Diving Log 5.0 – Logbook Part 2

I already wrote about the new ribbon element in the logbook window and I want to show you a few other details in the case you’re not familiar with the ribbon in Office 2007. The ribbon can be minimized so only the ribbon tabs will require space. This is especially useful for small displays. When you click on a tab the ribbon will dropdown and you can use any command. When you’re done it will collapse itself automatically. The 2nd feature I want to show you is the ability to pin any command from the ribbon to the “Quick Access Toolbar”. This is the small toolbar below the ribbon. This toolbar can also be moved above the ribbon onto the title bar so even less space is required. You can add to this toolbar often needed commands so they are only one click away, no matter which ribbon tab is selected.

Minimized Ribbon

Minimized Ribbon

Dropped Down Ribbon

Dropped Down Ribbon

I’m not yet sure what to do with the “Office Button”, this is the round shaped button (without icon in the screenshot) in the upper left corner. In Office this button opens up the application menu with “File Open”, “File Save” and so on but these features are in Diving Log in the main application toolbar and menu, so it doesn’t make much sense to put them also into this menu. I can simply hide this button and maybe this is the best solution if there is no functionality which makes sense. If you have any idea, please let me know.

The 2nd feature I want to talk about in this post are the location and buddy dropdowns. You may know from Diving Log 4.0 that there are two ways to enter “Countries”, “Cities / Islands”, “Dive Sites” and “Buddies”. If you only want to store the name of the location or buddy into your logbook you can simply enter it directly in the field. This is useful for locations and buddies you have no further information, e.g. a buddy who dived only one time with you in your vacation. If you want to store additional information you can link the field to one of the detailed entries. Linked items are displayed in blue font color in Diving Log 4.0 and you have to click the chain icon above the field.

Now in Diving Log 5.0 linking an item is easier. Manual entered items now have a pencil icon, linked items have a chain icon in front of it. And you can link an item by simply selecting it from the dropdown list or by using the auto-complete function. Thus you don’t have to leave the logbook window to link an entry. To create a new detailed entry you can click the plus button which opens up the detail window.

Dive Site Dropdown

Dive Site Dropdown

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One Response to “Diving Log 5.0 – Logbook Part 2”

  1. Eric says:

    Easier linking is definitely a good thing. It was a bit confusing in DL4.