Thoughts about a"Single Window" mode for Stykz

Based on the feedback we've been receiving, we're planning on putting out an optional "single window" mode for Stykz. This is currently targeted for a 1.1 or 1.5 version (some "official release" between the 1.0 and 2.0 releases).

Here's a mockup of what we're thinking:


If you have any suggestions or feedback on this, please let us know.

Thanks!

Stykz Development Team

Stykz Release Candidate 2 Now Available!

Stykz 1.0 Release Candidate 2 is now available for download at the the main Stykz site. This version contains a bunch of bug fixes, stability enhancements, and a couple of minor "features" (actually just rounding out existing functionality):

• Added a "Reset to Defaults" button in the Preferences window.
  
  
• Added the ability to optionally change the color of circle fills and/or polyfills when you set the line segment color of a figure. (If Stykz determines that the figure you're attempting to change the line segment color of has a circle or polyfill in it, you'll get a dialog with choices on what to affect.)
  

Of course you can see a comprehensive list of everything done for this release by going to the Release Notes page on the Stykz web site.

* * * * * * FILE FORMAT CHANGE * * * * * *

This version has a slightly different file format, so if you open any documents that were created prior to RC2, you'll get a "File Format Update" dialog box. If you go ahead and update, Stykz will make a backup copy of the original before it starts the update. Once a document has been updated, it won't have to go through the process again unless there's another file format change down the road.

During the updating of the document, it will also verify all figures and segments and fix anything that might have become corrupted from the earlier betas. Note that there is a small chance that your document may have a polyfill that was corrupted and could not be fixed. In this case, the corrupted polyfill will be automatically deleted from the document, and you'll have to re-add it again manually.

So once the update has completed, check every frame of your animation to make sure it's OK before you delete the backup file.

This release is hopefully the last one before the 1.0 official release, but if there are still a bunch of bugs to deal with, we'll do an RC3.

Enjoy RC 2, and let us know if you find anything!

Stykz Development Team

Stykz Release Candidate 1 Now Available!

Stykz 1.0 Release Candidate 1 is now available for download at the the main Stykz site. This version contains a LOT of bug fixes, plus a the following new features:

• Multi-level Undo/Redo support (see the full overview of Undo here)
  
  
• File associations are now hooked up so you should be able to see icons for documents and double-click on documents to launch Stykz
  
  
• A revised Preferences window broken out into sections so everything is clearer and easier to understand:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• You can now save the window positions of your documents and specify where the first window opens when Stykz launches (Preferences/General)
  
  
• You can specify the default stage size you want to use for new documents (Preferences/General)
  
  
• You can define how you want onionskins to look, both their color and opacity and can choose solid colors if you like (Preferences/Interface)
  
  
• You can specify the color of the backdrop (Preferences/Interface)
  
  
• The Frames palette automatically reloads frame thumbnails so your Stykz documents no longer have to hold them, significantly reducing the on-disk size of your animation file
  
  
• You can navigate the Library palette using arrow keys or type-to-match - it will jump to the first match and show the selection as you arrowkey around
  
  
• You can choose to select colors from the built-in Websafe Color Picker (turn on the "Web" checkbox before picking your color):
  
  
  
  
  

Note that you can see a comprehensive list of everything done for this release by going to the Release Notes page on the Stykz web site.

This release contains all the functionality of the final 1.0 version, and between now and the 1.0 release all that we will be working on are bug fixes and rounding out the Undo.

Enjoy!

Stykz Development Team