about face 3: menus
DESCRIPTION
An overview of Chapter 22: Menus from Cooper's book About Face 3.TRANSCRIPT
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MenusPresented by Chris Cookley & Laura Williams
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Overview
• About • History of Menus• Menu Standards• Menu Idioms• Conclusion
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What Are Menus?
A list of functions or options available; an index of tools. Should provide an understanding of the scope of what a program can or can't do.
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History of Menus
Command-line interface• Replaced the need for punch cards• Type in commands with the keyboard• Had to know what you needed to type• Still considered faster by users who know the commands
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History of Menus
Sequential hierarchical• A list of choices• Took you from one step to the next• Exit option typically only took you one level back• Occasional confirmation options were highly annoying
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History of Menus
Visible hierarchical• Originated in the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet program• Presented a menu horizontally across the top• Hot key accessible with a \• Frequent users memorized paths to most used items• 1-2-3 style menu dominated the 1980's
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Lotus 1-2-3
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History of Menus
Drop-down• First to utilize the pop-up window• Lists descend from a single menu bar• Hierarchy flattened to only one level• Dialog box enabled the simplification of the menu
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History of Menus
Pedagogic vector• Paradigm we use today• Menu is used more to learn then to operate• Menus offer verbal descriptions of items• Toolbars are king for utility• A menu's main task is as an index of tools• Menus should make the programs capabilities clear• Primary role of a menu:
o To teach new userso To remind those that forgoto To provide a way to access infrequently used functions
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Overview
• About • History of Menus• Menu Standards• Menu Idioms• Conclusion
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Menu Standards
Menus are currently more functions oriented, and not goal oriented.
Optional• View• Insert• Settings• Format• Tools
Universal• File• Edit• Windows• Help
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Menu Standards
File• Document would be a better
goal-oriented name• Or Song, if using a music
software
Edit• Selecting• Cutting• Pasting• Modifications• Should not be a catch-all
for functions that don't fit
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Menu Standards
Windows• Arranging, viewing, and
switching between windows• Unless a multiple document
interface, isn't necessary
Help• Historically not very helpful• Should help users learn the
program• Should always be a
"Shortcuts" item, but there often isn't
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Menu Idioms
Cascading Menus• Standard drop-down provides secondary menu• Difficult to locate items• Require well-coordinated mouse movements• But, they do allow for larger command sets
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Menu Idioms
Adaptive Menus• Displays most frequented
items by users• Intended to adapt to usage
behavior• However, it increases
work performed by users• Decreases information on
breadth and depth of application
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Menu Idioms
The Ribbon• Visually expressive combination of menu and toolbar• Provides good overview of capabilities• However, we still hunt for common functions
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Menu Idioms
Disabled Menu Items • Gray-out nonfunctional
menu items• Useful teaching tool
Checkmark Menu Items• Easily understandable• Effective because it
indicates the state of that control
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Menu Idioms
Icon on Menus• Symbol next to text• Helps users recognize without
having to read
Accelerators ("keyboard shortcuts") Access Keys ("mnemonics")• Uses alt key, arrow keys, and
letter keys to execute function • Provide keyboard equivalent of
each menu command
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Overview
• About • History of Menus• Menu Standards• Menu Idioms• Conclusion
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Conclusion
Menus have come a long way and we have learned from their failures and successes.
Keep in mind: Menus should provide an effective overview of functions. It should teach new users, remind experienced users, and provide a way to access infrequently used functions.
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MenusPresented by Chris Cookley & Laura Williams