New feature for Gardening software

[ideasguy]

Ive developed a new feature this week, which can easily be built into each of my Gardening Software products.
Have you ever wished you could zoom in on a part of an image when linking photos to plants when using
Flower Genie or Ideas Genie?

Example: If you happen to capture the plant label in the photo, but its not quite legible without zooming.
This new feature obviates the need to have to open your Photo Editor to have a closert look.

Heres a screen shot of the new screen, where I'm focused on one of Erics photos:

[ideasguy]

and of course, its great for family photos:

[ideasguy]

or of course, to look closely at a flower

[NightHawk]

What a great feature that is George. 

Excellent potential and so simple.  (Why didn't you think of that one before  )
Only joking.

Very innovative.

Laurie.

[ideasguy]

Thanks Laurie
I picked up some code on the developers forum I use, for selecting a zone within an image.
http://www.foxite.com

Having got that code manipulated to work in a test environment, I then developed the bells and whistles (the slide bar etc) with a few extras (asthetics) as suggested by my IT colleagues.

Its fun to use.
Some more tweaks to do yet. e.g. I want to be able to roll the mouse wheel to enlarge/reduce the Zoom image.
Should be easy enough.

It will appear all over the Gardening Software programs
e.g. during a slide show, when you pause you can zoom in on zones in the image.

Having hundreds of photos from my RHS Gardens visits to link to plants in the Master Database, that tool will be priceless.
Its really clever.
Before, Ive had to use a Photo Editor to find the photo then zoom for a close inspection.
It will be nice to access the photo quicker within Ideas Genie Pro etc. The photo file details will already be located, so its a click of a button to analyse the zoom details.

[Lyn and Malcolm]

A very usefull tool George. Is ther no end to your imagination.

Wherever the photo of the family was taken...............they need to plant some climbers on the wall and fence 

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Its the tool Ive needed most when linking photos to plants, Malcolm.
Want some more imagination? I can put some extra code in to allow the user to save the  selected zone e.g. to disc or any other drive.
I bet you guys can think of a few more bells and whistles 

The family photo was taken at my sons house.
Long story, but together we built a dream garden in his first house. My design was based on this birthday card I once bought.
The rear garden was on a slope (like the card) We created this lovely little curved path edged with natural stone, with natural stone steps, leading to a seated area, scooped out and built into a high bank, and youve guessed it, constructed from natural stone.
The top of the garden had three flat tiers, edged with stone, all planted up.
One stone in particular took both of us about 3 hrs to move into place!
What happened next? He bought a bigger house.
So, I'm waiting to make sure hes going to stay put in this one!

[ideasguy]

Update!
Ive just showed this to my wife.
She wants to print the enlarged photo of James (in the photo above)
Can we do that?
Well, when I put the button on to save the zoomed zone as a new image, yes of course 

Note. The higher the resolution of your original, the better the quality of any zoom zone.

[roiphil]

Excellent idea and tool, when will it be ready for download

[Eric Hardy]

Congratulations George, that will be a great new feature.

Eric H

[ideasguy]

Thanks Eric. I'm now off crusading on a new datepicker for Bank Genie. Development and research never stops.

So, in answer to Phils question, the new gems will be included in the next batch of updates, but that may be after the Bank Genie edition is finished. Its top priority at present.

[NightHawk]

A very good marketing ploy there George.

A nice little 'teaser' to keep your customers in suspense and begging for more. 

It's good to hear that your Bank Genie users are not being neglected, and deserve your full attention.

Laurie.

[ideasguy]

I'd prefer not to keep anyone in suspense, Laurie 
It just takes a little time to work new features into the software prior to release.

I like to work new enhancements into the software to keep it to the fore, and if applicable, any new valuable feature will be introduced into each product.
In the case of Bank Genie its a new (additional) edition with a higher specification.
The current Bank Genie is very popular and stable and will continue to be marketed.
In developing the new edition, Ive addressed a number of items gleaned from user feedback.
e.g.
Currently, when you start a program from the program selection screen, the Menu items become disabled (grey)
When you close that program window the Menu tab items become active again.
In the "new look" the Menu tabs will always be active.

You guys already have a fully functional model of some of the other new features which are being applied to the new edition.
Run the Catalogs program - GA040.
Personalised Window resizing
Personalised Window positioning (both useful when using wide screen monitors)
When you open another window while running a program, the previous screens are shaded.

Then, all that new functionality will be introduced to the gardening software.
The cycle (and suspense now you know what is coming) continues 

[3fren]

Its a fantastic idea, George!

I have many photos from travel  which I would like to share in this forum, but
I am very slow in computer software...

Recently I was in South China and the Cotton trees (Celba/Bombacaceae) were blooming like crazy,
and there was a beautiful Chinese song that goes with it...

Red red flowers blooming profusely on the Cotton Trees
Long and winding path were ablazed
Tonight strolling on the path with a leaden heart
Light breeze caressing  thru the branches
Oh.. how can I forget you, Cotton path,
It was... just last year's high ecstasy
Oh...love is just like the Cotton path,
When season is over,  it   withered...
Oh....what remain is only the sound of the cicadas...

also the Traveller's Palm (Ravenala Madagascariensis) - we have in Singapore but
it is not the right climate to bloom..

Let me try a little and hopefully can share the pictures.

Cheers 

[ideasguy]

Hi Jessie
It is really nice to hear from you again.
We can help you here on all those problem counts, so please have a go at posting a photo and if you have a problem, let us know where you get stuck.
You seem to travel a lot, and to some exciting places.
Maybe some time we will get the technology to hear you sing that song to us in Chinese 
Once again, I'm touched with the choice of words, and thats only in the translation.
The words are wistful and sad. No point dwelling with a leaden heart. I trust the composer was rejuvenated with the love in the air and the joys of the next spring