Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wang!bu-tyng!three!cory
From: cory@three.MV.COM (Cory Kempf)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system
Subject: Re: System 7 talk: Hierarchial Apple Menus
Message-ID: <370@three.MV.COM>
Date: 13 Jun 90 03:33:48 GMT
References: <68207@cc.utah.edu>
Organization: Three Letter Co. Nashua, NH.
Lines: 38

TJACOBS@cc.utah.edu writes:

>Hierarchial Apple Menus  [...]

Well, they torpedoed the idea on Applelink... maybe if a bit more heat were 
generated, we can convince Apple to listen, instead of forcing yet another
INIT incompatability on us.

Yes, in general, HeirMenus are bad.  New users lack the mouse-eye coordination
to use them.  However, the Apple Menu warrents them as an option.  For one reason,
if Apple doesn't include it as part of the system release (when it would be a
small change, the modification of an existing thing), someone will have to make
it into an INIT, patching out and rebuilding the beaste from scratch.  Something
will break.  Bet on it.  But even that is not sufficient reason for apple to change
(excuse me, FIX) the interface.  The fact that opening a folder (in some location 
where my mouse probably is NOT) and making me double-click on an ICON from the folder 
(then making me close the folder) is MUCH SLOWER and MORE INTRUSIVE than heirarchical
menus have ever been.  But that too will probably not convince Apple.  After all,
the only people who would want such a feature are "Power Users"  (isn't one of the
ideas behind the Mac to help ALL users become power users?  Didn't Apple have an
Ad campaign with the slogan "The *POWER* to be your best?"  implying that they were
supplying features that those power users might want?  Haven't several studies shown
that Mac Users generally user about 6-12 different Applicaations?  Don't most Mac users
have several DA's in addition to their Applications?).  

Oh well.  Lets see... patch out the AddResMenu command... have it special case for
type 'DRVR' to find the Apple Menu Folder... list the file names (with the small
icons -- hey, while we are at it, why don't we fix the lack of colour as well?)...
check for folders... oops!  Apple only allows 256 Heir/PopUp Menus... wonder what
we will break?  (we could always add a second patch)... Add in the Heir menus...
create the menu resource... Now, about the other cases...

+C

-- 
Cory Kempf				I do speak for the company (sometimes).
Three Letter Company						603 883 2474
email: cory@three.mv.com, harvard!zinn!three!cory