Recreate the d7II v2.x Look and Feel

Note:  This article was originally written for the d7II v3 update from d7II v2.x, but also applies to the current d7x interface (which is unchanged in layout from the d7II v3.x interface.)

The v3.x update to d7II introduces some powerful new capabilities, but comes at a cost to existing v2.x users, that cost being reconfiguration time.  This is exactly why the update to v3.x was manual, and not done automatically from within d7II’s update system (so as not to catch anyone off guard in the middle of a job!)

What you have lost is your custom apps configuration in the listboxes on each tab, and also your d7II integrated functions will be missing as well, and of course your auto mode profiles.  As d7II internal functions are now “building blocks” which you can use to create your own organized system of automation, now you don’t need to rely on the static position and placement of these functions as it was in previous versions to best suit your needs.

There is a little bit of assistance I have for you in getting started again.  Visit d7II Config > Custom Apps > Assign App/Function to Section.  From there, on the bottom right there is a RESET button.  This will place some defaults into the custom list boxes to get you started on setting everything back up.  It is by no means a comprehensive list, and it may not be in a particular order, so you will need to organize the lists, remove what you do not want and add what is missing that you do.  Hopefully this can shave some time off of your setup.

v2.x listboxes on the main interface have one line containing only the name of the custom app or function.  v3.x listboxes by default use a 2-line system taking up a little more than double the space that each custom app used to in the box.

The new second description line features information identifying a custom app as such, separating it from internal functions, and also specifying whether or not the app is Auto/Manual/Silent.  After this comes a short description of the app, which you can modify yourself in Config > Custom Apps.

Unfortunately the second description line takes up a lot of space.  For that reason people may wish to have the old v2.x style one line.  If so, you can easily disable the second line description, putting d7II back to the v2.x look, by going to Config > Register/Personalize and in the top right section you will find checkboxes to disable the second description line.

For internal d7II functions, the description line is available as a separate setting, so you can leave the second line enabled should you wish to have a better idea of what a particular function does, but disable it for custom apps.

Also in this config section are the OneNote style tab colors if you wish to re-enable them.

The Customize/Install tab was combined with the Maintenance tab in theory (and in default settings if you apply them as noted above.)  The idea is that typically most of the tasks on the Customize/Install tab were performed as part of any maintenance on a PC regardless, especially the Ninite One functionality.  The custom apps are exactly that, custom apps and could always go where they were needed anyway.  It makes sense to me that after most maintenance is when you are performing updates (Ninite One, PatchMyPC, etc.) and doing software installs of items like Unchecky and other things which you may do for your customers as part of a tune-up package.  In short, Customize/Install would come after Maintenance in any service utilizing both anyway…

The QA/Testing tab ended up with so many overlapping custom apps and ideas with the Audit/Diagnose tab, that these two were combined (again in theory, and in defaults if applied.)  The idea of testing a PDF for example would be both during the diagnostic process and after repair.  It made sense not to have redundancy in that aspect.  If I’m not thinking about it in the right way, please make your case to me and I’ll consider what can be done.  Perhaps another tab as a replacement if nothing better comes to mind.