Re: [gnome-love] UI love

[David Hugh-Jones <davidhughjones gmail com>]

Thanks very much. Some of these have been done already, and I think I
will apply all the rest!

Cheers
David

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 18:05:49 +0100, Calum Benson <calum benson sun com> wrote:
> On Mon, 2004-08-02 at 13:00, David Hugh-Jones wrote:
>
> > I was wondering if anyone could spot any ways to
> > improve HIG compliance, or generally make it a bit
> > prettier. Especially the "Peers" tab, which seems a
> > bit awkward at the moment.
>
> I haven't used the app, so I'm purely looking at the Glade file here...
> but here are a few suggestions off the top of my head:
>
> - Lose the separator above Close-- the notebook border is visually
> sufficient.
>
> - Add mnemonics to all labels, and terminate with colons to those that
> label a separate control (e.g. list or text field).
>
> - If web address, blog feed and peer list URL always start with "http",
> consider using that as a prompt.  This will save the user from having to
> type that part, and wondering whether they have to.  E.g.:
>
> Email address:     [ bob pacific net             ]
> Web address:       http:// [www.pacific.net      ]
> Blog feed address: http:// [www.pacific.net/blog ]
> Text message:      [ Bob... bob... bob...        ]
>
> - Be consistent with your terminology-- you talk about web address on
> one tab, but URL on another.
>
> - "Configure" is one of those words the HIG doesn't really like (like
> Options and Settings); "Preferences" would be better if this dialog
> applies to the whole application, or "Properties" if it applies to
> one-of-many fish.  (Again, I haven't used the app so I don't know.)
>
> - Limit your numeric text fields to the width of the expected input--
> e.g. the max number of peers field should ideally only be a couple of
> characters wide, rather than flush with the controls above and below.
> The ragged edge will actually make your dialog more readable, not less.
>
> - Give the list on the Peers tab, and the entry field underneath it,
> appropriate labels with a mnemonic and a colon.  This will make it more
> obvious what they're for, and allow quick keyboard access to them.
>
> Cheeri,
> Calum.
>
> --
> CALUM BENSON, Usability Engineer       Sun Microsystems Ireland
> mailto:calum benson sun com            Java Desktop System Group
> http://ie.sun.com                      +353 1 819 9771
>
> Any opinions are personal and not necessarily those of Sun Microsystems