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List:       kde-core-devel
Subject:    Re: RFC: [PATCH] Buttons for applet handles
From:       John Firebaugh <jfirebaugh () kde ! org>
Date:       2001-07-06 20:23:28
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On Friday July 06, 2001 12:16 pm, Ian Reinhart Geiser wrote:
> On Friday July 06, 2001 3:05 pm, Richard Moore wrote:
> > Ian Reinhart Geiser wrote:
> > > On Friday July 06, 2001 11:25 am, John Firebaugh wrote:
> > > > After reading the n-th bug report submitted by a user who could not
> > > > figure out how to remove applets from the panel, I did something
> > > > about it. The attached patch adds two small buttons on the outer
> > > > edge of the applet handle: an X button that removes the applet and
> > > > a triangle button that shows the applet menu. In tiny mode, these
> > > > take up nearly the entire handle, so I would probably vote for
> > > > showing just the menu button. Any thoughts? Should this go in?
> > >
> > > Gah NO,
> > > I would kill the applet every time tried to move things arround down
> > > there. that handle is so small it is insane to try to provide any
> > > function down there.
> >
> > I tend to agree - I don't like this idea. How about making it possible
> > to delete the buttons by dragging them to the Trash icon? This would
> > make much more sense.
> >
> > > The best bet is users should read the documentation or we need to
> > > make a quick start tutatorial when KPersonalizer runs....
> >
> > No chance, they never do.
>
> Then I reccomend that we check to see the current install at login time,
> if the version of KDE has changed then we ask them if they want to get an
> overview of new features.  If they say yes then they get a KPresenter
> slide show of new features....

...and 50 to 90% of them will immediately want to know how to skip it.

> They did this in MacOS a few years back and it really helps.  Even M$
> tries to do this during install...
>
> 	"Look KDE just got better!" <- joke
>
> Yes the idea that the UI needs to be self explanitory is a noble idea,
> and one we should try to achive but on a 1024x768 screen a close box will
> be: A)	indesernable from anything else on the kicker
> 	B)	hard to hit
> 	C)	will still require MORE documentation to tell them what the little
> red blob actually does.

If this is true, then we also have a problem with KDockWidget, because the 
appearance and functionality is nearly identical. I'm running at 1024x768, 
A isn't true. If B is true, then it's no worse then than things are now, 
because you'd still have to hit the same area with the right mouse button. 
With a tooltip and the universal use of X for close and an arrow for a 
popup menu, I don't think C is an issue (btw, it's not a red blob -- again, 
please actually _apply_ the patch and tell me again if you still believe 
the above).

> The best option at this point is to add a tooltip to the applet handle
> that tells them to right click for a menu.  But for the long term goal I
> would like to see a startup presentation basicly showing a pretty version
> of the changelog...

Maybe this would be nice, but it is still no substitute for fixing UI flaws.

later,
John

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