Snapshot release 03-June-21 (usability)

News
1

We exployed a usability/UX consultant to look at Easy Data Transform and make some suggestions that would make it easier to use. He came back with a lot of great ideas and we have implemented quite a few of them in the latest release. For example the inclusion of example data values along with column names:

column-examples

Feedback on the results of each transform:

results-feedback

Feedback on all transforms;

statusbar-icons

We hope these changes will improve productivity for new users and experienced users. There are also other improvements and bug fixes.

You can find out more and download the release here:
https://www.easydatatransform.com/easydatatransform_v1h1.html

Note that this is a snapshot (work in progress) release and hasn’t been tested to the level of a production release. But it should be fairly stable.

Please try it and let us know what you think.

3 Likes
2

Nice update. Here is a suggestion? Can the transforms listed on the right side of the screen be reorganized to include an icon or have the option to include an icon that visually depicts the transform. A picture or icon is worth a thousand words.

3

Do you mean left side? ;0)

I’m not sure it is possible to come up with 52 different meaningful icons (or colors). But I have thought about icons for the separate transform categories:

  • Merge transforms
  • Column transforms
  • Row transforms
  • Format transforms
  • Analysis transforms
  • Other transforms

Plus also the operating system icons for the file types (e.g. the Excel icon for .xlsx input/output).

4

I like all the changes, very helpful. The only change I would suggest is with the example data along with the column names. The idea is great but could the column name be left justified with the example data continuing after it to the right? With several columns in the list, the example data clutters up the ability to quickly identify a column.
Great work!
Dave

5

Do you mean put the example values on the same line, after the column name? I don’t think that wouldn’t work as well as:

  • there is no upper limit on the length of a column name
  • the column names are potentially all different lengths
  • the width available to display the list of columns is not great, especially for drop-down lists in tables (such as Sort)
6

Yes, I was thinking of one line but understand, it was just a thought. I really like the changes. Especially the offset transform. It is very useful and I will use it for multiple purposes.
Thanks,
Dave

7

I was just testing this snapshot and I really like them too! I will post any comments as I test this more extensively.

1 Like