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From: bin@primate.wisc.edu (Brain in Neutral)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Disabling menus when DA's are closed
Message-ID: <4052@uakari.primate.wisc.edu>
Date: 13 Mar 91 22:16:59 GMT
References: <4746.27DDB39B@stjhmc.fidonet.org>
Sender: bin@primate.wisc.edu
Reply-To: bin@primate.wisc.edu
Lines: 17

From article <4746.27DDB39B@stjhmc.fidonet.org>, by Lawson.English@p88.f15.n300.z1.fidonet.org (Lawson English):
> wants to edit something that doesn't exist, well, let him. You should only be
> concerned with the cases where the user might be confused: if there is no window
> open, there is nothing there to edit, and even the most naive user wouldn't
> be confused when nothing happens when he selects "Paste," that way, your need
> to activate/deactivate the menu has been simplified.

You'd be surprised what can confuse users.  For instance, one might ask
"why does this stupid machine let me select Edit menu items when there's
nothing to edit?  Huh?  Huh?"

Remember, some people do not even understand how to double-click, even
after several sessions of working on a Macintosh.  (Yes, I observe this.)

--
Paul DuBois
dubois@primate.wisc.edu