Expression >
Forums Home
>
Expression Studio Forums
>
Expression Web and SuperPreview
>
Rooler - a very neat screen ruler
Rooler - a very neat screen ruler
I was sceptical when I saw this post, (how many screen rulers can you have ...... ) but this really is good. Needs .Net Framework 3.5.
http://blogs.msdn.com/expression/archive/2009/05/26/check-out-rooler-a-free-screen-measurement-utility.aspx
Ian
MS MVP Expressionhttp://www.ew-resource.co.uk
http://www.fp-resource.co.uk
Ian Haynes
All Replies
- Thanks, Ian. It is pretty cool and useful. I use JRuler, which has its limitations, so this is a good adjunct.
However...It needs the SP1 for the .Net framework 3.5. Ugh. It took almost 30 minutes to download and install the SP1 on my computer! (a single-core processor, no speed demon, but it's my production machine, so it's a perfectly serviceable Win XP Pro computer)
Worse, it started the SP1 install without so much as a by-your-leave before doing so. I thought I was up to date, but turns out I didn't have SP1. I don't mind installing it, but I wasn't in the mood to twiddle my thumbs for 30 minutes, and I didn't want to cancel an install in midstream.
So, before you install, check the status of your .Net Framework and allow some time, if needed. - Hmm, mixed bag. Granted, it is a very nice adjunct to my principal measuring tool, Iconico's Screen Calipers. I was surprised to find that it (rooler) doesn't duplicate SC's functionality, but complements it. Nicely done.
OTOH, the developer committed what I consider a cardinal sin: no setup options. None, zero, nada, zilch. Double-click setup, it sets up and starts itself. Where? Don't know; I still haven't found it. It's not in Program Files, at least not under "rooler" or "Pete Blois" (which is what the Start menu folder is named; was named, that is). It's not in the folder from which the setup program was run, either.
I have a long-established, well-organized hierarchical folder structure, as well as a policy of installing as little to the C: drive as can be accomplished. I take it very unkindly when a developer does not offer me the option to set my own preferences as to the installation of their product. Am I pissed enough to uninstall it? No, it is a useful tool. Am I ticked enough to call him on it and downgrade the app? Yep.
Utility/Usability: 9/10
User Config: 0/10
Overall: 4.5/10
Thanks for the app, Pete, but fix the install.
cheers,
scott - It's also a resource hog, as I've found in playing with it. Between it and the PresentationFontCache.exe that it loads when you use the spacing tools, it's about 50MB in memory. And when you close Rooler, it doesn't close PresentationFontCache.exe. Tsk tsk.
And it makes my cursor move jerkily.
I may find a use for it once in a while, but its problems leave me feeling mixed. - If the author is given your feedback, maybe he will improve the tool, and all of us will benefit :)
