philf@lindy.Stanford.EDU (Phil Fernandez) (07/11/89)
I am implementing a fairly specialized text-and-graphics manipulation
program, and will have a toolbox palette GhostWindow with draw tools,
text tool, etc.
When the program starts, the palette will open automatically and be
located near the drawing area; however, I'm looking for advice about
how the user should reopen the window if closed.
I've seen at least 2 models:
--A tear-off menu under a "Tools" menu heading. This is the HyperCard and
MacPaint model.
--A toggle menu item under a "Windows" menu. I.e., the first item
under the "Windows" menu is an on/off toggle for the palette window.
This is the Freehand model.
I was looking for advice about which of these approaches is "better"
-- i.e., more standard or familiar, or advice or suggestions about
other approaches. All thoughts welcome.
Please reply directly to me:
Internet: philf@lindy.stanford.edu
UUCP: {...}!sun!lindy.stanford.edu!philf
philjb28+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jeffrey Joseph Barbose) (07/12/89)
Phil, The menu toggle is probably the closest solution to the standard Mac Interface. Tear-offs aren't really used that often, and might very well cause alarm to users not expecting this action. Just my humble opinion. Jeff
geoff@pmafire.UUCP (Geoff Allen) (07/18/89)
In article <3798@lindy.Stanford.EDU> philf@lindy.UUCP (Phil Fernandez) writes: > >I am implementing a fairly specialized text-and-graphics manipulation >program, and will have a toolbox palette GhostWindow with draw tools, >text tool, etc. > >When the program starts, the palette will open automatically and be >located near the drawing area; however, I'm looking for advice about >how the user should reopen the window if closed. > >I've seen at least 2 models: > >--A tear-off menu under a "Tools" menu heading. This is the HyperCard and >MacPaint model. > >--A toggle menu item under a "Windows" menu. I.e., the first item >under the "Windows" menu is an on/off toggle for the palette window. >This is the Freehand model. > >I was looking for advice about which of these approaches is "better" >-- i.e., more standard or familiar, or advice or suggestions about >other approaches. All thoughts welcome. Sorry to post, but I tried mailing a couple of times and the mail bounced. Anyway, here's my $.03: ^^^^(inflation :-) ) A toggled tool window is what I'd prefer. Here's the reasoning. Since the tool palette is a `standard' part of the program, it should be controlled under the `Windows' menu. I think of a tear-off tool menu as being for `extras', since that's really what the HyperCard tool menu is. You don't _need_ the tool menu to use a stack, only to create it or modify it. So, to me, a tear-off tool menu gives the idea of an `extra'. Also, be sure to include command-key equivalents for hiding and showing the tool window. I almost never use the menu items to hide or show the tool window in SuperPaint; I almost always use the command-key equivalents. Hope the advice helps. Geoff -- Geoff Allen - WINCO Systems Engineering ...{uunet|bigtex}!pmafire!geoff ...ucdavis!egg-id!pmafire!geoff