Re: [evolution-patches] Proposed UI change: mailer component: ellipsis characters for various menu items (#323951)

[Srinivasa Ragavan <sragavan novell com>]

On Mon, 2005-12-19 at 15:01 +0100, guenther wrote:
> On Sun, 2005-12-18 at 16:12 +0530, Srinivasa Ragavan wrote:
> > On Sat, 2005-12-17 at 17:20 +0100, guenther wrote:
> > > On Tue, 2005-12-13 at 01:47 -0500, David Malcolm wrote:
> > > > (trying to get some UI fixes in before the deadline here)
> > > > 
> > > > >From the GNOME HIG:
> > > > "Command items are menu items that initiate a command or perform an action, such
> > > > as Save, Print or Quit. They may act on the currently active document in a
> > > > document based application, or on the application itself." ... "Label the menu
> > > > item with a trailing ellipsis ("...") only if the command requires further input
> > > > from the user before it can be performed. Do not add an ellipsis to items that
> > > > only present a confirmation dialog (such as Delete), or that do not require
> > > > further input (such as Properties, Preferences or About)." (see
> > > > http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gup/hig/2.0/menus-design.html#menu-grouping 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Based on the above, I think the following items in the mailer should have
> > > > trailing ellipsis characters:
> > > > Message ->
> > > > 	Compose New Message
> > > > 	Post New Message to Folder
> > > > 	Reply
> > > > 	Post a Reply
> > > > 	Reply to Sender
> > > > 	Reply to List
> > > > 	Forward
> > > > 	Redirect
> > > 
> > > Honestly, I disagree for the above. I don't think they should have the
> > > ellipsis chars. (Yes, this mostly is a gut feeling of mine, seems crappy
> > > to me to add it to all of em.) So I'd like to get this reverted.
> > > 
> > > Anyway, in either case... Be consistent!
> >
> > guenther, Let us try to get towards HIG compliance as much as possible
> > instead of reverting this. :-)
> > 
> > > * If the menu entry "Reply" has the ellipsis, the context menu needs it
> > >   as well.
> > > * If the above should have the ellipsis, the same applies to all menu
> > >   entries in the File / New menu and New dropdown. 
> > > * Context menu for Calendar, Tasks, ... The list goes on and on.
> > 
> > Yes if it is required. let us try adding it. I have attached a patch,
> > which adds to the entire evolution menus (context/menu bar). I have
> > added ellipsis to New menu(Toolbar also), context menus, and most other
> > places. Please review it.  Post out your nice comments to add/remove
> > ellipsis in the  patch, we can discuss and fix it. I hope I haven't
> > missed any menus totally :-).
> 
> Oh, you missed the funky undertone in my previous post... ;)
> 
> I really believe, this is the wrong way to go. The HIG is pretty vague
> about this point anyway.
> 
> Lets take a look at other apps, like gedit. File / New does *not*  have
> ellipsis. Now where is the difference between "New text file" and "New
> mail" or "New appointment"? The user already *expects* to enter text for
> either of them. There is absolutely no need to explicitly point out this
> fact.
> 
> The Composer is not a dialog, that demands input. The Composer is not a
> dialog.
> 
> 
> According to the recent discussion on IRC, a lot of hackers agree with
> me here. [1] Adding ellipsis all over the place, to almost all menu
> entries is the wrong way and pretty counter productive. The user will
> miss its meaning entirely.
> 
> There are a few good places, where this actually is useful: "Save" vs.
> "Save As..." for example. "Reply..." is not.
> 
As per the irc discussion, i have reverted the patch and created a bug
http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=324492 for discussing ellipsis
on required menu items.

David, i have reverted the patch, let us close on the menus that need
ellipsis, and finally take all the patches. There were a lot of
discussion on HIG's words on ellipsis. So we decided that let we not do
anything and close on this asap and get the ellipsis on required menu
items where ever needed. Please add yourselves to the bug, to put down
your points.

Thanks
Srini
> ...guenther
> 
> 
> [1] *drumrolls* Please speak up. :)
> 
>