Re: Toolbars

["Susan W. Gallagher" <sgallagher -at- EXPERSOFT -dot- COM>]

I wrote:
>>What that *means* is that, when you provide a toolbar, you should
>>provide quick access to those actions that users are expected to
>>perform frequently. So, if the Save button on the interface accesses
>>the "Save As" dialog, the Save toolbar button should just save, without
>>accessing the dialog. Likewise, the Print menu option usually accesses
>>the Print dialog, but the toolbar button just sends the whole doc to
>>the default printer.

And David (my favorite idiot) Ibbetson responded:
>And this has the result that the types who use the toolbar all the time
>won't know about the facilities that have been hidden from them!

Perhaps. Or maybe they know and just don't care. The user isn't
there to play with the computer, but to get a job done. If the
toolbar button accomplishes the result *and* does so faster and
easier than the menu option, that's the way many users will choose
to go. The objective after all, is to drive the nail into the wall,
not to choose the most pleasant color for the hammer. ;-)

Sue Gallagher
sgallagher -at- expersoft -dot- com
     -- The _Guide_ is definitive.
        Reality is frequently inaccurate.

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