[TYPO3-hci] Quick Question: Pull-down menu library?

[Erik Svendsen]

Hello Kasper,

> Thanks all,
> 
> I'm surprised that tabbed menus would win a usability contest.

I was to, and had to start reading some stuff about it. Here are som links.

http://weblogs.java.net/blog/kirillcool/archive/2006/09/office_2007_ui.html
http://www.raizlabs.com/blog/2006/09/office-2007-ui-in-firefox.html
http://www.raizlabs.com/blog/2006/08/explorations-in-firefox-ui.html
http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/
http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/archive/2006/08/22/711808.aspx (Fitts' law)
http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/archive/category/11720.aspx

Some of the thoughts and ideas here has value for more than the menu. Mostly 
because it may give ideas outside the usual path.

> Anyway, my intension is - as you ask for - to make this completely
> extendable / replacable by extensions! So, imagine a base layout with
> a horizontal space for - typically - the menu bar and another space
> below for - typically - shortcut icons (and below this, you find an
> IFRAME with the actual TYPO3 module in, substituting the current
> "content" frame).
> 
> In the "menu" space and "shortcut icon" space you can add small AJAX
> applications supplied by extensions. By default TYPO3 would come with
> a "menu" extension in the "menu" space which generates a drop-down
> menu with the module. In addition there will be a selector for
> workspaces, one for searching etc. But the point is that anyone could
> add a little application up there fore their own extensions.
> 
> This way, we need to settle for a default menu but could easily
> deliver alternatives as needed.
> 
> My first step is to create this framework and then I want this team
> to help fill it in with default applications for 4.1!  My personal
> favourite remains a drop-down menu, which in my eyes is the time-
> proven and effective solution, but everyone can prove his/her point
> by making a tabbed menu.
> 
> As sebastian suggests we can usability test both.
> 
> - kasper

Your approach is perfect in my opinion, because the BE are open to the changes 
who MS tabbed/ribbon approach will make in how we are thinking about menus.
 
WBR,
Erik Svendsen
www.linnearad.no