Feature Request
 

I was wondering if it might be possible to add a feature where any changes you make to your tank CANNOT be saved. What I mean is, I go in, choose my fish, music options etc, and check or un-check a box essentially saving my settings so that they cannot be changed. Something along the lines of a setting which says "DO NOT ALLOW CHANGES TO MY TANK".

Just wondering.

Thanks!

Or you could just set them and not change them.

With such a feature, how would you change the settings if you someday decided that the pink background wasn't such a good idea after all?

This is somewhat already there -

Exiting each menu screen with "cancel" will not change or alter anything.

Is this request because you use a computer that is also used by other people, and those other people keep changing your settings?

If I've guessed that right, do all of you use the same account on the computer?

Very simple, I want to make a change, I check or un-check said box make the change and do the reverse. In regards to the other question. There are 2 users on the computer, however, my son really enjoys the aquarium products, and he likes to add fish etc, which I don't have a problem with. However, when I have to go through and undo the changes, I think a feature like might come in handy whereas a child could play around, without the actual user needing to go and undo the changes.

The feature isn't for a dumb user, its more for child proofing. Case in point. Dream Aquarium has the exact feature and it works for what I need it to do. I can let my son play around with the tanks to his hearts content without actually messing up my settings.

Oh, I see - miniature saboteurs. I don't have any of those running around any more, so I don't think along those lines.

How does Dream Aquarium implement it? Why can't the child just turn off the childproofing?

Exactly. The worlds next evil genius. :-) He can't turn it off, because it's a well hidden option that he hasn't found yet. I could take some screenshots if you'd like?

Here is how it's done. See the attached screenshot. Its relatively easy to find if you know what to look for, but like I said, he hasn't found it, and I don't think he will as he just likes to make new tanks and such. But if / when he does, I'll deal with that later.

I hope this is something that can be done. I love this aquarium. My son has loved fish since he was 2 days old (because of this product) when I was holding him in my arms and his eyes were as big as saucers trying to get a look at the fish.

http://picasaweb.google.com/nytiger7...36432140026402

If you can't see the image, let me know and I'll find another way to show you.

Couldn't you just save this key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SereneScreen\MarineAqua rium3]
to a .reg file, then no matter what settings were changed, double click
it and your back to where you were?

I suppose that I could. I never even knew that existed. Much appreciated. I am guessing thats how Dream Aquarium does it as well. Perhaps it makes that reg key Read Only, or when the options are changed, maybe it recreates the key.

Thanks for the info.

OK, I'll consider the option.

Is it practical to give your son his own, separate account on the computer? Switch User would fix your problem nicely.

[The technical drawback of the Registry Key hack is that some of the settings aren't in the registry. If your son never fiddles with clock/logo/music that wouldn't be a problem, though]

All the settings are saved in the Registry. The settings for the logos and music consist of the filepaths to them.

NYTIGER73 - What you are asking for is actually very simple. The way the program works now, all the settings are written to the Registry when the OK button is pressed when exiting the Settings screen, and again when exiting the program (to catch any keyboard inputs). To get the behavior you are asking for, I simply need to not do this. I just need to determine is if it would cause more trouble than it's worth.

MA3 has support for multiple tanks. You could set up a tank, make a backup, and always make sure the default is selected. If he changes it, you can just switch to the backup, copy it, and so forth.

Dale -

I could give him his own account. Which I have in the past, but its a real long story why I won't now. If Jim decides to add the option it would be better.

Thank you all for your replies, in the meantime, I'll use the registry method which should work out just fine.

Where is this "multiple tank" support in MA3 that allows for this?

Sounds like something I could add to the Readme.

I think that would be "multiple fish selections".. The "tank" is what it is

If that is what feldon34 means, I'm not seeing how that would help since a user could go in and change/delete any of the saved fish settings (tanks?).

If the son is smart enough to delete tanks...

I'm not sure I'd favor changing the current way the program works for this.

Adding a Registry backup feature, maybe, but changing how it works? As you point out, it may cause more trouble than it's worth.