[Usability] Re: How to denote default menu entries? (was: Re: [Usability] Nautilus: Should default application appear bold in popup menu?)

[Reinout van Schouwen <reinout cs vu nl>]

Hello Christian,

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003, Christian Neumair wrote:

> This seems to be a really interesting topic, especially for the HIG and
> the discussion gets pretty off-topic, so I'm starting a new thread.

I've filed http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=129902 about the use
of text styles in menu items. Your problem analysis appears sound to me,
please add it there too.

> In my opinion this wouldn't be a good idea since it looks very similar
> to a radio button, at least for visually impaired users.

You may be right, but Apple doesn't seem to see this as a problem,
considering the amount of menu-item "markers" they support:

http://developer.apple.com/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/OSXHIGuidelines/XHIGMenus/chapter_15_section_3.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000356/TPXREF115

> This seems to be a fundamental question: How can we direct a user's
> attraction to a _particular_ menu item without either confusing him or
> being obtrsive?

Agreed.

> > Appending " (default)" sounds like a bad idea, as it wastes space and is
> > bound to raise l10n issues.
> I agree with you that it takes additional space but "rais(ing) l10n
> issues" is exaggerative. We used to have non-coding translators and non-

I suppose there are languages where '(default)' would have to come
_before_ the menu item, thus creating ugly layout.

regards & happy holidays,

-- 
Reinout van Schouwen			Artificial Intelligence student
email: reinout cs vu nl			mobile phone: +31-6-44360778