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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: Improving the Application-Starting Process
From:       Irwin <emerald-arcana () rogers ! com>
Date:       2002-06-10 0:39:09
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On June 9, 2002 17:21 pm, Christoph Held wrote:

> Is there are difference to KMenu->Configure Panel->add button-> ...-> add
> this menu?

Probably not.  However, there's a problem if you'd like custom apps in the 
menu there and you don't want to have them in the KMenu as well.

> Or are you suggesting to make a CDE-like look as default? (break the large
> kmenu in many smaller menus?)

I would like to see maybe one button for the KOffice stuff like this as a 
possible default.  Right now the defaults (last I saw them in KDE 3.0) use 4 
icons for KOffice programs which uses up a lot of space on the panel.

However, I would not like to see EVERY button on the bottom like this.

Also, another difference from CDE is that the button would pull up the menu, 
not the tiny arrow that's on top of the button.  Think of this more like a 
"Custom K-Menu".

> Why not put apps in a folder and drag it on the panel? Is there any code
> needed to implement?

It's not intuitive to do it like this.  I did it like this: I created a folder 
and used a quick browser.  But I mean... how many people would think of 
something like this?

Preferably, we'd have something similar to KMenu Editor for all of these "sub 
groups".  One way CDE does it is to include a "Install New Icon" button 
inside the menu.  If we did this in conjunction with Eric's idea of "Try New 
Program", it would be very fitting.  I'll try to get together some more ideas 
and make the design a little more concrete.

As I said I would do it myself but I don't know KDE/QT enough.  I'm going to 
devote some time to it after my course is done, but I think it'll be a while 
before I understand the architecture and the code...

> Personally I would like a CDE like desktop, but I probably not everyone
> would appreciate. Make it an option in the desktop settings wizzard (the
> wizzard wich appears, when you log in first time.)

Hmm, if there are only one or two menus like this I don't think it would 
bother that many people.  As I said, the original inspiration for this was 
that I found the KOffice applications taking up way too much space on the 
Panel, especially for apps that I would use only sometimes.  Obviously for an 
app like Konqueror, you'd want a single-click button.  But for a group of 
apps that are commonly used, but not commonly used enough, this would be a 
good default setting.

> In the second dialog it questions your prefered desktop style:
>
> [X] KDE (TM)
> [ ] Unix (R)
> [ ] Windows (R)
> [ ] Apple (R)
>
> Make the selection set the panel layout:
> Unix would be like CDE: the panel centered, large with many smaller menus.
> Windows: the panel small with kmenu at the left
> kde, apple:...

I will see what I can do about user testing this option to see if it's 
intuitive enough for people to grasp.  It might NOT be, since the icon I have 
isn't exactly the best icon to indicate, "This is a Pop-Up menu that allows 
you to perform tasks".  (Then again, the K-Menu gear icon isn't good for that 
either; a source of confusion for some users).

> I would participate in this efford if you like.

That would be very kind of you. I'd like that very much!

- -- 
- -- Irwin 
(Arcana)
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