Software that makes placemats

[Glenn E.]

Of the three I prefer #3, but acknowledge that it is inferior for packing purposes.

Phil makes excellent points.

[jdaw1]

Hmm. How about:

Code: Select all

/TastingNotesStarsNameColsRows [
	(JDAW) 5 1
	(DRT) 5 1
] def

This would give me stars in five columns and one row; DRT the same; and everybody else none. Obviously names could be added, in accordance with expressed preferences.

And, executive decision, authorial privilege:


Thoughts?

Edit: or

Code: Select all

/TastingNotesStarsNameColsRowsArrangement [
	(JDAW) 5 1 /Alternating
	(DRT) 5 1 /Sideways
	(SomebodyElse) 5 1 /OnFeet
] def

thereby allowing any of the star patterns.

[DRT]

I much prefer 3. The others make it impossible to circle and exact number of stars without applying significant precision. Such precision is normally impossible during the latter stages of the events where this system would be used. I would go so far as to request a fourth option, being five stars on their feet with a half star gap between each.

[jdaw1]

I would go so far as to request a fourth option, being five stars on their feet with a half star gap between each.

Is that so different from!

That must be easy to circle: ‘arms’ are so thin.

[DRT]

Imagine a three-flight, thirty-five bottle tasting. Imagine scoring bottle twelve of flight one and then looking back at that sheet during the WOTN discussion following flight three. Is it a five, is it a four, is it a four and a half?

The principle objective is to persuade lazy people to do something. They might not do it if they have to concentrate on doing it.

[jdaw1]

They might not do it if they have to concentrate on doing it.

Noted.

Concentration will not be needed. If experience teaches otherwise, things will change.

Imagine a three-flight, thirty-five bottle tasting.

I am imagining it. Please sir, when? I’m ready.

[jdaw1]

+TastingNotesStarsNameColsRowsArrangement.

Please inspect page 2 of jdawiseman.com/papers/placemat/placemat.pdf, and comment.

Manual not yet updated.

[DRT]

Splendid. But the closeness will confuse at least me.

[jdaw1]

Patterns:

= /Alternating


= /Sideways


= /Upright


Current code:

Code: Select all

/TastingNotesStarsNameColsRowsArrangement  % (ASCIIfied Name) NumCols NumRows /Alternating|/Sideways|/Upright
[
	(Julian W.) 5 1 /Alternating
	(JDAW)      5 1 /Alternating
	(Derek T.) 5 1 /Upright
	(DRT)      5 1 /Upright
	(Wolfgang S.) 5 1 /Sideways
	(WPS)         5 1 /Sideways
	(Phil W.) 5 1 /Sideways
	(PW)      5 1 /Sideways
] def  % /TastingNotesStarsNameColsRowsArrangement

(Code extracted updated.)
Willing to add others’ preferences to the default code. (Name absent ⇒ you get no stars.)

[Alex Bridgeman]

I can see for some the stars would work, but I wouldn't be a user. The stars should be laid out clearly, but I like the fact they are hollow, which would allow for partial filling-in as some people do with the water boxes.

[jdaw1]

I can see for some the stars would work, but I wouldn't be a user.

I agree with the first clause, and expected the second.

The stars should be laid out clearly, but

You appear to be suggesting that they are not ‟laid out clearly”. Please say more.

[RAYC]

Hard to see how the wine folly tasting mats could be scaled up to a larger tasting and I think that I (as a right-handed person) would have difficulties writing anything by the top left glass (presumably lefties would have problems with even the bottom right).

The stars would be the one element that could be copied but I'm not sure it's particularly needed. Please don't do smilies or "yay"-"boo"!

[jdaw1]

Some of us have lightly grumped at the WineFolly placemats. So, to be fair, let us praise their author for making entertaining wine videos, such as this one about Chardonnay, and this one about ‘The Chocolate Shop’.

[Alex Bridgeman]

The stars should be laid out clearly, but

You appear to be suggesting that they are not ‟laid out clearly”. Please say more.

