Re: [orca-list] Want your opinion on the removal of "Close" buttons on some dialog windows

[Michael Whapples <mwhapples aim com>]

I would say keep the close button in the main part of the window. I am
unaware of there being a way to know if a close button exists in the
title bar (without trying and seeing what the result is), and according
to what will said in a follow up message (to the original question in
the link given) this is so. Yes you may conclude if no close button is
found with tabbing around, then you are meant to close it with alt-f4,
but I don't like doing that incase I have missed something (IE. by
finding a close or OK button, it confirms to me I have closed the window
as expected, where as not having this, well did I find it, or is it on
another page for one with multiple tabs, etc).

Another point, while people may get used to this, I feel that with orca
improving as it is, and the work done by ubuntu and other distros to
make Linux easier to get started with, more are now looking towards
linux from windows (and possibly in our case, a greater percentage as
linux removes the excessive cost encountered for access technology on
windows (accepted there are some things like NVDA, but I think orca is
certainly ahead (last time I looked at NVDA)), and by removing this
close button it may confuse new comers (as most windows apps have such
buttons).

Just some of my thoughts.

From
Michael Whapples
On Tue, 2007-11-06 at 11:19 -0500, Willie Walker wrote:
> Hi All:
>
> Members of the GNOME team are considering removing the "Close" buttons 
> on many dialogs in GNOME.  For example, almost all of the GNOME 
> Preferences windows -- Appearance Preferences, Keyboard Preferences, AT 
> Preferences, etc. -- have this "Close" button.
>
> The discussion on this subject is here:
>
> http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-themes-list/2007-November/msg00000.html
>
> "I wanted to investigate if we could get rid of all our Close-buttons in 
> some windows, since every window have a big close button in the top 
> right corner anyway. (therefore less clutter) A big stopper for this was 
> apparently the highcontrast themes, where the close button in the corner 
> hit target is pretty small apparently."
>
> If the "Close" button were removed, you'd have to remember to press 
> Alt+F4 (or Alt+Space and then navigate to the menu item) to close a 
> window.  Escape may also work.  I personally think this might be too 
> much to remember (I like "Close" buttons), and can also leave you 
> wondering if any changes you made in the window were saved or lost as a 
> result of pressing Alt+F4.
>
> Anyhow, your thoughts on this would be appreciated.  If you're strongly 
> for or against the idea, please provide a constructive comment for why.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Will