Talk:Development
We have discussed the following (you marked it as "FUTURE" at the forum). Reproducing a summary (delete after reading).
Shutter is so flexible that the user may need it to run several tasks at a time, and on an ongoing basis (restart events when Windows restarts)..
Currently we can run multiple copies of Shutter with separate presets, but if we restart PC or log out from Windows, we have to launch multiple copies of Shutter and then load the presets all over again.
If we want to avoid that, the only trick is to copy the entire Shutter folder (say ShutterFolder1, ShutterFolder2,....etc); and then run the Shutter.exe from those folders, and assign one preset to each executable separately. Also, select the restart events option in each executable.
In short, each executable (from separate folders) run only one instance, and only then it can remember the settings through Windows restart.
This is not an elegant solution.
We need a GUI that can run multiple presets, and which can restart all events through Windows restart/logouts.
Events, actions and logic are stored in presets, while other options are considered to be global settings. Several instances (of the same path) of Shutter can run individual presets no problem but they will all share the same global options at startup. Also, you don't need to manually load your presets every time, you can use "Create links to Presets" from the main menu to create links to all presets, e.g.: "Shutter.exe /preset "Shutdown in 40 mins". These links will automatically open the specified preset and start monitoring events.
-- Den4b 12:03, 28 May 2010 (UTC)
That's not the problem. But suppose we have to start some applications at time1 and close them at time2. Also this has to continue even after we restart the PC (in other words, Sgutter has to automatically start all instances when we restart the PC or log into our Windows account. This is a reasonable expectation.
Now how do we achieve that?
As I understand from a past thread, the only way is to copy the entire Shutter folder; and then launch the exe files from all those folders (one instance each), and then set everything independently.
-- Narayan 01:13, 30 May 2010 (UTC)
Now I see what you mean. Yes, Autorun option works for 1 instance of every copy of Shutter. What you are suggesting is again redesigning Shutter so it can facilitate running any number of events and actions independently, like a larger framework for running multiple Shutter-alike processes inside.
It might be something forth while for the future, but for now we should just mention that Autorun feature works with these limitations.
-- Den4b 15:05, 30 May 2010 (UTC)
Actually this discussion page is attached to for the future development page; and that's why I reminded you of this need here (not at the discussion page for the wiki); so that it is added to the TODO list.
(So far as the Wiki is concerned, we have explained the situation adequately to leave no confusion for the user.)
BTW I think this may be already possible to Autorun multiple instances of a copy indirectly: We already have the facility to create links. Well, instead of clicking on those links manually, how about creating a third Shutter task that simply "clicks" on multiple links, and then make it autorun?
So my imaginary scenario is like this:
(a) Create two presets (e.g. one to start apps at time1, and the4 other to close those windows at time2).
(b) Create links for both presets.
(c) Create a task that runs both links one by one. This will spawn two more instances of Shutter, each instance running one preset. (This is a new capability required to be added to Shutter).
(d) Make this task autorun (restart automatically when PC is restarted (or Windows account is started).
Later, you can do away with the links; and manage the presets directly (i.e., let just one instance of Shutter launch other instances using different presets).
--Narayan 18:04, 30 May 2010 (UTC)