I was just reading the manual for a program (TortoiseSVN, a client for a particular version control system): middle-clicking on the maximize button vertically maximizes the window; right-click does the horizontal maximize.
http://tortoisesvn.net/docs/release/TortoiseSVN_en/tsvn-dug.html#tsvn-dug-general-window-max I'm never going to remember this, though. Also, the button's behavior is unpredictable. Normally, clicking the button a second time restores the window's previous state, but this doesn't work as expected for a string of multiple maximize actions. So on. Here's an idea to add this functionality without much confusion. The user follows these steps: 1) Clicks and a holds the maximize button 2) Drag the mouse in one of eight directions (i.e. in the general direction of a multiple of 45 degrees) 3) Release the mouse 4) The window changes its size/position based on the direction and the window's initial state. The four possible states would be: fully maximized, vertically maximized, horizontally maximized, or floating on the screen as usual. Perhaps a subtle arrow over the button indicates the direction of the transition while the mouse button is still depressed. If the user clicks without dragging, or clicks and drags a negligible distance, the arrow and transition are not triggered, and some default action is taken. I'm not an IxD professional, but I'm curious to know whether this sounds like a usable feature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44088 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
