Re: [Usability] HIG: Small patch to "Progress windows" section

[Matthew Paul Thomas <mpt postinbox com>]

Matthew Paul Thomas wrote on 22/02/10 17:13:
> This patch makes small changes to the HIG's "Progress windows" section.
>
> * New: "A progress window should always appear as an independent
> window in a window list. If progress of a task makes a window
> temporarily unusable, do not present a modal dialog-like progress
> window in front of it. Instead, present progress somewhere in the
> original window, making all its other elements temporarily
> insensitive."
>
> * Removed: "Progress windows should have the same title as their
> primary text." (This guideline has often caused redundancy in
> progress windows, e.g.
> <http://www.dedoimedo.com/images/computers/pendrivelinux_ubuntu_installing.jpg>.
> It also usually causes the window
> title to inappropriately use header capitalization.)
>
> * Added: "Progress windows should have a title representing the
> overall operation: for example “Copying Files”, “Installing”, or
> “Calling”. (As with other window titles, do not end progress window
> titles with an ellipsis.)"

Attached.

--
Matthew Paul Thomas
http://mpt.net.nz/

diff --git a/hig/C/hig-ch-windows.xml b/hig/C/hig-ch-windows.xml
index 078b70e..f7075be 100644
--- a/hig/C/hig-ch-windows.xml
+++ b/hig/C/hig-ch-windows.xml
@@ -1720,13 +1720,10 @@ saved, in case an error occurs.  Then hide the document window immediately after
     during an operation that takes more than a few seconds. See <xref
     linkend="controls-progress-bars" /> for more details about proper use of
     progress bars.</para>
-	<para>A progress window may appear in the panel window list if it
-	is, or may be, the only window shown by an application. For example,
-	the file download progress window of a web browser may remain after
-	all the browser windows have been closed.</para>
-	<para>Otherwise, a progress window should be raised above the
-	application when the application window itself is selected from the
-	window list.</para>
+		<para>A progress window should always appear as an independent window in a window list.
+		If progress of a task makes a window temporarily unusable, do not present a modal dialog-like progress window in front of it.
+		Instead, present progress somewhere in the original window, making all its other elements temporarily insensitive.
+		This helps reduce visual clutter.</para>
 
     <figure id="example-progress-figure">
       <title>An example of a progress window</title>
@@ -1749,9 +1746,9 @@ saved, in case an error occurs.  Then hide the document window immediately after
     <formalpara>
       <title>Title Format</title>
 
-      <para>Progress windows should have the same title as their primary text.
-      Unlike alerts, it is expected that progress windows will be present in
-      the window list and may be active for extended periods.</para>
+      <para>Progress windows should have a title representing the overall
+      operation: for example &#8220;Copying Files&#8221;, &#8220;Installing&#8221;, or &#8220;Calling&#8221;.
+      (As with other window titles, do not end progress window titles with an ellipsis.)</para>
     </formalpara>
 
     <formalpara>