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List:       kde-look
Subject:    Re: User Interface.. If you ever wrote or will write a software GUI, then READ THIS!
From:       Dave Leigh <dave.leigh () cratchit ! org>
Date:       2001-03-09 4:55:16
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On Thursday 08 March 2001 20:58, Christian A Str?mmen [Number1/NumeroUno] 
wrote:

> > I recently got hold of a page on the web that changed the way I look at
> user interfaces, this was a really extreme experience for me, and I really
> believe that this article (/book) is something EVERY KDE hacker should
> read.

Then you'll really like these two "halls" at iarchitect.com:

Interface Hall of Fame
	http://www.iarchitect.com/mfame.htm
Interface Hall of Shame
	http://www.iarchitect.com/mshame.htm

> 2) If you read what's on the last part of page 4, you'll see that the
> settings dialog that appears in for example kmail and konqueror are really
> bad, tabs are much more preferable (please read this yourself, and you'll
> get the point)

While I agree with much of what's said, the above proves that you shouldn't 
believe everything you read.  The kmail options are not "really bad," as time 
will prove out.  I will explain, in my roundabout way:

IMHO, the WORST widget ever invented was that damned multi-lined tabbed 
pageframe that you'll find in products like Microsoft Word.  You know, where 
the lines re-arrange themselves.  There are variations where you have scroll 
buttons to scroll the tabs back and forth, but generally these are as bad, 
since you don't display all the options and the scroll buttons aren't at all 
obvious.  The Interface Hall of Shame devotes a chapter to this very thing: 
http://www.iarchitect.com/tabs.htm

The point is that tabs work, and work well, when there are very few 
categories.  After that, you're better off with the kmail type dialog or a 
treeview widget instead, like the KDE Control Center uses.  The treeview is 
wonderful when you need to categorize options, something you can't do with 
tabs without multiple pageframes (AAUUGGHH!)

Please note that often a program is designed with a tabs, and very cleanly, 
too.  Over time the program gains features (as programs do) and more tabs are 
added to handle more options.  What started as a clean design becomes a 
monster, it's hard to change, and any change is significant enough to piss 
off your established users.  The kmail variety of list can be switched to a 
treeview with less pain and without major disturbance of the pages.  This is 
good not just for the interface designers and programmers, but for 
established users who expect things to be where they expect them to be. :)  
When kmail is at a 6.0 release you'll be glad the tabs aren't there.

-- 
We give advice, but we cannot give the wisdom to profit by it.
		-- La Rochefoucauld

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