Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac.system:4072 comp.sys.mac.programmer:23335 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!mcsun!corton!imag!gourdol From: gourdol@imag.imag.fr (Gourdol Arnaud) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.programmer Subject: Re: User interface issues (was Re: Dialog Modality) Message-ID: <20072@imag.imag.fr> Date: 4 Apr 91 22:22:20 GMT Article-I.D.: imag.20072 References: <1991Apr4.024724.27910@midway.uchicago.edu> Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.system Organization: IMAG Institute, University of Grenoble, France Lines: 53 In article <1991Apr4.024724.27910@midway.uchicago.edu> jcav@quads.uchicago.edu (john cavallino) writes: >I think the Standard File dialog is a relic of the days before Multifinder >and inter-application communication. Especially in light of the dramatic >improvements in the System 7 Finder, it seems to me that there should be only >one method for opening documents--through the Finder. The Finder's navigation >facilities and desktop metaphor will always be more powerful and intuitive than >having to look through the cramped and narrow viewport of some dialog box, >no matter how feature-packed. The Standard File dialog and the Finder are >just two (very) incompatible ways of looking at the same information, and I >think the Finder's way is better. It would be much easier for the user if >there was only one paradigm to learn. >I believe that in a better world, applications wouldn't have "Open" commands. I agree with you, the Standard File dialog shouldn't exist. However its disparition brings a couple of problems: The open commands sometimes needs aditional parameters to open its document (for example are the plain text file with a CR at the end of line or end of the paragraph). Ok, one could imagine a dialog box displayed when the user double-clic the icon. As of text file, they can be opened by many applications. Let's say that when you double click-it it launches one (TeachText or th eone with which it was created). If you want to open it with another, you can still drop it on the application's icon. But what if you don't have the application's icon handy (let's say you launcg it thru the Apple Menu). Some applications (such as PhotoShop) allow you to open a file and specify its type when you open it (for example if you have an image created on "another platform", it may be of type TEXT, BIN or whatever). How could you do this without the Open dialog. The problems are worst for the save as dialog box. What do you expect when you first save your document. Have it saved as untitled and then change the name with the Finder? In which folder should it be saved ? >In an even better world than that, there wouldn't be applications at all, >certainly not visible to the user, only documents and menu commands for >working with them. Comments? Great idea. This sure would be good, altough it poses a few interesting problems too. But, hey, that's our job :-) (I'm an UI guy). >John Cavallino | EMail: jcav@midway.uchicago.edu >University of Chicago Hospitals | USMail: 5841 S. Maryland Ave, Box 145 >Office of Facilities Management | Chicago, IL 60637 >"Opinions, my boy. Just opinions" | Telephone: 312-702-6900 Arno. -- /======================//==========================================/ / Arnaud Gourdol. // On the Netland: Gourdol@imag.fr / / // Via AppleLink: Gourdol@imag.fr@INTERNET# / /======================//==========================================/