It wasn't intending to imply that they were not laid out clearly. The emphasis in my comment was intended to be on the hollow-ness of the stars - this I like as it easily allows half stars or other fractions limited only by the imagination of the user.

[jdaw1]

it easily allows half stars or other fractions limited only by the imagination of the user.

Do you want a thin black line at the half-way point, to simplify half stars? Which would need careful placement for the /Sideways ☆s.

[Alex Bridgeman]

it easily allows half stars or other fractions limited only by the imagination of the user.

Do you want a thin black line at the half-way point, to simplify half stars? Which would need careful placement for the /Sideways ☆s.

No, I think the user is perfectly able to estimate where the half-way mark would be and to shade or draw such a line for themselves. If you put the line there you are imposing on the user that they can use only halves as their chosen fraction. At least one of us is likely to want to use some proportion of pi.

[Glenn E.]

it easily allows half stars or other fractions limited only by the imagination of the user.

Do you want a thin black line at the half-way point, to simplify half stars? Which would need careful placement for the /Sideways ☆s.

No, I think the user is perfectly able to estimate where the half-way mark would be and to shade or draw such a line for themselves. If you put the line there you are imposing on the user that they can use only halves as their chosen fraction. At least one of us is likely to want to use some proportion of pi.

At the very least, fifths seems likely.

[jdaw1]

One of the purposes of the stars is to encourage people to score.

And behold DRT’s TN sheet, late in the evening of 8^th January 2014.



Is the plan working?

[PhilW]

Please add /sideways stars for me when possible.

[jdaw1]

Done, but the request was seen just after the placemats for today’s tasting were printed.

[Chris Doty]

This and following two posts were in a new thread called “Placemat software / praise jdaw”, but have been merged by jdaw1 into the thread entitled “Software that makes placemats”.


The placemat software thread, understandably, does not allow me to input expression1.

Jdaw is an artist and a champion of spirit. let it be known. The "Tuesday 18th February 2014, in The Bung Hole, Thirsty at Half term" (is that really how it is to be referred?) viewtopic.php?f=13&p=72379&sid=9536f097 ... 2dc#p72379

Excellent work. Beautifully curated collection!

I would like you to consider attempting full paintings, that the full area be employed to replicate a painting or image, say.

Anyway - You are a beast, and we are continually grateful for your maintenance and improvement of all these wonderful utilities.

[Glenn E.]

+1(0000000000)

[jdaw1]

Thank you for the praise. In much of my technical work I insist on both beauty and functionality. Typically they don’t clash.

Matters arising.

• There is a thread for discussion of features and bugs, Software that makes placemats. I’m not quite sure what you mean by

  I would like you to consider attempting full paintings, that the full area be employed to replicate a painting or image, say.

  so please could a more detailed request be posted in that thread?
• This thread does not really belong in the Reference §. Unless there are fierce objections, I’ll move it.
• As hint to your own beauty-function drive, links should not include the Session ID. Not sure whether it is actually insecure, but certainly it is redundant.

This and previous two posts were in a new thread called “Placemat software / praise jdaw”, but have been merged by jdaw1 into the thread entitled “Software that makes placemats”.

[jdaw1]

Have noted to self that for future "3rd party" organised tastings, compiling a generic placemat using a well-known high quality piece of software would be a sensible step. As it happened, 1-14 scribbled on the back of some A4 did the trick, but there were a few moments where things almost got muddled.

I had reached a similar conclusion. And as we knew the Ports in advance, I really had no excuse. Next time we’ll show up with the paperwork.

Might www.jdawiseman.com/2014/201403_generic_a4.pdf assist?



Keep a copy in your briefcase at all times. And if you love your pals, include multiple copies of the first eight pages.

[flash_uk]

Might www.jdawiseman.com/2014/201403_generic_a4.pdf assist?

Keep a copy in your briefcase at all times. And if you love your pals, include multiple copies of the first eight pages.

Splendid. Exactly what I had in mind. JDAW gets