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Undo in MaxThink - a workaround
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Posted by Stephen R. Diamond
Nov 30, 2007 at 10:54 PM
There is a partial workaround to the lack of undue in Maxthink. Maxthink can save an indefinite number of time-stamped backup files. This essentially provides all the power of unlimited undo, but lacks the usability.
Posted by quant
Dec 1, 2007 at 12:56 PM
hehe, the fact that several lawyers are trying to defend MaxThink and providing workarounds for such a trivial feature as undo certainly is tells (at least to me) a lot ...
... this is a lost case, sorry pals ;-)
Stephen R. Diamond wrote:
>There is a partial workaround to the lack of undue in Maxthink. Maxthink can save an
>indefinite number of time-stamped backup files. This essentially provides all the
>power of unlimited undo, but lacks the usability.
Posted by Franz Grieser
Dec 1, 2007 at 01:27 PM
Stephen R. Diamond wrote:
>There is a partial workaround to the lack of undue in Maxthink. Maxthink can save an
>indefinite number of time-stamped backup files. This essentially provides all the
>power of unlimited undo, but lacks the usability.
Stephen, you must be joking.
What is the interval you set the backup in MT?
And is this the same Stephen that wrote
* “When I was in the developer group, I said that for an outlining program to be built on a foundation which includes no undo function in the tree is a major blunder.” in a discussion on ADM (http://www.outlinersoftware.com/archives/viewt/5198)
* “PMM lacks multiple undo, a critical feature for me.” in a discussion on mind mapping tools, PMM is Personal Memory Manager (http://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/471/5)
Franz
Posted by Stephen R. Diamond
Dec 1, 2007 at 10:43 PM
ADM didn’t have the timestamped backups. I haven’t used MaxThink on a serious project yet, and haven’t been concerned with undo. I consider MaxThink hard to learn as programs go these days, and I don’t consider myself proficient.
Maxthink shouldn’t be evaluated under a checklist of features we’ve come to expect. To evaluate it on its own terms, you have to consider whether the sacrifice of some conveniences is worth the tremendous power. Not to have a workaround for undo would represent, to me, a powerful limitation on power. Hence the ADM comments, with ADM purporting to be a particularly powerful outlining program. MaxThink is above all tigtly focused on core outlining operations. But a far better job has been done on power than on usability. Not that usability is bad, given the features accommodated. The usability, I would say, is good. The power is light years ahead of anything else I’ve seen on Windows or the Mac (where admittedly I have probably missed a lot.)
I think MaxThink’s handling of Undo is a usability rather than power deficit. Another usability deficit, which could arguably push its usability from Good to Fair for many users, is its extremely modal nature - if I’m using the term correctly. Often one will call up a command expecting something different, because you didn’t realize what mode you were in. I think these modal switches become automatic with practice, but I can’t say for sure yet. The program in other words is fairly hard to become proficient in.
Posted by Chris Thompson
Dec 1, 2007 at 10:56 PM
Is there any way to get screenshots of MaxThink? Its website is frustrating.