Re: combo-box vs. gtkoptionmenu

["Norman Black" <stonybrk ix netcom com>]

> The option menu should always be used, unless the combo box is
> editable (i.e. options not found in the list can be typed in).

GtkOption menus have the following problems (from direct personal
experience)
1. Cannot display a large amount of items.
2. Are excruciatingly slow when adding a large number of items. ComboBox
is much better, but still a bit on the slow side in Gtk.

In Gtk use option menus only for small lists.

> UI experts seem agreed that combo boxes are a horrible UI:
>
> http://www.mackido.com/Interface/ComboBox.html
> http://www.joelonsoftware.com/uibook/chapters/fog0000000063.html

Interesting read. However menus can never handle a large number of items
easily. A Windows combo box does full text selection (not just first
letter) and Gtk can be coaxed into this with some coding. By typing a
few to a handful of characters someone can get to what they want with
minimal effort. With a menu you are forced to scroll, possibly
significantly, with the mouse.

Best Regards,
Norman Black
Stony Brook Software

----- Original Message -----
From: "Havoc Pennington" <hp redhat com>
To: "Koos Jan Niesink" <koos_jan hotpop com>
Cc: <gtk-app-devel-list gnome org>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 03:52 PM
Subject: Re: combo-box vs. gtkoptionmenu


> Koos Jan Niesink <koos_jan hotpop com> writes:
> > I have got a question about the use of combo-boxes and
> > gtkoptionmenus. What is exactly the use of gtkoptionmenu as
> > combo-boxes can do the same (as far as I know)? With both one can
make
> > a choice out of a list of options, only a combo-box can do more. And
> > in my opinion the gui of the combo-boxes is better.
>
> The option menu should always be used, unless the combo box is
> editable (i.e. options not found in the list can be typed in).
>
> UI experts seem agreed that combo boxes are a horrible UI:
>
> http://www.mackido.com/Interface/ComboBox.html
> http://www.joelonsoftware.com/uibook/chapters/fog0000000063.html
>
> Havoc
>
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