Growl questions, and a feature request

[Muriac]

I've been using Growl for a few weeks now, and I really like it. Having a fairly centralized method for notifications is really cool. I hate having multiple, independent ways of doing the same thing where only one way is necessary.

There are a few things I'd like to be able to do, though, that I can't figure out:

• I have iTunes talking to Growl and it brings up new tracks using the music video notification style. If I switch tracks too quickly, I get a backlog of notifications, because it insists on showing each one for the full duration. Is it possible to have every new notification from iTunes override the current one?
  
  Is it possible to have notifications with a close box, a la Proteus' built-in notifications? This way I could dismiss sticky notifications without opening the originating app. (Note that Proteus' close boxes don't actually work, but the idea is a good one).
  
  Can I get notifications other than the bezel one to show up in different places on the screen?
  
  Can I have new notifications always appear in the same place, and push existing notifications down in order to make room for the new one?
  
  Is it possible to have new notifications appear in a second column when one side of the screen is full? Currently, new notifications simply get cut off if there is already one screen-height's worth being displayed.
  
  Is it possible for a click on a notification bring up the appropriate window in that application, rather than simply bringing the application to the front? Further, is it possible to have GrowlMail select the message in question when a notification is clicked?

Thanks for any answers in advance. If it is not possible to do any of the things I've mentioned, please consider them feature requests. Lastly, I have what is definitely a feature request:

The current implementation of application-specific preferences seems to be limited to notification priority. Would it be possible for a future version of Growl to allow entirely distinct sets of display preferences for each application, or indeed each type of notification? That is, I would like to be able to have different notifications email different people, use different voices, or be different sizes or opacities without being entirely differeny notification styles. Perhaps a good way of implementing this would be to have a window tray in Growl's "Applications" tab which had a full set of display options for the selected notification: a pop-up menu for display type, and then the various options for the selected type underneath the pop-up menu. I can draw a picture if I'm being unclear.

[The_Tick]

The latest version of GrowlTunes should do what you want.

I'll review the others in a bit.

[Muriac]

The latest version of GrowlTunes should do what you want.

Thanks for the quick response. I should've mentioned that I'm actually using Quicksilver to monitor iTunes. GrowlTunes gave me a kernel panic the first time I ran it, and I ditched it immediately. Is overriding current notifications something that the iTunes Quicksilver plugin ought to be able to do, if programmed correctly?

[The_Tick]

Quicksilver needs to implement coalescing. I do not think GrowlTunes is the actual cause of your kernel panic, it accesses nothing that would cause that. Try running it again.

[The_Tick]

Is it possible to have notifications with a close box, a la Proteus' built-in notifications? This way I could dismiss sticky notifications without opening the originating app. (Note that Proteus' close boxes don't actually work, but the idea is a good one).

This ticket should address that.

Can I get notifications other than the bezel one to show up in different places on the screen?

This ticket should address that.

Can I have new notifications always appear in the same place, and push existing notifications down in order to make room for the new one?

This behavior was in smoke before, and it was kinda jarring. It may return, but I don't know that it will.

Is it possible to have new notifications appear in a second column when one side of the screen is full? Currently, new notifications simply get cut off if there is already one screen-height's worth being displayed.

This goes along with the positioning ticket from earlier.

Is it possible for a click on a notification bring up the appropriate window in that application, rather than simply bringing the application to the front?

This is up to the application. Growl sends a clickback to the application, and the application decides what to do with it.

Further, is it possible to have GrowlMail select the message in question when a notification is clicked?

This ticket should address that. It looks like it will be in .8 of GrowlMail

The current implementation of application-specific preferences seems to be limited to notification priority. Would it be possible for a future version of Growl to allow entirely distinct sets of display preferences for each application, or indeed each type of notification? That is, I would like to be able to have different notifications email different people, use different voices, or be different sizes or opacities without being entirely differeny notification styles. Perhaps a good way of implementing this would be to have a window tray in Growl's "Applications" tab which had a full set of display options for the selected notification: a pop-up menu for display type, and then the various options for the selected type underneath the pop-up menu. I can draw a picture if I'm being unclear.

We were thinking up something similar, but there is a point where we do need to just stop adding customizability.

[Muriac]

I do not think GrowlTunes is the actual cause of your kernel panic, it accesses nothing that would cause that. Try running it again.

Cool. I tried it again, and have had no problems. However, it would be nice if the program could run entirely headlessly, as I'm running on a 12" PowerBook and I'm cramped for space in my menu bar. Also, the ability to customize exactly what information gets sent to Growl would be nice. I don't use ratings, so it would be nice if I could turn them off.

This ticket should address that.

Beautiful. If I want to add a comment, do I just use the box at the bottom? All the little pop-up menus scare me.

Can I have new notifications always appear in the same place, and push existing notifications down in order to make room for the new one?

This behavior was in smoke before, and it was kinda jarring. It may return, but I don't know that it will.

What did it look like? It seems to me that if the motion were smoothly animated, it would look very natural.

The current implementation of application-specific preferences seems to be limited to notification priority...

We were thinking up something similar, but there is a point where we do need to just stop adding customizability.

Absolutely true, but the current implementation (no offence) is pretty messy. It took me a while to figure out how to get different notifications to do different things, and even now there are options just begging to be independently applied. I believe that the most straightforward way to present customization options would be a hierarchy like the one I described (Application>Notification>Style), and that this presentation would support very granular notification style settings while still being easier to understand and use than the current implementation.

And thanks again for the quick, thorough response.

[djmori]

The latest version of GrowlTunes should do what you want.

I'll review the others in a bit.

Niceeeeeee!!!

[The_Tick]

The current implementation of application-specific preferences seems to be limited to notification priority...

We were thinking up something similar, but there is a point where we do need to just stop adding customizability.

Absolutely true, but the current implementation (no offence) is pretty messy. It took me a while to figure out how to get different notifications to do different things, and even now there are options just begging to be independently applied. I believe that the most straightforward wat why to present customization options would be a hierarchy like the one I described (Application>Notification>Style), and that this presentation would support very granular notification style settings while still being easier to understand and use than the current implementation.

And thanks again for the quick, thorough response.[/quote]




This is a bit of an older screen shot, but where we are going with the applications tab.

[Muriac]

Sorry, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking for in that screen shot. The chat window looks like it might be covering something important.

[The_Tick]

Sorry, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking for in that screen shot. The chat window looks like it might be covering something important.

Look behind it. That's the same as what would be in the area the chat window is covering up.

[Muriac]

So how are notification styles selected for each application, or indeed each type of notification from that application? Sorry, I'm still confused.

[The_Tick]

So how are notification styles selected for each application, or indeed each type of notification from that application? Sorry, I'm still confused.

*sigh*
Nevermind, just wait for .8

[Muriac]

Ok, well I've made my own picture. Sorry for being such a back-seat designer.

[The_Tick]

We are not going to add a drawer to the system preferences.

[Muriac]

You know what? I completely forgot that Growl was a prefpane when I made that.

Carry on.