Re: [Usability] Dialogs and Maximize button

[Olaf van der Spek <OvdSpek LIACS NL>]

Elijah Newren wrote:
> On 9/8/06, Olaf van der Spek <OvdSpek liacs nl> wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > The HIG says (implicitly) dialogs shouldn't have a maximize button.
> >
> > http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gup/hig/2.0/windows-dialog.html
> >
> >  > Window Commands: Minimize, Roll-up/Unroll
>
> Also worth noting is http://live.gnome.org/Metacity/WindowTypes, which
> is mpt's work to try to extend the list of window types and provide
> better visual clues about each window.
>
> > Can this be fixed such that dialogs can have a maximize button?
> > Even better, can maximize buttons be automatically added to every window
> > that is resizable?
>
> Given that both the HIG and mpt's extensions/modifications suggest no
> maximize button for such windows, it is possible that we should turn
> this question around: should we disable resizing for window types that
> shouldn't have a maximize button?  Neither the HIG nor mpt's write-up
> addresses that question, and it seems some users are confused by the
> ability to resize if the window can't be maximized.

I don't like to reverse the question. :)
In addition to "Can maximize buttons be automatically added to every 
window that is resizable?" I would also like to suggest that every 
window that has (a child that has) a scrollbar should be resizable (and 
maximizable).
Would you also like to disable scrollbars from dialogs? :)

No resize and no maximize for no good reasons decrease usability IMO.

Olaf