Re: ChatWindow Toolbar Items

I think it is a good idea. Not to be the voice of dissent, but moving 
those down there would match the look and feel of other IM clients.  
That way we can get rid of the 70 pixel toolbar and use the already 
existing 32 pixel area, and give people more screen real estate.

Also, based upon the email support, here are a couple of items to note 
when thinking about toolbars and icons:

1) If it's in the menu, many people won't find it (Send File is an 
example)
2) If it is not part of the default set of icons, people won't find it 
(Smiley menu is an example)
3) Many people want us to use less screen real estate

So with that said, I would vote for anything which matches the 
following principles:

1) Small icons (32x32 at the largest) (with tooltip text, not titles 
underneath)
2) All the icons are visible (configurable == difficult to use)
	a) If we offer configuration, it should be to remove or rearrange 
icons, not add them
3) Use a toolbar if possible (to be "mac like" - and use their 
configuration abilities)
	a) I know, I just contradicted myself, but hey! I'm allowed :)
	b) iChat doesn't use a toolbar, and has the icons down at the bottom 
of the window.
4) Provide simple keyboard shortcuts wherever possible
	a) I HATE using the mouse
	b) The MOUSE slows me down
	c) Did I mention, I hate mice for typing centric apps (of which Fire 
is a prime example)

Alan

On Wednesday, October 22, 2003, at 12:43 PM, Graham Booker wrote:

> In my excursion into modifying the chat windows, it occurred to me 
> that I may want to change some of the UI as well.  I noticed that the 
> toolbar seemed to become a catch-all for many things.  Basically, 
> unless anyone has some serious objections, I would like to move the 
> following items out of the toolbar and into the right side of the 
> status text area (bottom of the chat window).
>
> Foreground text color
> Background text color
> Send Message
> Emoticon Menu (assuming I can get a menu working there)
> Fonts
> and maybe add in an insert hyperlink button.
>
> These icon would be quite small, and only occupy a little bit of the 
> status message text.  This would not increase the size of the 
> chatwindows.  Think of it as being placed in a row just to the left of 
> the grow box.
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Graham Booker		Texas A&M University
> [email protected]	  Graduate Student in ELEN
> ------------------------------------------------------------------



-------------------------------------------------------
This SF.net email is sponsored by OSDN developer relations
Here's your chance to show off your extensive product knowledge
We want to know what you know. Tell us and you have a chance to win $100
http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?HRPT1X3RYQNC5V4MLNSV3E54