[Feature Request] macOS - Registration Information and Activation Information and Updates

[computeronix]

Feature Request for the macOS version of the application

In the macOS Menus -> When you click FileBot -> About

Can you show the registration status of the application? i.e. unregistered? Registered to? etc? Many applications show this and allows to show wether you have activated the product or not?

For example you could show:

Registered to: Name or Unregistered
License Type: You could show Lifetime License or One Year License or Trial or Unregistered
License Purchase Date: Purchased Date or Unregistered
License Expiration Date: Expiration Date of Trial/One Year or Unlimited (or end purchase date for lifetime?)


Also in the macOS Menu bar for the FileBot application under FileBot -> Buy/Register/Activate - whatever you think is appropriate -- and if it is not already activated. This would allow you to get an easy referral to the site for purchasing/activation and make it easier to activate for those with a key as its really really hidden right now as the only way I could find to activate is to actually go through the process of using it once and then be prompted. Then when prompted to Buy you can say have a key and enter the key information or take you to the site to buy.

Also, on first launch, if its not activated, you could also prompt to buy/purchase/activate everytime? But this is more of a user experiene item?

Also in the macOS menus under FileBot -> Add Check for Updates to allow checking for updates? Perhaps even add a preference that on launch of the app to auto check for updates? (If this does not happen automatically behind the scenes?)

The current version of the macOS FileBot I reported this on is 5.2.0 (10714)

Thank you!

[rednoah]

We prefer the How do I open the Debug Console / Groovy Pad? approach since it works the same on all platforms. The System Information output will include version / revision / license information / update information / etc.


We could look into replacing the default macOS About dialog and instead open the Debug Console if the About dialog is requested.

EDIT

FileBot r10839 and higher will now open the Debug Console with detailed version information if you click on the About menu item.

[paulcsiki]

Why not consider displaying in the application title bar the version and activation status?

[rednoah]

I think that anything like FileBot 5.2.0 (Activated) or FileBot 5.2.0 (P1234567) or FileBot 5.2.0 (Valid-Until: 2026-01-01) looks ugly and cringe. The version number is generally not relevant for day-to-day FileBot usage so it's not necessary to show it at all times. That said, if you're running an outdated version of FileBot then FileBot will prompt you to update. Similarly, if your license has expired / is about to expire then FileBot will notify you on startup. You don't need to worry about it. You will know when you need to know.


If you want FileBot 5.2.0 in the title bar then you can use the portable edition of FileBot. The portable edition will show version information in the title bar because you can run multiple portable FileBot instances / different versions at the same time.

[paulcsiki]

I don't particularly dislike it but I always forget that the app performs an update check on it's own and end up looking for ways to see the version number. Could be just me though.

Happy New Year!

[rednoah]

Well, the version number can be revealed with one click and the complete release details and explicit update-check are just one more click away. Perhaps not intuitive, but also less than a second of click work.

That said, future releases (on macOS) will intercept About menu clicks and provide an additional more intuitive (though macOS-only) way to show all the release details.