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Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

Title:	DECWINDOWS 26-JAN-89 to 29-NOV-90
Notice:	See 1639.0 for VMS V5.3 kit; 2043.0 for 5.4 IFT kit
Moderator:	STAR::VATNE

Created:	Mon Oct 30 1989
Last Modified:	Mon Dec 31 1990
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3726
Total number of notes:	19516

2926.0. "Applications standards" by BDYSRF::UDICK (See ya in the NOTES files) Wed Jun 13 1990 19:58

The average MAC user knows 10 apps, the average PC user, maybe 3. 

Why, because the applications are consistent.

Can we standardize on some X-Window conventions.

For example:

If you have pending delete and you start typing all apps should automatically 
erase the entry. Notes forces you to use Backspace. Other don't

EVE does not allow the MB3 quick copy.

These are just two examples of inconsistency. 

How about cursor movement. If each app does it different it is very frustrating.

As an example:

Shift causes the key to be magnified.
Control causes the key to be magnified even more
Shift right arrow takes you to the next word
Control right arrow takes you to the end of the Sentence

Shift Next Screen takes you to the bottom of the screen
Control xt Screen takes you to the bottom of the file.

If all apps were the same  it would sure make using them much easier. This 
really applies to most of our BOIS apps.

Is there a standard at DEC. Could you point me to a copy so that I can get the 
PSS Delivery folks to start using it.

Who ownes this problem.

Thanks,

Steve

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2926.1		GILROY::klee	Ken Lee	`Wed Jun 13 1990 21:44`	7
	The XUI (order # AA-MG20A-TE) and Motif (available from Prentice-Hall, ISBN 0-13-640491-X) style guides discuss some, but not all, graphical user interface syntax consistancy issues. Semantic style is much more difficult, but I think the ACA folks are trying to address it. Try contacting Bob Travis (blt::travis) or Andy Wilson (mingus::wilson) for info on ACA. Ken
2926.2		QUARK::LIONEL	Free advice is worth every cent	`Wed Jun 13 1990 22:19`	4
	The NOTES pending delete difference is a bug, which seems to be fixed in the current version (V2.1). Steve
2926.3	style guide conference...	R2ME2::OBRYAN		`Thu Jun 14 1990 01:53`	9
	There have been several efforts started since DECwindows V1 to encourage consistency, all with limited success. The main problem seemed to be human resources to perform the consistency check. Most applications followed the style guide reasonably well, but there were many open issues never resolved by the guide. To see discussions old and new, check the CLT::XUI conference. (It is being used as the style guide conference for both XUI and Motif.) Michael
2926.4		PSW::WINALSKI	Careful with that VAX, Eugene	`Thu Jun 14 1990 15:39`	9
	RE: .0 I think the EVE MB3 quick copy problem is also recognized as a bug. This ought to be one of the checks that's done by SQM before a product is allowed out the door. --PSW
2926.5		QUARK::LIONEL	Free advice is worth every cent	`Thu Jun 14 1990 17:02`	8
	Re: .4 Actually, SQM now has someone who is doing some verification on the DECwindows interfaces to products. I imagine that in time she (or others in her capacity) will start to look at products conforming to the guidelines. Steve