Subject: Re: AbiWord Interface Review
From: Alan (horkana@tcd.ie)
Date: Thu Aug 09 2001 - 13:00:23 CDT
Nils Barth wrote:
>On 2001-08-09-02:53, Jared Davis wrote:
>
>Comments: (I also have a soft spot of UI design)
>
Me too
>------------------------------------------
>1.1.1: Icons in menus
>Icons in menus are a good idea, for the reasons you state (+ eye
>candy). We have them in the GNOME build at least, and the should be
>added to the Windows build.
>
>Currently AbiWord's icons are GNOME-ish; since we're making everything
>else platform-based (widgets, etc.), we should probably use
>Windows-standard icons on Windows. However, this makes it a little
>less cross-platform/makes appearance platform dependent, so this is
>debatable.
>
Please God dont do this, i like the Gnome Icons better.
>.5: Import/Export may bring up the same dialog boxes as Open/Save As...
>but the behaviour is different, and in my opinion often superior:
>Import/Export copy the document data:
>
I realise this is useful but its confusing and i dont think it should be
in by default
>.6: On GNOME, you can actually turn off/remove the status bar;
>
its an outstanding BUG
> this should be implemented on Windows.
> If this is not possible/practical on Windows, then the option
> should be removed.
>------------------------------------------
>1.1.5: Insert menu
>
>.4: Rationale: maybe this is to help people with writer's block (how
> should I end this letter?). However, this function is better
> served by templates
>.5: On GNOME we have `Clip Art...' too, so it makes sense there.
>------------------------------------------
>1.1.6: Format menu
>.8: Yeah, this is a nice feature but horribly implemented in Word (a
> text box???) -- when we implement it, we should Do It Right.
>.10/.13: Having font options directly in the menu made sense on early
> Macs, when you had few options; now they should be relegated to a
> submenu, and people should use keyboard shortcuts/toolbars.
>------------------------------------------
>1.1.7: Tools menu
>.1: Agree completely.
>.2: Careful not to clutter the submenu -- consider 3 options:
> Check Spelling...
> Spelling Options...
> Auto Spellcheck (checkbox)
>------------------------------------------
>1.1.8: Windows menu
>.1: Okay, this is definitely an MDI holdover, and should be axed.
>.2: Yeah, put the `New Window' option under the `View' menu
>
I disagree. One minute you say you want to remain consistent and then
the next you are willing to break consistancy without a very good reason
for it.
>
>Thanks SO much for doing this -- many of these would be easy changes
>that would dramatically improve AbiWord's UI, and the not-so-easy
>changes are also very worthwhile.
>
Thanks for giving me another excuse not to study.
IM DOOMED!!!
Later
>
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