Right-clicking and usability

Subject: Right-clicking and usability
From: Alyssa Fox <Alyssa -dot- Fox -at- NetIQ -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 09:57:51 -0600


I currently document an application that has several ways to perform actions
- through the menus, through right-clicking objects and selecting from a
popup menu, and through keyboard shortcuts. In the past, I have always
directed the user to use the right-click menus because it is the least
amount of clicks and the most convenient. However, this does not allow for
people who can't or don't use a mouse.

I have a feeling that the number of people who don't use a mouse are in the
minority, but are still an existing group. Therefore, offering right-click
steps only in the docs is not too user-friendly for them. On the other hand,
should I write to the minority, or the majority (which seems to me to most
likely be those that use a mouse)? Or should I document all the ways to
perform an action - using the menus, the right-click menus, and the keyboard
shortcuts?

Thanks for your time and comments,
Alyssa Fox

Alyssa Fox
VSM Information Developer
NetIQ Corporation
713-418-5334

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Order RoboHelp Office X3 by March 14 and receive a $100 mail-in rebate,
plus FREE WebHelp Merge Module and FREE iMarkup Software, for a
total giveaway value of $439! Order today at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l

Help celebrate TECHWR-L's 10th Anniversary starting this month!
Check out the contests at http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/special/contests/
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday TECHWR-L....

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.



Previous by Author: Managing A Project: THANK YOU! :-)
Next by Author: More gender neutrality
Previous by Thread: Re: How the documentation process is supposed to work in IT
Next by Thread: Re: Right-clicking and usability


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads