Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site dartvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!dartvax!lorien
From: lorien@dartvax.UUCP (Lorien Y. Pratt)
Newsgroups: net.cog-eng
Subject: Menu Driven Systems
Message-ID: <551@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 29-Dec-83 17:27:38 EST
Article-I.D.: dartvax.551
Posted: Thu Dec 29 17:27:38 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Dec-83 00:46:33 EST
Organization: Dartmouth College
Lines: 26

I've just written a proposal for a menu-driven system in which the
menus are available only for show, to help novices explore the command
structure of the system.  There is logically only one input point, however
if the user types, say, 'Search', s/he will be shown a Search Menu with
options listed that might help with searching.  From this displayed menu,
any command can be typed, however, not just Search commands.

Does anyone have any familiarity with this kind of system?  The only
disadvantage that I can see to it is that one must keep all commands
unique (and unambiguous within as few letters as possible, for my
command parser to work nicely).  It seems to get around all sorts of
difficulties that experts have with menu-driven systems, especially when
a BRIEF mode option is introduced.  With typeahead available, the
system that I've proposed looks completely command driven in BRIEF mode.

I'd appreciate any working papers you folks might have or descriptions
of such systems that you've seen.  Criticisms are also appreciated, but
think them out well, please.  I'd be happy to share my notes with anyone
interested.


      --Lorien Y. Pratt
	Dartmouth College Library
	Hanover, NH  03755

	decvax!dartvax!lorien