Subject: Re: AbiWord Interface Review
From: Nils Barth (nils_barth@post.harvard.edu)
Date: Thu Aug 09 2001 - 14:01:42 CDT
On 2001-08-09-19:00, Alan wrote:
> Nils Barth wrote:
> >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.
Okay -- I agree that GNOME icons are prettier, and I doubt it would
cause (much?) any confusion to use the GNOME ones; just an idea.
> >.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
I'd argue that `Save As...' is confusing -- I assumed that it
functioned as `Export Copy...' does, and have been repeatedly bitten
by this.
> >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.
The reason to break consistency is to rationalize:
`New Window' pops up another View on the current document. As such, it
naturally fits under the `View' menu, which changes the view on the
current document.
Jared's remarks about the `Window' menu being an MDI holdover are
correct, AFAICT: in old Win3.1/MDI apps, there's no other list of open
documents; on modern GUIs (Mac, Win95, GNOME, KDE) there's a list or
bar of open programs/documents as part of the desktop, so the `Window'
menu is redundant and causes menubar bloat (like the `Web' menu).
However, you're right -- this is a more significant change than
different icons.
-- -pookie
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