Re: [Usability] Disclosure triangles

[Julian Missig <julian jabber org>]

George wrote:

> On Sat, Dec 29, 2001 at 05:44:06AM +1100, Jeff Waugh wrote:
>
> > > This paradigm was used extensively in Sun's open look desktop -- a dialogue
> > > box would have a button amrked "+", and if you pressed it, the dialogue
> > > would grow smoothly to show more controls.  These controls were usually
> > > for settings that most people wouldn't need, or that would be only
> > > occasiobnally needed compared to the others.
> > A couple of people on IRC have mentioned the Windows-style "More >>"
> > buttons, which would be regarded as disclosure buttons (without the elegance
> > and lack of self-documentation that the triangle presents).
>
> While I can't argue on the 'elegance', I could argue on the
> 'self-documentation' aspect.  I find it easier to understand a "More >>"
> button.  Since it's a button, so I know I can press it.  And it says it will
> give me "More" things.  The only reason I think a triangle can give me more
> things is that I got used to triangles from tree widgets (which are not
> really common).
>
> In any case, as far as I've seen, the triangle thingies have no raised border
> and so it doesn't look to me like something I could click anyway.  I suppose
> it has the problem of the 'flat' toolbars.  It looks much nicer, but you lose
> some intuitiveness.
>
>
> > On that note, perhaps disclosure triangles should always have a label. :)
>
> If there would be no label, I would have no clue I would even want to click
> on one.  I think it would be horrible without a label.


Jimbob and I use:


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Julian
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