POLA is about producing the minimum changes necessary in the user experience and in program behavior. The complete makeover of the UI for Outlook (and Office) is an excellent example of violation of POLA. Outlook does not behave as I'd expect, because they've changed the user interface dramatically.
- Right clicking on an email doesn't produce the menu item expected. And, in fact, they've hidden the option away, so that you have to work to get at it. As a saving grace, now that it's configured I can get at it from the keyboard, using Alt and 3. That's actually pretty nice. - Rearranging and lengthening of the keystroke sequences needed to perform other tasks is a major change of of the UI as well. I will probably eventually get used to it, but it'll take a while. Now, I actually do like a lot about the new version. Its configurability is pretty darn wonderful - the ability to make those addins is great. I'm sure there are lots of other 'under the covers' improvements, too. To answer your last question: What kind of option is the SMTP header? It's not any kind of option, but the ability to view it is a required option, and hiding it is a silly move. It's actually much more important than any of the other menu options they added in, and I have long thought that it would be a really good UI improvement to be able to expand/collapse the display header to show or not show the headers. Accessible via the keyboard, of course. If MSFT can make Outlook so configurable, why not make the context menus configurable as well? Heck, why didn't they keep the old UI, and advertise a quick menu option to switch to the new UI for those who wanted it? Kurt On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 07:01, Joe Pochedley <[email protected]> wrote: > POLA is about action (reaction to a user action). It's not about content... > Outlook still behaves as I'd expect... Right clicking on a message still > produces the same action of opening a context sensitive menu of actions that > can be performed on a message... POLA does not state that the contents of > the menu can never change though..... If we try to say that POLA applies to > the contents of context sensitive menus, then we can essentially never change > the menu or add/remove options from it! > > If we want to say that contents violate POLA.. I might argue is that the > result of clicking "Message Options" violates POLA... When I choose an item > that says Message Options, I don’t expect to see SMTP headers... (What kind > of "Option" is the SMTP header?) :) > > Joe Pochedley > Network & Telecommunications Manager > Fives North American Combustion, Inc. > v: +1 216.206.5505 > f: +1 216.641.7852 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Kurt Buff [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 9:06 AM > To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues > Subject: Re: OT:ish - I'm beginning to *really* hate OL2010 > > Found this yesterday late, after much searching. > > It's kinda beside the point, though I'm glad to have it. > > I'll state the main point of my rant again: Massive UI and functionality > changes violate POLA, and those responsible should be beaten about the head > and shoulders until they learn the lesson or are incapable of doing it again, > or both. > > Kurt > > On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 03:45, Joe Pochedley <[email protected]> > wrote: >> For those lamenting the missing “Message Options” from the right click >> menu, try this: >> >> >> >> On the Quick Access Toolbar (from Outlook’s main window).. The Quick >> Access toolbar is the one normally above the File, Home, View, etc >> tabs…. Click the drop down arrow to customize the toolbar… >> >> Select More Commands >> >> Choose Commands From > (All Commands) >> >> Scroll down to find Message Options >> >> Add Message Options to the toolbar… >> >> Click OK…. >> >> >> >> Now you’ve got Message Options directly available from the main >> Outlook window… Highlight your message, click the toolbar button and >> enjoy your headers. >> >> >> >> HTH >> >> >> >> >> >> Joe Pochedley >> >> Network & Telecommunications Manager >> >> Fives North American Combustion, Inc. >> >> >> >> From: David Liu [mailto:[email protected]] >> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 11:21 PM >> >> To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues >> Cc: Robert Peterson >> Subject: Re: OT:ish - I'm beginning to *really* hate OL2010 >> >> >> >> are you sure this is not in OL 2k3? In 2k10 I dont see a Messdage >> Options option. I had to add the button for Message Headers to QuickAccess >> Toolbar. >> >> On Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 7:25 PM, Robert Peterson >> <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> Right click on the message and select Message Options, the header info >> is then visible without opening the email. >> >> Of course... it still helps to rant. >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Kurt Buff [mailto:[email protected]] >> >> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 5:57 PM >> To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues >> >> Subject: OT:ish - I'm beginning to *really* hate OL2010 >> >> Sorry, just had to say this... >> >> <rant> >> Aside from the fact that they changed (lengthened and obfuscated) the >> keystrokes that I used since, oh, at least OL97, now I can't find the >> headers in an email in my inbox. >> >> I've got an email that's sitting in my inbox, and I don't want to open >> it, but I want to find the headers. >> >> I used to be able to open the context menu for the message >> (right-mouse click, or use the Windows context key) and select >> Options, which revealed, among other things, the headers. >> >> I'm not finding that anywhere, and googling reveals that either I have >> to open the email, or do this: >> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg622917.aspx >> >> I think it's long past time we visit the Redmond campus with >> pitchforks and torches. >> >> I have to build a C# addin to get this info now? >> >> Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Over? >> >> Sheesh. >> </rant> >> >> Kurt >> >> --- >> To manage subscriptions click here: >> http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ >> or send an email to [email protected] >> with the body: unsubscribe exchangelist >> >> --- >> To manage subscriptions click here: >> http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ >> or send an email to [email protected] >> with the body: unsubscribe exchangelist >> >> >> >> --- >> To manage subscriptions click here: >> http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ >> or send an email to [email protected] >> with the body: unsubscribe exchangelist >> >> --- >> To manage subscriptions click here: >> http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ >> or send an email to [email protected] >> with the body: unsubscribe exchangelist > > --- > To manage subscriptions click here: > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > or send an email to [email protected] > with the body: unsubscribe exchangelist > > > > --- > To manage subscriptions click here: > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > or send an email to [email protected] > with the body: unsubscribe exchangelist --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe exchangelist
