About Face 3: Menus

MenusPresented by Chris Cookley & Laura Williams

Overview

• About • History of Menus• Menu Standards• Menu Idioms• Conclusion

What Are Menus?

 A list of functions or options available; an index of tools. Should provide an understanding of the scope of what a program can or can't do.

History of Menus

Command-line interface• Replaced the need for punch cards• Type in commands with the keyboard• Had to know what you needed to type• Still considered faster by users who know the commands

History of Menus

Sequential hierarchical• A list of choices• Took you from one step to the next• Exit option typically only took you one level back• Occasional confirmation options were highly annoying

History of Menus

Visible hierarchical• Originated in the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet program• Presented a menu horizontally across the top• Hot key accessible with a \• Frequent users memorized paths to most used items• 1-2-3 style menu dominated the 1980's

Lotus 1-2-3

History of Menus

Drop-down• First to utilize the pop-up window• Lists descend from a single menu bar• Hierarchy flattened to only one level• Dialog box enabled the simplification of the menu

History of Menus

Pedagogic vector• Paradigm we use today• Menu is used more to learn then to operate• Menus offer verbal descriptions of items• Toolbars are king for utility• A menu's main task is as an index of tools• Menus should make the programs capabilities clear• Primary role of a menu:

o To teach new userso To remind those that forgoto To provide a way to access infrequently used functions

Overview

• About • History of Menus• Menu Standards• Menu Idioms• Conclusion

Menu Standards

Menus are currently more functions oriented, and not goal oriented.

Optional• View• Insert• Settings• Format• Tools

Universal• File• Edit• Windows• Help

Menu Standards

File• Document would be a better

goal-oriented name• Or Song, if using a music

software

Edit• Selecting• Cutting• Pasting• Modifications• Should not be a catch-all

for functions that don't fit

Menu Standards

Windows• Arranging, viewing, and

switching between windows• Unless a multiple document

interface, isn't necessary

Help• Historically not very helpful• Should help users learn the

program• Should always be a

"Shortcuts" item, but there often isn't

Menu Idioms

Cascading Menus• Standard drop-down provides secondary menu• Difficult to locate items• Require well-coordinated mouse movements• But, they do allow for larger command sets

Menu Idioms

Adaptive Menus• Displays most frequented

items by users• Intended to adapt to usage

behavior• However, it increases

work performed by users• Decreases information on

breadth and depth of application

Menu Idioms

The Ribbon• Visually expressive combination of menu and toolbar• Provides good overview of capabilities• However, we still hunt for common functions

Menu Idioms

Disabled Menu Items • Gray-out nonfunctional

menu items• Useful teaching tool

Checkmark Menu Items• Easily understandable• Effective because it

indicates the state of that control

Menu Idioms

Icon on Menus• Symbol next to text• Helps users recognize without

having to read

Accelerators ("keyboard shortcuts") Access Keys ("mnemonics")• Uses alt key, arrow keys, and

letter keys to execute function • Provide keyboard equivalent of

each menu command

Overview

• About • History of Menus• Menu Standards• Menu Idioms• Conclusion

Conclusion

Menus have come a long way and we have learned from their failures and successes.  

Keep in mind: Menus should provide an effective overview of functions.  It should teach new users, remind experienced users, and provide a way to access infrequently used functions.

MenusPresented by Chris Cookley & Laura Williams