Registered File Types

Integration into the Windows shell is an important feature for applications because it is the first place where proper implementation can result in a better user experience. If you look at other aquifer test analysis software you will not find many of these features although they are almost the defacto standard in most other Windows applications.

The first level of integration is to split documents into logical types and associate these file types to the application. Each document type has a file extension and a unique icon associated with it. In Windows Explorer and on the Windows Desktop, file extensions like .aqw are not displayed because the intent is for the icon to be enough of a visual cue to identify the file type. If you see an icon like it means that the application developer did not take the time to register an icon. The default implementation is to take the icon for the application program, shrink it and display it inside the document frame.  Aquifer^win32 has split analysis types into five distinct categories and registers the following five document types.

Slug Test Document (.aql)

Analysis Document (.aqw)

Step Test Document (.aqp)

Simulation Document (.aqs)

Flow Model Document (.aqf)

Within Windows Explorer and the Windows Desktop, a context menu can be activated by right clicking the mouse on a document icon.  The default menu is Open which opens the application and loads the document file.  This functionality is fairly universal and most applications support it.  (The default menu is the one activated when you double click the left mouse button).  What is not universal is support for the Print menu so that the document can be printed without opening the application.  An important additional feature is that you can drag the document icon and drop it on one of the Windows printer icons to print the document.

Registered Documents

Aquifer^win32 documents can also be created from the File/New and context menus within Windows Explorer and the Windows Desktop.  Simply right click the mouse on the Desktop and the following context menu will be displayed.  Selecting one of the Aquifer^win32 document types from the New context menu (see below) will open the program and create a new document of the selected type.  This is a very convenient way to create documents and complies with the Microsoft document-centric concept.

Un-Installation

Aquifer^win32 supports the Microsoft prescribed method of removing itself from the computer; typically referred to as uninstallation.  This prescribed method is to register the uninstallation script such that is appears in the Add/Remove Programs Properties property sheet accessed via the Start/Settings/Control Panel menu.

Summary

None of these features are required to perform the task of aquifer test analysis and they are only noteworthy because other similar programs have not implemented them. These features are expected in Windows applications because the operating system is designed to work in this fashion. When selecting application programs, it is typically a good idea to look for these features because their presence is a good indication of the quality of the software.