[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]
List: kde-usability
Subject: Re: developer.kde.org/documentation/standards/kde/style
From: Frans Englich <frans.englich () telia ! com>
Date: 2003-12-30 1:31:35
[Download RAW message or body]
On Monday 29 December 2003 22:38, Waldo Bastian wrote:
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> On Mon December 29 2003 21:37, Frans Englich wrote:
> > Further, ( :P ) I'm thinking of adding the following:
> >
> > <p>In addition to the sizes, a window's content such as text, must
> > be resonable clear and easy to interpret on a screen identical or
> > corresponding to the resolution 800x600 on a 14" CRT monitor, that is,
> > roughly 13" viewable.</p>
> >
> > What do you think?
>
> I don't think such remarks have any practical use.
Funny, I still see no reason to why it is a bad idea. Feel free to elaborate
why it doesn't have any practical use, because I obviously can't see it.
You could find the proposed paragraph vague. I don't worry about that, the
guidelines is afterall /guidelines/ and what is "readable" is rather easy
determined. The purpose of the paragraph is in large parts to act as
a /reminder/ for developers to keep setups which they perhaps not use
themselves, in mind. For example, when using a high-res monitor or multihead
setup laptop users or users with small monitors(for whatever reasons) is
easily forgotten. And others can /remind/ developers on how things should be
done, as opposed to "express a personal view".
You could also find the paragraph obvious. I find large parts of KDE's GUI
inconsistent and that has its explanation - in a lot of cases decisions is
not taken centrally but individually on a case by case basis. I think this is
perfectly illustrated by the discussions on kde-usability - if someone tries
to push a change it results in endless unproductive discussions concerning
the premises rather than the case: endless ramblings about what the user
"actually" wants, how certain GUI problems should be solved, who KDE target
etc. etc - and note, on a case by case basis and from a very personal
viewpoint.
Lets say the first paragraph were never added and I started filing bug reports
on misbehaving apps. Each case would be a rant with the maintainer on why the
bug should be confirmed, and the only way of "winning" the discussion is by
sounding really convincing or trying a "Waldo says it is actually a KDE rule
of thumb" each case having a fairly random end. The same thing with this
second paragraph - should we let every maintainer judge if KDE apps should
run on 14" monitors or should we settle it once and for all? (resulting in
consistency)
The next time screen resolution is brought up for discussion - what will the
outcome be, what will people decide and go implement?
We document, in order to cut fuzz on the lists(by taking the
discussion /once/), make decision taking easier(since the decision is already
taken) and make development faster - instead of having key developers holding
significant information we make it available for everyone.
To empasize, next time some drifting visionary gets this fancy idea of fixing
KDE apps' layouts wrt to resolution it will result in yet another
variant(read: inconsistency). But that next time we say "Please read the
style guide" and if that one is not suiting, we call (again) a meeting.
To sum up, "add the paragraph because documentation is good" and I explained
why documentation is good, with (hopefully) relevant examples. That is the
reason in a nutshell why it should be added, and also how specific I can be
considering your detailed declining ;-) BTW, is there any reason to not add
it, except bloating the guide and wasting space?
I definitely don't want to rush things, but attached is my previous patch
which needs to be reversed if my new patch shall apply cleanly. This because
anoncvs not yet have synced up..
Cheers!
Frans
["1_reverse_this.diff" (text/x-diff)]
Index: documentation/standards/kde/style/basics/windows.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /home/kde/developer.kde.org/documentation/standards/kde/style/basics/windows.html,v
retrieving revision 1.15
diff -u -r1.15 windows.html
--- documentation/standards/kde/style/basics/windows.html 29 Dec 2002 15:16:34 \
-0000 1.15
+++ documentation/standards/kde/style/basics/windows.html 27 Dec 2003 13:28:44 -0000
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@
<table border=1 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="#dddddd" width="100%">
<tr>
<td>
- <div align="right"><font face="Arial, Helvetica" \
size="+1"><b>Conclusion</b></font></div> + <div align="right"><font face="Arial, \
Helvetica" size="+1"><b>SDI, MDI summary</b></font></div> </td>
</tr>
</table>
@@ -432,6 +432,23 @@
documents open than windows displayed on the screen.
