FreewayTalk
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[Pro] Customizing Freeway Toolbar
One of the most obvious options is conspicuous in its absence.
Wondering if Softpress would consider adding a “Save” button to the icons available in the “Customize Toolbar” function.
On 2 Sep 2010, at 09:21, MFWills wrote:
Wondering if Softpress would consider adding a “Save” button to the icons available in the “Customize Toolbar” function.
What’s wrong with Command-S?
I hate toolbar buttons. They’re a very Windows way of operating.
=o)
Heather
I’d like the chance to prove that money doesn’t make me happy. - S. Milligan.
That’s a great idea. There could also be buttons for ‘Publish’ and ‘Upload’ or for common tasks like ‘Hyperlink’ and ‘New Page’.
Hopefully your idea and my built-on-your-idea reach the ears of the company.
What’s wrong with Command-S?
I hate toolbar buttons. They’re a very Windows way of operating.
=o)
Heather
Heather, perhaps you should take a closer look at some of the Mac apps you use and see that they do this already. How about Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Keynote, Pages, iTunes, Freeway, Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Transmit?
It’s obviously not a “Windows” thing. :)
On 2 Sep 2010, at 09:39, Dan J wrote:
It’s obviously not a “Windows” thing. :)
It used to be. It all adds to screen clutter. Shortcuts are the Mac way.
(I’m old skool. I don’t like mousing when I can use the keyboard.)
The first thing I do in most of the apps you mention is turn off or disable toolbars that give me no benefit. I know how to use menus and shortcuts for the obvious stuff like new, open, close, save, save as, quit. Why do I need a raft of buttons to replicate them?
Heather
I’d like the chance to prove that money doesn’t make me happy. - S. Milligan.
What’s wrong with Command-S?
Absolutely nothing. That’s the way you prefer to do it.
But if you were restricted in hand movement in such a fashion that made keyboard shortcuts inconvenient, yea, even downright difficult, you would understand the need to have the option available.
On 2 Sep 2010, at 09:43, Heather Kavanagh wrote:
Why do I need a raft of buttons to replicate them?
Replying to myself. I must stop working alone!
I was going to add that if SP think these buttons are a good idea, then please don’t add them by default. Let the user customise and add them if they want.
Heather
I’d like the chance to prove that money doesn’t make me happy. - S. Milligan.
On 2 Sep 2010, at 09:43, Heather Kavanagh wrote:
…please don’t add them by default. Let the user customise and add them if they want.
I believe that’s exactly what I suggested.
Just thinking more towards the Freeway target market, mentioned by Tim Plumb in some fun pie charts, rather than those who are in the ‘advanced course.’
You would still be able to drop them on your end, but others might see it as a way to simplify the options available to them.
I know I would love to be able to remove the forward and backward arrows or only have them show in Preview mode.
Perhaps Freeway could adapt a browser like toolbar in preview mode.
On 2 Sep 2010, at 09:46, MFWills wrote:
you would understand the need to have the option available.
Good point. I guess we should also be looking toward a touch UI.
But I still won’t like it. ;o)
Heather
(I’m not usually this combative, but there’s something in the air today that’s making me want to take the opposite view with everyone. Debate is good.)
I’d like the chance to prove that money doesn’t make me happy. - S. Milligan.
On 2 Sep 2010, at 09:39, Dan J wrote:
It’s obviously not a “Windows” thing. :)
and Heather Kavanagh responded:
It used to be. It all adds to screen clutter. Shortcuts are the Mac way.
(I’m old skool. I don’t like mousing when I can use the keyboard.)
And then Apple embraced accessibility.
Try executing Command-S with your right hand.
On 2 Sep 2010, at 09:56, MFWills wrote:
Try executing Command-S with your right hand.
Yup, thumb and forefinger are about four centimetres apart. What’s your point?
;o)
Heather
I’d like the chance to prove that money doesn’t make me happy. - S. Milligan.
On 2 Sep 2010, 8:56 am, MFWills wrote:
Try executing Command-S with your right hand.
I meant that to include the need to lift said right hand from the mouse, move to the left side of the keyboard to do Command-S and back to the mouse. For persons with difficulties of motion, Point-And-Click and Right-Click Contextual Menus are friends.
On 2 Sep 2010, at 10:19, MFWills wrote:
For persons with difficulties of motion, Point-And-Click and Right- Click Contextual Menus are friends.
Understood.
I just worry that Apple is heading down the Microsoft path, where you open a word processor and can’t actually see what you’re typing because of the galaxy of buttons - most of which are hard to interpret. So, the engineers invented help tags that appear and float over them…
If folk want buttons for the simple features, that’s fine. Just ensure it’s easily modified for those that don’t want or need them.
Cheers
Heather
I’d like the chance to prove that money doesn’t make me happy. - S. Milligan.
Personally speaking I can certainly see us (Softpress) moving in this direction for Express users. If you look at the toolbar for Easy Web Animator for example I would agree with Heather that it looks very Windows-like with the tools replicating the main menu commands. Although I’m not a great fan of this sort of UI it does offer a certain level of ‘discovery’ to the feature allowing the user to see, at a glance, what the application is capable of.
Ultimately I think the best solution is to provide the best interface for the target audience and allow those on the fringes (new or pro users) to adjust the UI as they see fit. Regards, Tim.
On 2 Sep 2010, at 09:49, Dan J wrote:
Just thinking more towards the Freeway target market, mentioned by Tim Plumb in some fun pie charts, rather than those who are in the ‘advanced course.’
Tim Plumb Creative Director Softpress Systems http://www.softpress.com
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