Posted by Kevin Matthews on December 19, 1999 at 22:05:06:In Reply to: Re: Windows version disappoints posted by David Hogan on December 19, 1999 at 10:26:46:
Dear David,
> No right/middle mouse button support.
This is a matter of my design choice. The research on user interaction supports improved creative interaction for most users from the simplicity of using one mouse button in most situations. There's no point in making users think to use different mouse buttons for different tasks if it isn't necessary. We're not interested in making the DesignWorkshop interface more complex, contrary to good UI practice, simply to match other Windows applications.
For one example, we might assign the right mouse button to bring up information on an object, similar to Windows itself. But since the Object Info box shows info on selected objects automatically, that would just be redundant. What functions would you like to use the right mouse button for?
Adobe Photoshop is a good example of a generally excellent software application which has been badly damaged by following a simple-minded route to the lowest common denominator of average applications. From a high point of elegance in version 3.0, Photoshop has become a worse tool in 4.0, and worse again in 5.x. Common design operations that could previously be done with a single powerful, unconscious gesture, now require pointless command operations before and after. These extra command operations have a very negative effect on the level of "design-mind" or creative expression that can be channeled through the software. Why should these negative changes occur in a famous successful program?
(And even as a hugely profitable application for simple 2D pixmap manipulations, even after the dumbing-down of the UI, PS5 still only has one undo -- see below.)
> No context-sensitive help. (no F1 help at all)
This would be nice, but since there's no command language to learn, and a relatively small number of points that would be explained in context, we've chosen to put our energy elsewhere.
> No text pop-ups indicating what each icon means.
Text hints for the icons wouldn't hurt, to be sure, but since there are only a handful of icons to learn, and most of them quite obvious, again this seems unimportant.
> Bitmap file import-I tried importing a tif, got "Import exception-unknown type-result code 50", same with r14 DXF import.
As previously explained, these are not general issues with the application, but are specific to your installation. We need to work with you directly (off the forum) in more detail to help you resolve these issues.
> Only ONE undo?
With traditional verb-noun command-driven software, each command is neatly and predictably self-contained. This makes it relatively easy to implement an internal journaling mechanism, reversible command functions, and thus unlimited undos. It also makes for linear software that forces the user to stop and think through commands more frequently, and to undo them more often.
With noun-verb event-driven software, the command sequence itself is not enough to define what is done and undone. This complexity is further multiplied in the case of the fully 3D interface of DesignWorkshop. DesignWorkshop is already significantly more complex internally than most software that provides multiple undos. We have chosen to allocate the complexity of DesignWorkshop to support a flexible, open-ended way of modeling.
In a perfect world, we could support a free-wheeling, state-based noun-verb live 3D user interface _and_ multiple undos. They would be useful for brief try-outs of more complex bits of design-what-ifs while modeling. With luck and the support of our users, we'll get there eventually.
> Not to mention I can't run it on my Win98 notebook-it keeps crashing it.
This is also not a general issue with the application, but is specific to that particular installation. We need to work with you directly (off the forum) in more detail to help you resolve this issues.
Since Windows 95 and 98 have fairly brittle system configuration mechanisms, small conflicts between software installs on a machine can easily cause big problems. Let's work together to knock out all these glitches you've got.
Best wishes,
Kevin