</p>
+<table border=1 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="#dddddd" width="100%">
+<tr>
+ <td>
+ <div align="right"><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size="+1">
+ <a name="win_size"></a>
+ <b>Windows size</b></font></div>
+ </td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p>A window, be it a dialog, main window or any other type, shall
+display conveniently in a size corresponding to 640x480 pixels. Further,
+when used in combination with the KDE enviroment the window shall be
+usable and practical when the display runs in 800x600 resolution.
+</p>
+
+
<div align="center">
<a href="terminology.html"><img src="../icons/previous.png" border=0 \
width=25 height=25 alt="Previous"></a>
<a href="labels.html"><img src="../icons/next.png" border=0 width=25 \
height=25 alt="Next"></a>
Index: documentation/standards/kde/style/dialogs/index.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /home/kde/developer.kde.org/documentation/standards/kde/style/dialogs/index.html,v
retrieving revision 1.9
diff -u -r1.9 index.html
--- documentation/standards/kde/style/dialogs/index.html 29 Dec 2002 15:16:34 \
-0000 1.9
+++ documentation/standards/kde/style/dialogs/index.html 27 Dec 2003 13:28:45 -0000
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@
<p>
Dialogs should never have menu bars or tool bars inside them.
</p>
+ <p>
+ Note, dialogs, as all other types of windows must conform to the
+ <a href="../basics/windows.html#win_size">defined windows sizes</a>.
+ </p>
<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 border=1>
<tr><th>Button</th><th>Usage</th><th>Details</th></tr>
<tr><td valign=top><action></td><td valign=top>Mutually exclusive with \
Apply</td><td>
["2_new_paragraph.diff" (text/x-diff)]
Index: documentation/standards/kde/style/basics/windows.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /home/kde/developer.kde.org/documentation/standards/kde/style/basics/windows.html,v
retrieving revision 1.15
diff -u -r1.15 windows.html
--- documentation/standards/kde/style/basics/windows.html 29 Dec 2002 15:16:34 \
-0000 1.15
+++ documentation/standards/kde/style/basics/windows.html 30 Dec 2003 01:24:24 -0000
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@
<table border=1 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="#dddddd" width="100%">
<tr>
<td>
- <div align="right"><font face="Arial, Helvetica" \
size="+1"><b>Conclusion</b></font></div> + <div align="right"><font face="Arial, \
Helvetica" size="+1"><b>SDI, MDI summary</b></font></div> </td>
</tr>
</table>
@@ -432,6 +432,26 @@
documents open than windows displayed on the screen.
</p>
+<table border=1 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="#dddddd" width="100%">
+<tr>
+ <td>
+ <div align="right"><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size="+1">
+ <a name="win_size"></a>
+ <b>Windows size</b></font></div>
+ </td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p>A window, be it a dialog, main window or any other type, shall
+display conveniently in a size corresponding to 640x480 pixels. Furthermore,
+when used in combination with the KDE enviroment the window shall be
+usable and practical when the display runs in a 800x600 resolution.
+</p>
+<p>In addition to the sizes, a window's content such as text, must
+be resonable clear and easy to interpret on a screen identical or
+corresponding to the resolution 800x600 on a 14" CRT monitor, that is,
+roughly 13" viewable.</p>
+
<div align="center">
<a href="terminology.html"><img src="../icons/previous.png" border=0 \
width=25 height=25 alt="Previous"></a>
<a href="labels.html"><img src="../icons/next.png" border=0 width=25 \
height=25 alt="Next"></a>
Index: documentation/standards/kde/style/dialogs/index.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /home/kde/developer.kde.org/documentation/standards/kde/style/dialogs/index.html,v
retrieving revision 1.9
diff -u -r1.9 index.html
--- documentation/standards/kde/style/dialogs/index.html 29 Dec 2002 15:16:34 \
-0000 1.9
+++ documentation/standards/kde/style/dialogs/index.html 30 Dec 2003 01:24:24 -0000
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@
<p>
Dialogs should never have menu bars or tool bars inside them.
</p>
+ <p>
+ Note, dialogs, as all other types of windows must conform to the
+ <a href="../basics/windows.html#win_size">defined windows sizes</a>.
+ </p>
<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 border=1>
<tr><th>Button</th><th>Usage</th><th>Details</th></tr>
<tr><td valign=top><action></td><td valign=top>Mutually exclusive with \
Apply</td><td>
_______________________________________________
kde-usability mailing list
kde-usability@mail.kde.org
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-usability
[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]
Configure |
About |
News |
Add a list |
Sponsored by KoreLogic