Steven Maddox (Cyorxamp) wrote:
Harold Fuchs wrote:
2008/8/20 Michael Adams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
<snip>
I wonder why maintaining aspect ratio isn't *the* default in Word
Processors, perhaps with using the [ctrl] key to override it on manual
resize, rather than the other way round. Perhaps this is a case of
lazily playing follow the leader since the Imperial Typewriter was
obsoleted.
<snip>
See http://www.infobluemountains.net.au/rail/horse-ass.htm for details of
the "follow the leader" mentality.
I agree with Michael in this case, there is always a need for a
consistent GUI across platforms to save on training and in this case I
think the default should be to maintain the aspect ratio for
simplicity. Default actions should always be the in the simplest form,
with other actions (like hold Ctrl) to do thinks more complex. Just my
opinion here.
People are more likely to want to make images bigger and smaller... more
than they will want it squashed or skewed... so the default action
(without Ctrl) should be to maintain aspect ratio.
I was first aware of the use of CTRL to force the aspect ration to
remain unchanged in a paint program for the Commodore Amiga. It was
probably already standard by then in other paint programs. I’ve used
many programs since on many operating systems, and don’t recall any
where the CTRL key did not work in exactly the same way. Of course, if I
were using a program that automatically kept the aspect ratio in any
case, I would not be aware that holding down the control key wasn’t
doing anything.
The “simplest” thing to happen when you stretch a frame or box is
surely that the object stretches in that direction, not that it
stretches in all directions. The difficulty here is that users are
indeed more likely to want the more complex form of stretching (which
they can easily get by holding down the control key).
In short, if any program were to change the use of the control key in
stretching objects from its almost universal use in paint programs and
word-processors and desktop publishing programs, it would get far more
complaints on that score than it would get kudos.
If I stretch a text box in a word processing program, I expect it to
stretch in the direction I am stretching it, not in all directions. Of
course, in this case, I don’t expect the text itself to stretch, but
rather to reflow to fit the new dimensions. This then becomes the rule
of resizing all objects: the default is to stretch only in the direction
in which the object is pulled.
With some objects, the contents may resize rather than reflow. Or the
contents may stay unchanged. That’s another issue.
The current default should remain unchanged, because that is
universally more intuitive. Since it is now established as the default
provides another reason why it is unlikely to ever change.
Jim Allan
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