Fill the toolbox with tools instead of plugins

[rappen]

I know naming is hard... Lex #833
But I would still suggest to start using the word "tool" for the tools in the toolbox. Yes, technincally the tools are exposed in the toolbox by having assemblies plug in to the main application, but as a user I am not using a "plugin", I am using a "tool" from the toolbox.

In my own communication I have entirely switched to "tool", and I think it makes the concepts of XrmToolBox easier to grasp.

[daryllabar]

So the Tool Store? Maybe we can adopt this as the logo (https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/59e7ce0625fd3-image-1520355645.png) and have a grunt sound start when you open a tool?

This idea actually makes some sense.

[MscrmTools]

Ok, let's go for it!
Plugin => Tool
Plugins Store => Tool Library? (I never liked the term store, anyway. Seems commercial. Why did I choose this one...? Can't even remember)

[rappen]

😀
Some more ideas... https://twitter.com/rappen/status/1156143429619003392
But I still like Tool Library.

[shytikov]

Tool Belt.

[MscrmTools]

That will be Tools Library.

I guess I need to rename the "Tools" menu where we can find Connection Manager, (ex)Plugins Store and Settings.

What about "Settings" and rename menu item "Settings" to "Preferences"?

[rappen]

Like the idea to rename Settings etc.
But @daryllabar help me, shouldn't it be "Tool Library" instead of "Tools Library"?
You don't go to a "Cars Dealer", you go to a "Car Dealer"... right?

[dotfede]

@MscrmTools Renaming "A" to "B" and "B" to "C" is going to alienate users, imho.

At this point you might as well redesign the entire menu.

[rappen]

Yes some things can probably be improved there.
I think About has too much there that are not just About. Feedback etc could be under something else for example.
And Windows is usually (in the good old WIndows applications...) furthest to the right (except if you have About/Help out there).

Maybe time to go for something more like a toolbar? Bigger buttons, hopefully more intuitive.

[MscrmTools]

Please give samples. I don’t want to change things then have an issue created as soon as I release a new version

[rappen]

Perhaps something like this?

In case gif doesn't render: https://www.screencast.com/t/EKt050jnxim

(No, I don't know what the something menu should be called...)

[dotfede]

@rappen at this point we might as well rebuild the entire shell in WPF.

[rappen]

@fberasategui and tell all tool developers around the world to rewrite their tools....?
No matter how much we'd love to move on to technologies from the 21'st century, I think we're stuck with WinForm for a while.

[dotfede]

@rappen as I've mentioned in the past, with the proper abstractions you could have a WPF shell, and enable new plugins tools to be written using WPF idioms, while still maintaining winforms compatibility.

I'll give it a shot and create a proof of concept as soon as I get some spare time.

[daryllabar]

The first person to do what @fberasategui suggests, receives an MVP nomination from me.

[daryllabar]

I also request that we implement #44 and include a close button on the tab, to move away from requiring a close button on each tool.

[rappen]

@daryllabar It is not a button, but a menu option. Need the big red sign?

[daryllabar]

Actually I didn't notice, it's already there:

I'm just trying to get back against Mr. T for his issue that he posted on my EBG (https://twitter.com/ddlabar/status/1157008757651640320?s=20)

[MscrmTools]

what about this?

Tools menu (too generic, I know but I cannot find another name)

Help menu when the focused tab is a tool

Help menu when the focused tab is not a tool (start page, tools page)

[rappen]

Perhaps "Tools" menu header could be "Configuration" to not be confused with the actual tools? And then "Tools Library" be "Tool Library" instead as approved by Daryl on Aug 1 :)

[MscrmTools]

Ok, I will apply these changes

[MscrmTools]

Ok, I commited the changes. Can you download the prerelease version, test it and tell me if it's good for you?