Re: [Usability] Disclosure triangles

[Jeff Waugh <jdub perkypants org>]

<quote who="George">

> On Sat, Dec 29, 2001 at 05:44:06AM +1100, Jeff Waugh wrote:
> > 
> > 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.

My phrasing was less than stellar there. I meant that the "More >>" button
was less elegant, and did not have the lack of self-documentation.

Double negatives suck arse!

> 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.

That's a big problem. Maciej mentioned the other weird kind of disclosure
buttons on the Mac (which have totally confounded me, being so unfamiliar).
Odd thought, that they do look like buttons.

> > 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.

And yet so common. ;) Currently, we have things like this (WARNING: ASCII
ART APPROACHING!):

+----------------------------------+   +----------------------------------+
| pr0n.mpg                         |   | pr0n.mpg                         |
+----------------------------------+   +----------------------------------+
|                                  |   |                                  |
|  Downloading 4.9MB of 9.3MB...   |   |  Downloading 4.9MB of 9.3MB...   |
|                                  |   |                                  |
|  +----------------------------+  |   |  +----------------------------+  |
|  |###################|        |  |   |  |###################|        |  |
|  |###################|        |  |   |  |###################|        |  |
|  +----------------------------+  |   |  +----------------------------+  |
|                                  |   |                                  |
|  >                               |   |  \/                              |
|                                  |   |                                  |
+----------------------------------+   |  Destination: ~/pants/pr0n.mpg   |
                                       |  Rate: 238kb/s                   |
                                       |  Flim: Definitely                |
                                       |                                  |
                                       +----------------------------------+

Perhaps it would be better as:

+----------------------------------+
| pr0n.mpg                         |
+----------------------------------+
|                                  |
|  Downloading 4.9MB of 9.3MB...   |
|                                  |
|  +----------------------------+  |
|  |###################|        |  |
|  |###################|        |  |
|  +----------------------------+  |
|                                  |
|  [ > Statistics ]                |
|                                  |
+----------------------------------+

As a very simple, thinly raised button? If not, the arrow should at least
show the depth of a button (kind of like the checkbox/optionbox on some
themes).

- Jeff

-- 
  There's no horse higher, no mailing list taunt lower, no developer base   
              wider. Rock My Software in the Bosom of Debian.