lsr@apple.UUCP (Larry Rosenstein) (08/03/85)
In article <125@tolerant.UUCP> maddog@tolerant.UUCP (Bill Arnett) writes: >... >I do have a few of suggested enhancements: > - window 'zoom': double click on the title bar of a small window > increases it to full size; double click on a full size window restores > it to its original size. I have a question. Everyone seems to agree that a command for expanding the window to full size and back to original size later is a good idea. The question is do people like this user interface (double clicking on the title bar, which is also used in the Microsoft applications)? Some other possibilities: - a menu command and keyboard equivalent - double clicking on the window grow box - a button (similar to close box) somewhere on the title bar - a button next to one of the scroll bars (on top of the vertical scroll bar or to the left of the horizontal one) In MacApp 0.3, we have implemented the menu command option, but the primitives are there to support any user interface. Mail me your vote, and I will summarize the results later. Thanks. -- Larry Rosenstein Apple Computer UUCP: {nsc, dual, voder, ios, mtxinu}!apple!lsr CSNET: lsr@Apple.CSNET
lsr@apple.UUCP (Larry Rosenstein) (08/09/85)
Well, I received 35 responses to my poll on a user interface for
zooming a window. The results so far are:
double click in title bar 12
double click in grow box 19
click in special icon in title bar 7
menu & command key equivalent 7
These add up to >35 because several people gave second choices.
Some comments that people added:
First, the word 'zooming' was somewhat inaccurate. What I meant was a
command that expands the window to full-screen size when executed once
and shrinks it back to its former size when executed again.
Most of the people who voted for double clicks in the title bar did so
to be consistent with Microsoft's applications. One person voted for
the menu command to be consistent with Jazz.
Most of the people who voted for double clicks in the grow box did so
because they considered zooming to be an extension of growing the
window.
Some people voted for some direct manipulation method and a command
key equivalent for speed. A few people were strongly opposed to a
menu command because all other window manipulations are does using
"controls" in the window.
Two arguments for double clicking in the title bar vs. the grow box
are: (1) the title bar is larger and some part of it is always on the
screen (the grow box might be off the screen); (2) a missed double
click (if you click but accidentally move the mouse) can be more
annoying in the grow box because some applications redraw the entire
window if the window changes size.
One argument for a separate icon on the title bar is that double
clicks are more difficult to perform (especially for a novice user).
A couple of people wanted to see this done in a way that it would work
with existing applications.
Finally, there were a few suggestions for other features: (1) a
send-to-back command; (2) a make-the-window-tiny command; (3) a
cleanup-all-windows-command.
Some editorial comments from me.
Zooming generally involves both moving AND resizing the window so
double clicking in the title bar should be just as mnemonic as in the
grow box. When you first think about it, double clicking in the grow
box seems more mnemonic, however.
Since this operation is a shortcut for experienced users, the argument
about double clicking being more difficult is not too much of an issue.
Making this work with existing applications is not easy, but may be
doable in some form.
We plan on discussing this and other user interface issues with people
working on MacApp and with the Apple Human Factors group to come up
with a "standard".
Thanks for all the feedback. I will still take votes, but I will be
away for a week, so there will be no further results until I get back.--
Larry Rosenstein
Apple Computer
UUCP: {nsc, dual, voder, ios, mtxinu}!apple!lsr
CSNET: lsr@Apple.CSNETfgm@icdoc.UUCP (Frank McCabe) (08/21/85)
Re: user interface guideline for 'zooming' 1. Microsoft WORD uses BOTH double clicking in the title bar and in the grow grow region to signal zooming. This seems overkill (or 'if in doubt cover all the angles'). 2. For what its worth I would vote for a double click in the title bar. 3. I have implemented a tidy display command in my MacPROLOG system. It is very usefule when you have 20-40 windows on the display at once. I use the menu command Tidy up/T to signal it.
thomas@gmdzi.UUCP (Thomas Gordon) (08/26/85)
When MacProlog is available, could you please let us all know. Thanks, Tom Gordon thomas@gmdzi.UUCP -- Tom Gordon thomas@gmdzi.UUCP