On 12 Sep 2009, at 16:34, Eduardo H. Silva wrote: > 2009/9/11 Gary C Martin <g...@garycmartin.com>: >> On 11 Sep 2009, at 00:30, Eduardo H. Silva wrote: >> >>> Should the toolbar icon for the colors palette have a down arrow >>> like >>> with the other toolbar button icons? After all, it doesn't execute a >>> primary action of its pallete when clicking, instead it reveals its >>> palette. >> >> No, down arrows indicate the new lockable secondary toolbars (one >> click to >> lock open, one click to lock closed, hover for temporary quick use >> like a >> palette). Locking open secondary toolbars resizes the activity >> canvas area, >> normal toolbar palettes do not. >> >> FWIW: it has been agreed (I think) that any icons that have _NO_ >> default >> primary function (i.e. they just hold palettes) should instantly, >> and fully >> expose on a single left click (as they already do for a single >> right click). >> As their primary function is to display their palette. Maybe we can >> solve >> this for 0.88. This would solve things like providing instant >> feedback on >> buddy icons, such as accessing the large self buddy icon in the >> home view >> for getting to settings, shutdown etc. > > But shouldn't something be done visually to differentiate those icons > which open palettes when clicked, from those which act their primary > action? The user won't know beforehand what will the result of > clicking be otherwise.
Yes, I do acknowledge this point, unfortunately all the visual 'cures' I've seen mentioned or tried to think up so far are worse than the 'illness'. The Sugar UI usage of icons with a primary action vs. no primary action would seem to be about 50/50, so any visual treatment would have to look good on ~50% of all icons you see. For the new toolbar lock open/closed 'v' shape, it requires almost all those icons to be re-adjusted/designed from scratch with that extra empty space required below. I guess I'd try to argue for better icon design to start with, so that the author made sure they clearly distinguished icons for single click actions, from icons exposing a palette of actions. Could I ask you indicate some example cases where you see potential confusion? Perhaps we can improve their icon designs. Regards, --Gary _______________________________________________ Sugar-devel mailing list Sugar-devel@lists.sugarlabs.org http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/sugar-devel