CPM for Mac Tip: Adding Multiple Assets

Outlaw Game Tools
#1

Hello Jay and forum,

I have recently been spending some quality time with Corona and CPM.

…but you know even if you have been developing software for years a change of toolset can leave you feeling a little naive all over again.

To new users it may not be immediately apparent there is an efficient way to add multiple new assets to a project?

I imagine most newbies hit New Asset (or command+N) many times, adding assets to a project one by one. I started down this sorry road for a couple of minutes before having a giggle to myself.

So I figured it worth noting somewhere that adding multiple assets is as simple as dragging single or multiple files from a finder window to the asset panel in CPM. Too easy. The path/location of each file is reflected correctly in the CPM asset panel.

Alternatively I may wish to add 50 new image assets from a folder that contains 250 image files. I might expect to hold Command-N, and select multiple files from a finder open file dialog. I cannot however select more than a single file to add to the project at one time.

Jay, perhaps you might also consider enabling the ability to select multiple files in the finder open file dialog for those newbies who don’t immediately realise they can drop 'n drag from the finder to the assets panel.

Yes this is trivial stuff but if it saves a new developer precious time on day one, I would consider the 5 minutes writing this post worthwhile.

Kind regards, Andrew [import]uid: 12361 topic_id: 11589 reply_id: 311589[/import]

#2

Yeah, good idea, Andrew. I’m not sure why allowing multiple files in the open dialog didn’t occur to me – except that I never use that for existing files, I always drag and drop. :slight_smile:

I’ll add that to the “to-do” list.

You know, I wonder if putting in a “tutorial mode” might be a good idea? The first time someone uses Add Existing Asset I can pop up a message saying, “Quick Tip: You can drag and drop existing files into the asset list.”

Maybe I should put together a list of shortcuts like that and let people know when they can be used (but allow tutorial mode to be turned on/off in the Prefs).

Jay [import]uid: 9440 topic_id: 11589 reply_id: 42155[/import]

#3

Jay,

It makes good business sense to immediately educate new users on the features of your product - even if it is passe (not so fashionable) and boring for experienced people.

Faster learning curve, higher satisfaction, better retention.

Making a snap judgement based on what I read in the Corona forums, Corona has attracted a younger audience than most development platforms (of course there are many experienced people too). So not only are many of this audience new to Corona they are new to software development.

Even considering the most trivial of things like creating new assets, can make a big difference to their experience of CPM.

Let’s face it CPM is an IDE, and with a typical developer using a good many IDE’s, the absence of a quick ‘heads up’, can leave you guessing. Man I have IDE’s for PHP, JavaScript frameworks, LIve Code (RunRev), RealBasic, Flex, a host of other stuff and now Corona.

Lately I have been implementing messaging within some of my desktop apps with Growl as it has a nice and somewhat discreet UI (that doesn’t seem to annoy my more experienced users). On the downside it is Mac only and therefore unsuitable for cross-platform implementation. You could achieve much of the same with a ‘Welcome’ screen and CPM UI FAQ that more experienced users could dismiss (opt out of).

Just some thoughts.

Take care - Andrew [import]uid: 12361 topic_id: 11589 reply_id: 42182[/import]

#4

I am currently evaluating cpm, and i am using corona ui for a project. i just added my own files, and not the corona ui files to cpm and it has been giving errors. i figured out it uses a temp directory in someway, and understand that i have to add all corona ui assets. i was about to post a message to the developer, about how annoying to add assets one by one. that tip saved me ;). [import]uid: 46529 topic_id: 11589 reply_id: 43681[/import]

#5

It’s always nice when tech support problems handle themselves, although I realize I need to keep working on streamlining things so people don’t get frustrated in the first place. :slight_smile:

In v3 I’ll probably add the option to auto-add assets that are found in the project folder, but that won’t be turned on by default. I tend to keep ALL my project files in one folder (multiple levels down) and auto adding all would mean my editable graphic files, tutorial videos, test files, etc. Not only would they be added to the project when you Launch, but they’d be added to your project when you Build, and all that extra stuff would be included for no reason.

People always ask me why they have to add assets to a project and that’s one of the biggest reasons – because not every file is (usually) usually needed to Launch or Build the project.

But CPM is only just over six months old, so there’s a lot more changes that will be coming.

Jay
[import]uid: 9440 topic_id: 11589 reply_id: 43684[/import]

#6

oh thanks for the drag/drop tip haha
[import]uid: 70635 topic_id: 11589 reply_id: 46198[/import]