these being very generous I currently stand at 80 €.
I also looked into some hosting options and came to following amount needed:

10 €/Month hosting
10 € domain registration fee

So currently I'm still 50 € short.

What I plan to do is put ComicRack on its own domain (comicrack.info, org whatever). Move the board there. Move the blogs there. Develop a backend database where ComicRack can store and retrieve comics information (something like cddb).

This would put the whole project to a new level i think...

Anyway, thanks to the donators. Every € is appreciated :)

Happy New Year

I wish all a Happy New Year 2007.

I want to thank all the people who have helped ComicRack becoming a better program during this year. Your feedback is the main force for further development.
I also like to thank the people who posted, told and spread information about the new kid on the block called ComicRack.

On the PayPal support donation front the project till now has received 0 (zero) €. I hope Amnesty International fared better :/

Anyways, Happy New Year and all the luck to you guys and gals out there :)

ComicRack v0.9.23 released

This is just a small update.
I finally came around to make a new icon design and get rid of the 2 year old one done for RComix. Hope you like it.

These are the new icons for Application, Document and Setup.

Another long requested feature has made it finally into ComicRack: If the program is in 2 page mode, browsing forward actually advances 2 pages :)

List of changes:

• NEW: Added cover images to the delete dialog boxes
• NEW: Page forward in Two Page display mode advances two pages
  

• CHANGE: Changed the icon for ComicRack (was about time)
• CHANGE: page curl effect uncovers the current read page in the comic
  

• BUG: color names did not include needed spaces (wherever colors are to choose)

ComicRack v0.9.22 released

Now that's what i call agile development :)

This one includes some performance enhancements, the squishing of an ugly deadlock bug, some new features and in general all the other usual mojo :)

As i've moved the thumbnail/image cache to a new location comicrack has to rebuild them. Also you can remove the old cache folder at C:\Documents And Settings\User\Application Data\cYo\ComicsRack\Cache.

Quick rundown of the changes:

• NEW: Global filter for image keys never to use as cover thumbnails
• NEW: Added Read/Unread/Reading filter to quicksearch dropdown
  

• CHANGE: Restructured the Advanced Preferences Tab to make space for new settings
• CHANGE: Moved image caches to local non roaming profile (better for corporate environments)
  

• BUG: Fixed possible deadlock in cache/drawing
• BUG: Fixed link to website in start menu
• BUG: Fixed installer for Vista
• BUG: Fixed performance for thumbnail mode list resizes
• BUG: Fixed Alternate Series in Search Browser
• BUG: Wrong second (uncovered) page displayed in lists in rare situations
• BUG: Open previous comic from list did not work in reader

ComicRack v0.9.21 released

Now that's called "pulling a quick one"...

Vista played an ugly trick on me (IShellDispatch5 for all you in the know :/)
So here's the fixed version and just for the sake of it, i also added some other fixes for which you would have otherwise waited another week...

Build 0.9.21:

• BUG: Fixed sorting on column header clicks
• BUG: Fixed hilite/selected state for non cover thumbnail items
• BUG: Fixed wrong text color for selected favorites folder items
• BUG: Fixed vista/xp shell32 incompatibility

ComicRack v0.9.20 released

A litter later then usual, here's .20

This brings some cbr/rar fixes, a nice page curl effect in the lists, selectable texts for the thumbnail view and other optimizations and fixes.

As i installed vista from the MSDN subscription recently (lets say i'm underwhelmed by this XP SP3 with a candy user interface) this one also brings ComicRack better looking and better behaving into vista land :)

As always here's the list of changes.

Build 0.9.20:

• NEW: Added startup progress indicator to the splash screen
• NEW: Count of group items displayed in group headers
• NEW: Text for thumbnails is now selectable
• NEW: Library tree remembers collapsed/expanded states
• NEW: Page Curl effect for thumbnail/tiles
  

• CHANGE: Tile Background less transparent
• CHANGE: More fluent initial window display
• CHANGE: Better guessing of non loaded thumbnail sizes (less flicker and movement)
• CHANGE: List selection code optimizations (less redrawing, faster)
• CHANGE: Switched list fonts to default icon fonts of os (looks better on vista)
• CHANGE: Smaller/nicer sort arrows in column headers
  

• BUG: Default List "Recently Added" was incorrectly named "Recently AddedTime" on inital install
• BUG: Fixed slow preview in Comic Book Dialog introduced with the full page change in 0.9.18
• BUG: Fixed some cbr/rar issues on Vista (and maybe XP)
• BUG: Hack for correct drawing of browser tabs on vista
• BUG: correct IPv6 handling in Vista for server code
• BUG: Fixed handling of incorrect windows explorer objects (e.g. Nokia Phone Browser)
• BUG: Fixed vertial scrolling during column resize or header dragging
• BUG: Fixed incorrect restoring of panel sizes on startup
• BUG: Thumbnails in lists did not honour the high quality setting

ComicRack v0.9.19 released

This one finally has the long awaited switch to text type for number fields. Now you can enter 0.5 or 12a as series information.

Here's the rest of the changes for Build 0.9.19:

• NEW: Command to hide/show the Sidebar in Library/Explorer/Favorites
• NEW: Hot tracking effect in browsers
  

• CHANGE: Switched Number & Alternate Number to Text (allowing now 0.5, 12a etc)
• CHANGE: Comic Book Dialog remembers last active tab
• CHANGE: Added Cancel button to Progress Dialog when getting big file lists in explorer
• CHANGE: Keyboard shortcuts for switching list modes
• CHANGE: Removed Searchbar and moved the items into a dropdown menu
• CHANGE: Some changes in how thumbnails & tiles look (I hope for the better :))
  

• BUG: Proposed Textbox background incorrectly displayed & as _
• BUG: Preferences Dialog now correctly accepts Enter/Escape for OK/Cancel
• BUG: Month, Alternate Count, Alternate Series and Alternate Number was not editable in the details mode (long click edit)

As always
hf

ComicRack v0.9.18 released

Again a fairly small release.

Build 0.9.18:

• NEW: Scroll mode now automatically switches to next/previous page
  

• CHANGE: Better Page Type Context Menus & Filter Drop Down in Pages Browser
• CHANGE: Extended List Options Dialog with some new options
• CHANGE: Better handling of quick search with big lists
• CHANGE: Comic Book Dialog now always uses the full scale page image in the color settings

hf

ComicRack v.0.9.17 released

This is just a very small bugfix release.

Build 0.9.17:

• BUG: Crashing bug when clicking on a non valid folder in explorer view (e.g. My Computer)
• BUG: Killed scrolling in image preview for color adjustment preview in version 0.9.16
• BUG: Fixed multi-selection with keyboard-only in comics lists
• BUG: 0.9.15 optimizations actually broke writing info back to eComics - that's what i call optimizations...

ComicRack v.0.9.16 released

Seems i have too much time on my hands lately :)

.16 brings the long awaited and much anticipated global color adjustment settings. It also introduces an optional "Auto Contrast" setting that greatly enhances washed out scans without you having to move those sliders around :)

And as always i threw some additional bug fixes into the basket.

Build 0.9.16:

• NEW: Global Color Adjustment Settings
• NEW: Auto Contrast option
• NEW: Apply Button in Preferences
• NEW: "Next/Previous from List" commands added to Viewer Context Menu
  

• CHANGE: Default key shortcuts for messageboxes with checkboxes (press Alt to see the shortcut)
• CHANGE: Small close button for comic preview
  

• BUG: Show View commands always toggled browser visibility (now only if selected view already visible)
• BUG: Fixed the pixel bug on the left side of the first entry in the comic list
• BUG: Bad hash code for color adjustment values that could lead to wrong images loaded from cache

Fun with your PSP

Just tried something that worked amazingly good.

1) Connect your PSP
2) Open ComicRack, open an eComic, do File->Save eComic as... and select "Folder with jpeg images" as type
3) Browse in the save dialog to your PSP Photo Folder (in my case G:\PSP\PHOTO) and hit save.
4) Disconnect your PSP, go to photo and select the new comic folder :)

Reading on the PSP works amazingly well. Maybe it would be a good idea to add a 480 width conversion to the save function, so that the comics are already properly scaled. It would also be cool if the PSP could retain the current zoom state when changing pictures.

ComicRack v.0.9.15 released

A rather quick new release, but i had time to clean some stuff up and optimize.
Main reason is to add the new unrar.dll to the package, as this seems to solve some issues in some rare environments.

Build 0.9.15:

• CHANGE: Optimizations when displaying folders with eComics which are not in the Library
• CHANGE: Update to unrar.dll 3.70 - seems this fixes some problems
• CHANGE: ComicInfo.xml in cbr/cbz files is now only read when the eComic is opened for reading or added to the database
• CHANGE: Folder/File list in file browser is now built on first selection and not on application start
• CHANGE: Embedded information in eComics only updated when the information really changes
• CHANGE: Less foreground updates during scanning
  

• BUG: Image sizes where not displayed correctly for files not in the database
• BUG: Library entry could be removed in the Library Browser

As a side note: ComicRack performs best if you add your comics to the library. This allows ComicRack to make heavy use of data and information caching. The whole explorer part of it is just there for additional convenience (if you ever wondered why there's not more explorer stuff like copy files, delete etc. - thats the reason).

And second side note: i come more and more to the conclusion that cbz/cbr is a very insufficient format to store comics in.
So what are the problems ComicRack has to cope with:

• Very slow
  Getting the count of images or trying to read ComicInfo.xml from inside costs a lot of time. Because each time ComicRack has to open the archive and decompress part of it.
• Not Updateable
  You can not write information back to the file. With rar it is not possible at all (because of licensing) and with zip it would be just crazy (decompress archive, change/add file and compress again). That's the reason ComicRack has to resort to open up secondary filestreams to store the information in the files. But this again can lead to synchronization problems as there are three possible places for meta information - ComicInfo.xml, NTFS secondary stream, database... - a sack full of cats...
  

What should be the right way to do it? I don't know, but if i had to design it from scratch, i would go for a xml based file format with embedded CData elements for the images. Info would be at the end so you could update the file without rewriting it.

Maybe i should get in contact with some of the linux guys to come with something up...