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List:       kde-bugs-dist
Subject:    [Bug 67207] Toolbars should only show the most important icons
From:       Benjamin Meyer <ben () meyerhome ! net>
Date:       2004-12-31 18:28:51
Message-ID: 20041231182851.6024.qmail () ktown ! kde ! org
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http://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=67207        




------- Additional Comments From ben meyerhome net  2004-12-31 19:28 -------
Just some quick notes about this wish:

1) The earliest it could happen is KDE 4 (and there has been a lot of talk about this \
for KDE4)

2) It would have to be more spelled out in the usability guildlines.

3) You can run with this today.  In kcontrol you can set the default toolbar to use \
large icons and text underneath.  Then simply configure each applications toobar (if \
necessary) removing the actions that aren't frequently used.

For example a number of actions such as save etc automatically add themselves to \
toolbars now.  This is a code change which would require KDE4.  But beyond that it \
changes the default behavior of all 3rd part applications which can't be done till \
binary incompatibility release.

A possible usability spec:

  Toolbars should have commonly used actions for that application.

Examples: 

Actions that are standard actions and have common, known keyboard shortcuts (such as \
save, quit, open, and print should almost never reside on the toolbar as these will \
1) have the same keyboard shortcuts and 2) reside in the same menu location in the \
applications across the desktop.  The toolbar can be much better utilized showing \
application specific features that are commonly used.  This helps users clearly see \
(and read/learn) those applications specific actions. 

Applications should aim to have around seven actions (what fits on the screen and \
users can remember).

Following with the comments above about OSX, check out Apple's XCode:

http://developer.apple.com/documentation/DeveloperTools/Conceptual/ToolsOvr_Book/art/projectbuilder.gif


When I first saw XCode I figured it will little more then an editor, but in fact it \
is much more feature full similar too KDevelop.  Can you image KDevelop looking that \
clean?  It can be done.

One major work that has to be done is some action strings are too long for no good \
reason.  The most common example is a menu called "Folder" and sub-action called \
"Folder Compress" when it really should be just "Compress".


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