Re: [Usability] [RFC] Gnumeric Cell Format dialog simplification approach

[Bryan Clark <clarkbw clarkson edu>]

Hi Christian ~

On Mon, 2004-03-15 at 18:29 +0100, Christian Neumair wrote:

> Hi folks!
> I'm currently trying to rework part of Gnumeric's user interface of CVS
> HEAD. Jody and I couldn't find a consensus on whether to use
> GtkRadioButtons or GtkComboBoxes for cell alignment formatting.

Cool.

> Jody's point of view (as far as I know, I may have missed arguments):
> The radio button layout represents the real cell (left - center -
> right).

While the HIG says don't use radio buttons when you have more than 8
values to choose from, really it's about 3 as a rule of thumb.  Radio
buttons shouldn't span more than one column or row, if there are too
many for that then you should be using a combo box.  It's when you get
this matrix of radio buttons that things look confusing.

So if you have:
	(o) Choice X
	(o) Choice Y	(o) Choice W
	(o) Choice Z

You would put that in one single column (bring Choice W below Choice Z)
or use a combo box to hold them all.  Between a combo and a single
column is kind of an individual matter, but about 3 radio buttons (maybe
four) is the limit I set.

> My point of view:
> Less visible elements means less clutter, mnemonic translation currently
> is a PITA, cell formatting isn't represented anyway (general - fill -
> justify).

Agreed, but the radio buttons really look cluttered because they are all
over the place.

Thanks,
~ Bryan