Re: Logic behind CLOSE and EXIT.

[Nick Lamb <njl98r ecs soton ac uk>]

On Mon, Dec 06, 1999 at 01:22:35PM +1100, Rodd Clarkson wrote:
> However, what I'm proposing isn't so much about how windows does it, but
> more about doing things so that users can work the way they want to
> work, whilst having a consistent command set.  Thus, having CLOSE exit
> shouldn't be an option.  If you want to CLOSE you CLOSE and if you want
> to EXIT you EXIT.

I want to CLOSE the last damn window. If you tell me that the last
window is a special window, and you have to CLOSE it with EXIT then
I will point you straight back at the UI HoS, to be reminded that
"The Computer Should Not Appear To Be Stupid".

It is not consistency if things don't work consistently. Why does the
user have to track how many windows she has open and then decide to
use Exit or Close as appropriate?

> These may seem like simple things, but theses are the things that are
> going to be focused on (have you every read that famous web page on
> interface design mistakes - the name slips me).  This simple issue of
> CLOSE and EXIT, or workbooks in a single window or each in their own
> WINDOWS are the things that users use every single time they use
> gnumeric, and these are the things that whilst small will drive them
> away or encourage them to stay.  I'd like them to stay, because gnumeric
> has a lot to offer.

The "famous web page" is the User Interface Hall of Shame.
http://www.iarchitect.com/ is the top level URL for Isys Information
Architects, the owners, who have a lot of OTHER great stuff too.

They've never done a critique of MDI, whether that's because it is
too obvious or because they happen to rather like it, I do not know.

Nick.