Re: [Usability] Tab implementation review

[Allan Day <allanpday gmail com>]

On Sat, 2009-02-14 at 22:46 +0100, Florian Ludwig wrote:
> On Fri, 2009-02-13 at 14:55 +0100, Olav Vitters wrote:
> > On Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 04:24:36PM +0000, Allan Day wrote:
> > > Eek! Never noticed that before! Agreed - most uncomfortable. Right
> > mouse
> > > button should == context menu. Nothing else.
> > 
> > Disagree. If it isn't used, then I don't see the problem of having it
> > work the same as the other button. 

I can see a few problems with having the right mouse button both select
and raise a context menu:

First, the problem is having a single user action triggering multiple
on-screen events. In my view, one user action should result in one
response. This makes the user interface simple, predictable, and easy to
understand and learn. It also gives the user more control.

Second, the ability to raise a context menu on a tab without selecting
it is useful functionality which is lost if the right mouse button both
selects and raises a tab.

Third, having the right mouse button both select a tab and bring up the
context menu also breaks the clear division of labour between the two
mouse buttons. Left mouse button == select. Right mouse button ==
context menu. That's clear, intelligible, and simple. It's also a
pattern which is reproduced across the desktop (making it
predictable)...

> The right-click:
> I expect nothing to open or change if I right click something but show
> me a menu what I could do but don't do anything so far. Similar to right
> clicking the "location button list" in nautilus, a link in epiphany or a
> window in the window-list.
> 
> Counter-Examples:
> Right clicking the title bar of a window focuses the window and right
> clicking a folder in nautilus selects it.

Random examples where right clicking on something displays a context
menu but does not select:
 * task list entries
 * panel launcher icons
 * Epiphany toolbar icons

I have found one example where right clicking both selects and displays
a context menu - Nautilus file icons. There's a bug against this which
contains some relevant discussion [1].

> PSS Allan, you filled/found any bug report about it?

Not so far...

Best,

Allan

[1] http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=144144