Re: [Design] Sidebar Collection icon treatments

[Mimi Yin]

Hi Priscilla, Thank you for writing such a detailed analysis and mocking something up (pictures being worth a 1000 words and all...etc). I think this surfaces a few important issues to consider: 1. Space and complexity in the sidebar 2. What does "checking off" a collection actually mean? 3. What is the purpose of the collection icon (aka bunny)? 1. Space and complexity: Right now, all 3 panes of the UI are starved for space. Ultimately we will need to have a different layout option for users with small screens (ie. detail view below the summary pane), but in the short-term: + the Detail view is about 150 pixels short of wide enough for reading real content + the Summary pane can comfortably support 6 columns, which is standard for email clients: Read/Unread status, Who, Subject, Date, Attachments, Flag... However we need to squeeze in 2 more columns for stamping: Task and Calendar (Flag translates into Triage status and the Unread/Read column doubles as a stamping column for Communications). + the Sidebar can just fit 3 columns and be the same width as the mini-calendar 2. What does "checking off" a collection actually mean? It will probably be unclear what "checking off" a collection means unless users have:  + multiple collections AND + happen to "check off" more than just one AND + they happen to have events in both collections "in whatever week is being displayed in the summary view" This is unlikely to happen for new users. I think at some point we discussed shipping out of the box with 3 "sample" collections with sample data, two checked off and one unchecked. 3. What is the purpose of the collection icon (aka bunny)?  It's not apparent right now, but ultimately the collection icon will play an important role in helping users differentiate between the collections they have in the sidebar. People-centric collections (ie. @Person agenda collections), Project-centric collections, Timeframe-centric collections, Status-centric collections, etc. What does all of this mean? + We're incredibly tight on space + If we can't get a "switcharoo" approach to work with the collection icon doubling as a checkbox icon, it may be better (in the interest of simplicity) to go the iCal route: ++ No persistent selections at all (aka checking off a collection) except in the Calendar app area ++ In the Calendar app area: selecting a collection = checking off that collection (as in all selections are persistent). For a full list of the different options we've explored: http://lists.osafoundation.org/pipermail/design/2005-November/003447.html See more in-line... On Feb 20, 2006, at 9:31 PM, Priscilla Chung wrote: Mimi, I apologize if this additional sketch complicates things....? So yes, I agree with Marc about understanding the behavior of the rolling check marks: >usually a change in color, a halo effect or a "semi-depress" state is enough. The checkmark appearing when rolling over may look like an hidden status... Hi Marc, could you elaborate on what you mean by a hidden status? The checkmark icon is a hidden status of sorts, one that you can activate and de-activate. In addition with the slow performance on my machine, it's difficult to understand immediately that it is to show/hide collections because using check marks may also indicate you are selecting items for different things such as 'delete'. And from what I gather from the current behavior, you have to select the collections, the collection is highlighted, not necessarily checked, to perform tasks (such as delete). Does that make sense? Priscilla: Yes absolutely. Could you elaborate on the specific steps you took to try and delete the collection? This is a really interesting scenario. (The subtle distinction here between desktop apps and web apps is that web apps don't have the notion of "selection". As a result, in web apps, checkboxes are the only way for the user to feel like they've grabbed a hold of the item (aka "selected" it) in order to perform actions on them, such as delete. In desktop apps, you simply click on an item to get the feeling that you've grabbed it.) I'm wondering if the root of the problem is that unless you: + happen to try checking-off 2 collections; OR  + you select 1 collection and then check-off a 2nd collection without changing the selection, there is no visual feedback in the summary pane to clue you in on what it means to "check" off 2 collections. (See issue No. 2 above.) Basically there is a double meaning with the icon and your approach may be too subtle. I understand your point about saving space, but an extra icon should only take up two or three letters worth of space, and it will add a lot to legibility. So here is another sketch to throw out into the void. Also based on Jeffery's two box proposal. I used the Photoshop 'eye' icon for viewing/not viewing collections which may help with the issue of separating selection from visibility. Heh, I tried the eye as well, and I gave up because I couldn't get it to look right (as in same illustration style as the collection icons - they all looked like Lisa Simpson), but that's not a good reason to not use the concept! It's just hard. ;o) I also tried using a thumb-tack. It might communicate "stuckness" or "persistent selection" even better than an eye? In reality, selecting a collection is "viewing it". "Checking it off" is "viewing it forever"...or at least until you decide to "uncheck" it again. I added a column header, labeled 'collection' at the the top, to complement the 'eye' icon although I think 'collection' is an odd term for the general public but perhaps it doesn't need a header title, I don't know? I also threw your 'bunny' icon in there for now, opposed to a check mark and squished it all into the area available within the side bar, mainly to check for that space issue you mentioned. Though when you make a selection to do a task such as 'delete', you can click on 'bunny' icon, or on the 'My Calendar', 'rabbit' or 'work' text to shift select several items at a give time. Huh, that's a good idea. But might feel weird in more complicated scenarios. (ie. I have 1 collection "checked off", and 1 collection NOT "checked off", but selected.) Mimi Thoughts? -Priscilla Marc Gibeault wrote: I never quite understood what this behavior meant. I had the feeling that just rolling over an icon changed some status. I never encountered an invitation to click so "demonstrative", usually a change in color, a halo effect or a "semi-depress" state is enough. The checkmark appearing when rolloing over may look like an hidden status... -Marc Gibeault Mimi Yin wrote: Before you actually check the sidebar collection icon, a rollover effect reveals a checkmark that is meant to "invite the user" to come and check it. If you roll off the collection row, the checkmark disappears and is replaced by the collection icon. If you select the collection row and then roll-off without actually clicking on the checkmark, the checkmark disappears and is replaced by the collection icon. Mimi _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Open Source Applications Foundation "Design" mailing list http://lists.osafoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/design <DotSevenSideBarProposal.png>

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