Difference between revisions of "Rules to build user friendly menus"

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=Introduction=
 
=Introduction=
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The purpose of this page is to describe '''10 basic principles to build easy to use Menus for a rich mind map software called Freeplane''' !
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The purpose of this page is to describe '''basic principles to build easy to use Menus for a rich mind map software called Freeplane''' !
  
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You can refer to [[Menus : work in progress]] to follow and collaborate in the design of the new FreePlane menus structure.
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You can refer to [[Menus: work in progress]] to follow and collaborate in the design of the new FreePlane menus structure.
  
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= Legend =
 
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In this page :
 
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*'''MM''' means Main Menu. Main menu is the main bar of menus which gives access to all software features
 
−
*'''CO''' means Command. A command is available in menu, it executes an action
 
−
*'''SM''' means  Sub Menu. A submenu is a menu entry which opens an other menu
 
−
*'''CM''' means Contextual Menu. A contextual menu is a menu displayed only in a specific context (ie while on a node or on the map background)
 
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*'''XX#''' means rules number # for subject XX.
 
  
 
=Rules to organize Main Menu=
 
=Rules to organize Main Menu=
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* (MM1) a MM entry is created for each kind of operation (File / Edit / Display ...)
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* (MM2) MM should be in a logical order inspired by other softwares best practices  
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Main menu is the main bar of menus which gives access to all software features.
 +
 
 +
* (MM1) A Main Menu entry is created for each kind of operation (File / Edit / Display ...).
 +
* (MM2) The Main Menu should be in a logical order inspired by other softwares best practices .
  
 
=Rules to organize Commands in menus =
 
=Rules to organize Commands in menus =
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* (CO1) in a MM entry, items are grouped by type of operations (all commands to move nodes are at the same place)
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−
* (CO2) items are ordered logicaly (items used first at the beginning : ie "Create Node" then "Edit Node" then "Delete Node" or "Print Preview" then "Print". If no logical order can be found other rules can apply:
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A command is available in menu, it executes an action.
 +
 
 +
* (CO1) In a Main Menu entry, items are grouped by type of operations (all commands to move nodes are at the same place).
 +
* (CO2) Items are ordered logicaly (items used first at the beginning : ie "Create Node" then "Edit Node" then "Delete Node" or "Print Preview" then "Print". If no logical order can be found other rules can apply:
 
** the most often used commands can be set in first position
 
** the most often used commands can be set in first position
 
** order can also be set from particular to generic (ie: "Fold selected node" then "Fold all nodes of map")
 
** order can also be set from particular to generic (ie: "Fold selected node" then "Fold all nodes of map")
  
 
=Use of Sub Menus=
 
=Use of Sub Menus=
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* (SM1) SM are created to simplify long MM or CM (ie more than 20 items in the menu)
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* (SM2) SM should be limited to 3 levels (ie 3 clicks before displaying the wanted command)
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A submenu is a menu entry which opens an other menus.
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* (SB3) SM should contain 3 items or more
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 +
* (SM1) Submenus are created to simplify long Main or contextual menus (i.e. more than 20 items in the menu).
 +
* (SM2) Submenus should be limited to 3 levels (i.e. 3 clicks before displaying the wanted command).
 +
* (SM3) A Submenu should contain 3 items or more.
  
 
=Rules to organize Contextual Menu=
 
=Rules to organize Contextual Menu=
 +
 +
A contextual menu is a menu displayed only in a specific context (i.e. while on a node or on the map background).
  
 
Rules applied to build contextual menu :
 
Rules applied to build contextual menu :
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* (CM1) in CM, order should be the same as in MM (consistency for end-users). For instance Node Contextual menu is yet a copy of the Main Menu structure
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* (CM1) in Contextual menu, order should be the same as in Main Menu (consistency for end-users). For instance Node Contextual menu is yet a copy of the Main Menu structure
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* (CM2) CM should contain only very frequently used commands
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* (CM2) Contextual menu should contain only very frequently used commands
 
* (CM3) 3 navigation levels are the maximum allowed in contextual menu.
 
* (CM3) 3 navigation levels are the maximum allowed in contextual menu.
  
 
=Node Contextual menu's benefits=
 
=Node Contextual menu's benefits=
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* Limited mouse movments, don't need to go to Main Menu => quick access
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 +
* Limited mouse movements, don't need to go to Main Menu => quick access
 
* Simplified menus displaying only most used features => easy to use
 
* Simplified menus displaying only most used features => easy to use
 
* Available and fully fonctional while working on a map in full screen mode.
 
* Available and fully fonctional while working on a map in full screen mode.
  
 
=Toolbars=
 
=Toolbars=
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* (TB1) the rules for toolbars are the same as for CM : same order as MM, only frequently used commands.
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 +
* (TB1) The rules for toolbars are the same as for the Contextual menu: same order as Main-Menu, only frequently used commands.
 +
 
 +
= Legend =
 +
 
 +
In this page :
 +
*'''MM''' means Main Menu.
 +
*'''CO''' means Command.
 +
*'''SM''' means  Sub Menu.
 +
*'''CM''' means Contextual Menu.
 +
*'''TB''' means Toolbar. 
 +
*'''XX#''' means rules number # for subject XX.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Menu]]

Latest revision as of 07:45, 11 June 2013

Introduction

The purpose of this page is to describe basic principles to build easy to use Menus for a rich mind map software called Freeplane !

You can refer to Menus: work in progress to follow and collaborate in the design of the new FreePlane menus structure.


Rules to organize Main Menu

Main menu is the main bar of menus which gives access to all software features.

  • (MM1) A Main Menu entry is created for each kind of operation (File / Edit / Display ...).
  • (MM2) The Main Menu should be in a logical order inspired by other softwares best practices .

Rules to organize Commands in menus

A command is available in menu, it executes an action.

  • (CO1) In a Main Menu entry, items are grouped by type of operations (all commands to move nodes are at the same place).
  • (CO2) Items are ordered logicaly (items used first at the beginning : ie "Create Node" then "Edit Node" then "Delete Node" or "Print Preview" then "Print". If no logical order can be found other rules can apply:
    • the most often used commands can be set in first position
    • order can also be set from particular to generic (ie: "Fold selected node" then "Fold all nodes of map")

Use of Sub Menus

A submenu is a menu entry which opens an other menus.

  • (SM1) Submenus are created to simplify long Main or contextual menus (i.e. more than 20 items in the menu).
  • (SM2) Submenus should be limited to 3 levels (i.e. 3 clicks before displaying the wanted command).
  • (SM3) A Submenu should contain 3 items or more.

Rules to organize Contextual Menu

A contextual menu is a menu displayed only in a specific context (i.e. while on a node or on the map background).

Rules applied to build contextual menu :

  • (CM1) in Contextual menu, order should be the same as in Main Menu (consistency for end-users). For instance Node Contextual menu is yet a copy of the Main Menu structure
  • (CM2) Contextual menu should contain only very frequently used commands
  • (CM3) 3 navigation levels are the maximum allowed in contextual menu.

Node Contextual menu's benefits

  • Limited mouse movements, don't need to go to Main Menu => quick access
  • Simplified menus displaying only most used features => easy to use
  • Available and fully fonctional while working on a map in full screen mode.

Toolbars

  • (TB1) The rules for toolbars are the same as for the Contextual menu: same order as Main-Menu, only frequently used commands.

Legend

In this page :

  • MM means Main Menu.
  • CO means Command.
  • SM means Sub Menu.
  • CM means Contextual Menu.
  • TB means Toolbar.
  • XX# means rules number # for subject XX.
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