Thinking about a better UI

Peter William Lount peter at smalltalk.org
Thu Apr 15 17:45:53 UTC 1999


Hi,

> This may be taken as blasphemy in some quarters, but in Windows you can
use
> Ctrl-Tab and Shift-Ctrl-Tab to migrate between windows within an MDI
> application.  Perhaps Squeak could incorporate something similar..?

The problem with this approach is that many programs don't use a MDI Window
(that's windows within windows) to contain their open windows. MDI windows
also prevent you from overlapping windows from different applications.
;--(.

The solution that NeXT and Apple GUIs is much more elegant. Since an
application knows which windows it owns it's easy to make them vanish or
reappear in a flash!

I do use the Ctrl-Tab and Shift-Ctrl-Tab to migrate between windows. It
works some of the time for me.

Oh ya, almost forgot. Each NeXTStep/OpenStep/MacOSX app keeps a list of
windows that the application has open on the menu bar under a top level
menu labeled, funny enough, "Windows". This is a nice feature to get at an
apps windows if you minaturized them.

Another cool feature is the ability to click (with a modifier key pressed)
on a windows title bar and have the window MOVE behind the rest of the
windows!!!!!!! This is cool when hunting for windows quickly.

NeXTStep/OpenStep/MacOSX windows also have a standard for displaying, in
the title bar, the full path name of the file that is open in a window.
This helps the user relate the window to the file system hierarchy. You can
also drag the file from an icon in the title bar allowing you to drop it on
other gui components (like a printer).

NeXTStep/OpenStep/MacOSX windows have a clear standard for when a windows
contents have changed and the windows needs saving. The X icon on the top
right of the window title bar becomes "broken" with the center where the
two lines of the X cross missing. Thus at a quick glance you can tell which
windows need saving. The "Windows" menu also shows this same icon.

One nice feature of MSWindows (and Motif, X-Windows) is the ability to
resize the window from any of it's edges.

Another nice feature of MSWindows is the ability to select text and drag
it! Cool, although sometimes it gets in the way. I like this because it is
faster than copy and paste.

All the best,

Peter W. Lount
peter at smalltalk.org
http://www.smalltalk.org

p.s. check out the Version of Smalltalk from the 24th century on the web
site. I think you'll like it. ;--)

----------
From: shaping at bigfoot.com
To: squeak at cs.uiuc.edu
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Thinking about a better UI
Date: April 15, 1999 11:14 AM


----- Original Message -----
From: Jarvis, Robert P. <Jarvisb at timken.com>
To: <squeak at cs.uiuc.edu>
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 1999 12:08 PM
Subject: RE: Re[2]: Thinking about a better UI


> This may be taken as blasphemy in some quarters, but in Windows you can
use
> Ctrl-Tab and Shift-Ctrl-Tab to migrate between windows within an MDI
> application.  Perhaps Squeak could incorporate something similar..?

I ask the same.



>
> Bob Jarvis
> The Timken Company
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Norton, Chris [SMTP:chrisn at Kronos.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, April 15, 1999 1:03 PM
> > To: 'squeak at cs.uiuc.edu'
> > Subject: RE: Re[2]: Thinking about a better UI
> >
> > Hear hear!  I constantly have multiple windows open (Squeak and other
apps
> > too).
> >
> > In fact, when I program my Smalltalk in VSE I often have 12 or more
> > windows
> > open, including several browsers, my sample application(s),
inspector(s),
> > workspace(s), transcript, window builder(s) and sometimes the debugger.
I
> > often feel very hampered in Squeak because it is so hard to organize
(on
a
> > 17" monitor) 2 browsers, a change set, one or more inspectors, etc..,
even
> > with the screen maximized.  Let's face it:  my eyesight isn't very
good;
I
> > prefer the 800 X 600 setting.
> >
> > Unlike the other folks who've participated in this discussion, I often
use
> > the M$ Alt-Tab (& Alt-Shift-Tab) feature.  I also use the start bar
> > buttons
> > with great frequency.  There has to be a simpler way to navigate
betwixt
> > the
> > various Squeak windows!  I often "lose" an inspector or workspace
behind
> > another Squeak window.
> >
> > I'd prefer any solution to this problem that can be accessed via the
> > keyboard AND the mouse.  To provide only a key board solution or only a
> > mouse solution will just frustrate too many people.
> >
> > ---==> Chris
> >
> > PS>  Let us not forget Morphs.  Whenever I'm working with morphs, I
> > inadvertently lose some morphs under others.  There should be a simple
way
> > of get a list of the available morphs in your project and then getting
any
> > specific one to move itself to your mouse from wherever it is.
Sometimes
> > my
> > morphs get put into positions where I can't get at some of their halo
> > options too.  The halo mechanism should know that its buttons are off
of
> > the
> > screen and adjust themselves into visible space appropriately.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Jerome.Garcia at wj.com [SMTP:Jerome.Garcia at wj.com]
> > > Sent: Thursday, April 15, 1999 12:37 PM
> > > To: squeak at cs.uiuc.edu; Peter William Lount
> > > Subject: Re[2]: Thinking about a better UI
> > >
> > >      Peter William Lount wrote:
> > >
> > >      >
> > >      Hey, I DON'T represent that remark! :-b
> > >      >
> > >
> > >      Hey! Me too, Me too!
> > >
> > >      I am very often working with lots of windows associated with at
> > least
> > >
> > >      3 VisualWORKS images running simultaneously plus MS Word, Adobe
> > >      Acrobat Reader, and InternetExplorer. And yes, I can write
> > documents,
> > >
> > >      debug code, and alter user interfaces efficiently in this mode
and
> > >      therefore prefer it. As Peter, I use the task bar a lot and I
want
> > to
> > >
> > >      choose which windows I bring to the front not have someone
> > determine
> > >      what is best for me. I also agree with Peter that it would be
nice
> > to
> > >
> > >      be able to better organize and operate on all of an applications
> > >      windows when desired.
> > >
> > >      Just my two cents :-)
> > >
> > >      Jerome
> > >
> > >
>
>
>





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