[Req]: Add a global progress bar for uncounted operations

[Samuel]

Because Windows 7 is coming or already is there I would suggest a (global) progress bar also for operations where the files are not counted. (by pressing ESC or for the BTM) This could then be used not only in BTM and Copy dialog but also in the Windows 7 taskbar icon.

As we all know there could be no correct progress bar if the files are not counted before the operation.
But IMO everything is better then nothing.

I would suggest the following 2 models to workaround the unknown data. I will only refer to copy operations in the suggestions. (should be straight forward for other operations.)


A) Assumption: the copied folders are nearly the same size
Count the first level folders of the copy progress and assign them an equal part of the 100% progress.
If the part of a folder is bigger than 1% then the part is divided again for the subfolders recursively.

For example if there are 4 top level folders: The copy progress part of files in the first folder is between 0% and 25%.
If there are another 10 folders in the first folder then the copy progress part for the first of the 10 folders is between 0 and 2,5%.

Perhaps the 100% should not divided by the number of subfolders, but by the number+1. This should also be used in the recursion step.
Then in the above example the files in the top level folder itself would have a progress part between 80% and 100%.


B) Assumption: 50% + (50% of 100%-50%) != 100% (a logarithmic approach)
The current copied Megabytes are counted.
After every copied Megabyte the progress is computed like this:

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NewProgres = OldProgress + (100%-OldProgress)*0.01

When the copy progress starts 1 MB copied will almost result in 1% progress.
At around 50% copy progress 2 MB copied will result in 1% progress.
At around 66% copy progress 3 MB copied will result in 1% progress.
At around 75% copy progress 4 MB copied will result in 1% progress.
...

I know this kind of progress could be confusing. But usually the user knows how much MB he has to copy. So he knows when to expect the progress to stop.

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10MB -> 10%
40 MB -> 33%
70 MB -> 50%
120 MB -> 70%
160 MB -> 80%
230 MB -> 90%
300 MB -> 95%
1 GB -> 0,999956829% ;-)

Perhaps "0.01" could be replaced by a better factor. (some values should be tried)
Or another logarithmic approach should be tried

Background Transfer Manager
Both concepts could be adapted for BTM.

A) Every item in the BTM gets a progress part (100% divided by the number of items.). It is divided for their folders recursively.

If the user adds an item, then the progress parts of the uncopied items is divided again.
Only if the queue is empty the progress starts again from zero.

B) It is straight forward to use it in BTM

This behavior could also be used in sync tool to show the progress of the compared folders.
And of cause in Windows 7 task bar icon.

[MVV]

That looks nice. If we don't know elements count, we always know selected elements count, so we can show estimated progress bar, this will be better than not to have progress bar at all.
In BTM currently no progress at all, it will be good to count first or second level item count to show estimated overall progress bar.
BTW, we can count copied files/folders instead of MBs, such approach also have chance to be. For large ammount of small files it will be even better.

[Samuel]

I really like the new progress taskbar feature of Windows 7.

2Christian:
I don't know if you plan something like mentioned in this thread, otherwise it would be really nice to have the continious progress bar to show TC is still busy in:
- BTM
- sync tool when it gathers informations
- copy/delete without counting
- dont know if there are other places.

I would also like the yellow blinking instead of a window poping in front if TC has to ask for overwrite etc.

[m^2]

Support+ for the suggestions in the 1st post.

[Evds]

Support +