Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!husc6!sunfs3!kent
From: kent@sunfs3.camex.uucp (Kent Borg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: was: The Great Standard Yes/No/...
Keywords: option key standards user interface rant
Message-ID: <513@sunfs3.camex.uucp>
Date: 25 Sep 89 20:35:44 GMT
References: <8909111739.AA10090@fs3.cs.rpi.edu> <15631@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU> <1684@draken.nada.kth.se> <11491@burdvax.PRC.Unisys.COM> <13330@reed.UUCP>
Reply-To: kent@lloyd.UUCP (Kent Borg)
Organization: Camex, Inc., Boston, Mass USA
Lines: 51

In article <13330@reed.UUCP> chaffee@reed.UUCP (Alex Chaffee) writes:
...about the lack of Interface Guidelines on the meaning of the Option
and Shift keys as modifiers to clicks (and drags).


I don't remember reading in the Human Interface Guidelines about how
modifiers should be used, but I have observed de facto standards which
well designed programs seem to use.

The shift key constrains the normal action, the Option key loosens the
normal constraints.

Look at common examples: Draw programs use the shift key to force
rectangles to be squares, ovals to be circles, slanted lines to be at
a `regular' angle.  Clearly constraining stuff.  The shift key also is
used for extending selections.  That qualifies as a constraint in that
the current selection is not replaced, only adjusted.  Note that by
this description, an action should never be made more dangerious by
the addition of the shift key.  Expermenting is safe.

The examples for the Option key are things like the Finder allowing
the trashing of locked files, or FontDA Mover (and other programs)
allowing the opening of any type of file when the Option key is held
down.  What about Bartholomew Cubbins (you know, the Dr. Suess
character with all the hats) behavour in draw programs: option
dragging something gives you a copy, leaving the original alone?
Well, cloning something *is* removing a constraint about a single
thing being in two places at the same time, it pretty much fits the
idea.  Note that these behaviors are not all safe, experimenting with
the Option key could cause trouble.

What should the Command key do as a modifier?  I suggest nothing.  It
is already used for standalone commands, further overloading seems too
confusing.

What should the Control key do as a modifier?  I doubly suggest
nothing.  The control key is a grudging offering to the history of
computing, and some keyboards don't even have it.  I say leave it at
that.  Besides, if it is left open, I can use it for my QuicKeys.

How about combinations?  Only if they fall out naturally, like shift
for constraining a drag, option for copying the dragged object, so
shift-option constrains the dragging of the copy.  Any modifiers past
that seems too much.

How's that for some dogma from Kent?

-- 
Kent Borg			"This and being born are the 2 damndest
kent@lloyd.uucp			 things that ever happened to me."
or					-Resident of McClellenville, SC,
...!husc6!lloyd!kent			 referring to Hurricane Hugo (from NPR)