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Aalst
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 Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2003 10:51 pm Post subject: Integrate the two OPTION menu's |
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There is a big GUI design flaw in that there are two OPTIONS Windows that are called OPTIONS. One is located unter the TOOLS Menu and the other is on the right side tabs toolbar. They should booth take you to the same window, since they are called by the same name.
I think they should integrate these two menus into a single Window, and have both paths available to access it.
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Eggman5X
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2003 4:29 am Post subject: |
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Actually they are not the same thing, and there are three of them:
Tools >> Options is overall settings for the program, including four tabs: General, Spam Databases, Connections, and Display.
On the sidebar, "Options" refers to the tab on which it appears, that is, "Options" on the Friends List tab is settings which pertain specifically to the Friends List, and "Options" on the Blacklist tab is settings which pertain specifically to the Blcaklist.
There is no design flaw. The difference is intentional and the naming is appropriate.
Hope this clears things up for you.
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Aalst
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 12:38 am Post subject: |
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| Eggman5X wrote: | | Actually they are not the same thing, and there are three of them: |
I am sorry to say, but because they have the same NAME that makes it a design flaw. You should change the name or combine them.
Also there are only TWO. The Friends and Blacklist ones you speak of take you to the same window it just displays the corresponding tab. If I click the option button while looking at the friends tab I can then click the blacklist tab within the option window that is open.
I think they are all realated in purpose. If they just added a forth tab to the Tools - Option window and place the Right Tabs - Option controls withing the new forth tab. It would be a lot easier.
They are all control options within MWP.
You may wnat to check Microsoft, Sun, and other programming GUI design guide lines. Most of them agree on several key design points. This being one of them.
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Eggman5X
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 5:00 am Post subject: |
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Well - just for my two cents you understand - by my definition, anything Microsoft agrees with must be wrong. 
I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. I consider the design to be perfectly reasonable and logical, and simple enough to understand if you take the time to read the available documentation. Obviously you feel differently. Such is life.
BTW, what you are suggesting about a fourth tab on the "Tools" window is essentially how things were in the pre 3.x versions. The filter sidebar is new, and is a vast improvement in terms of usability over the way things were. As such, I doubt that there will be any groundswell of opinion to go back to that scheme.
In any case, I do hope this won't stop you from using the program and getting the maximum benefit from it.
Best wishes for luck and success,
Eggman5X
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TimeGhost
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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I hate it when the same name is used for two different things. For example, all these OK buttons really confuse me....
Just kidding. I actually agree with Aalst. I started using MW in April, and I was confused initially by the two different Options.
I'm used to it now, of course, so this design doesn't faze me, especially since that part of MWP is "set and forget."
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Eggman5X
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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But do you really think having "Options" and "Settings" and "Preferences" and "Configuration" is any less confusing?
I shudder to think of the number of posts we'd get about what was a "Setting" and what was an "Option".
Not to mention the posts about "You said it was on 'Options', but it's really on 'Deviations' ... ", when all you were trying to do was actually help some poor innocent soul ...
And I know you know that would happen ...
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TimeGhost
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Eggman5X
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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Stupidity, yes. I'm not so sure about hydrogen ...
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IP: 68.106.*.*
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2003 1:31 am Post subject: |
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| Eggman5X wrote: | But do you really think having "Options" and "Settings" and "Preferences" and "Configuration" is any less confusing?
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All three "can" and do mean the samething when there is only one of them in an application. If you plan to use the term options like MWP does then you are confusing the point. If localized options are needed most applications will use the term options in the area where needed like in MWP on the tabs. However, then they use the term Settings, or Preferences on the menu bar when they are in reference to GLOBAL settings related to the application itself.
Sorry to say it is just poor design to have two or more OPTIONS commands that take you to different places. I would recommend the options under tools to Preferences. Then you can put as many Localized Option Buttons anywhere you feel the need for options that are specific to a TAB or WINDOW.
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