Re: panel menu functionality...

[Glenn Mitchell Arndt <gmarndt indiana edu>]

On Tue, 8 Aug 2000, [iso-8859-1] Jörg Rathlev wrote:

> > That's what I'm saying -- although you can right-click to edit the
> > launcher's properties, a feature that i like, i'd also like to be able
> > to move/arrange/reorder the menu items just by dragging them around. i
> > am always editing my menus, as apps come and go for me, and it is
> > frustrating sometimes to be forced to start up a menu editing app just
> > to change the *order* of my menu items.. it's not a problem that will
> > kill me, but I think it would be convenient. If it's a usability problem
> > for extreme newbies, then have it turned off by default, and let me turn
> > it on if I so choose..
> 
> I think that there are some usability problems with the drag&drop menus not
> only for 'extreme newbies'. The most obvious is that it is quite easy to
> accidentally drag a menu item. Another problem is inconsistency: if you
> click the menu button (that opens the menu) and hold the mouse button down,
> you can move your mouse over the items, and release it above the one you
> want to use.
> 
> However if you press your mouse button while it is above an item and hold
> it, this results in a totally different behavior (dragging the item) -- but
> only in some menus, while others have a 'normal' behavior. Besides, it is
> also inconsistent with pushbuttons, where you can cancel clicking it by
> dragging the mouse off the pushbutton before releasing the mouse button (a
> feature that is important even to advanced users, IMHO).
> 
> What about developing an 'in-place-menu-editor' that gets activated using
> the context menu, activates the drag feature and keeps the menu open
> (similar to MS Office)? It should also display a message box somewhere
> (somewhere meaning not covering the menu :-) ) where you can click Finish to
> commit the changes and Cancel to cancel editing.
> 
> 
> Jörg
> 

Jorg -- I think your 'in-place-menu-editor' idea is perfect. It would give
me what I want without undermining consistency and ease of use of the
menus. Too bad I haven't the foggiest idea how to develop it. :-(

Glenn Arndt

gmarndt@indiana.edu
glenn@schmim.com
glenn.arndtii@marchFIRST.com
icq#: 20116268