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Author Topic: JR: Please think about what you're trying to do with the Action Window  (Read 1249 times)

gpvillamil

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Hi all, just a quick note on user interface design in MC11, especially the Action Window.

I noticed that the iPod sync dialog is now in the Action Window. (This is the dialog where you pick which playlists you want to synchronize).

Before, this was a modal dialog. You could easily see a long list of playlists. After choosing, the rest of the transfer would then take place in the action window.

Now, the playlist choosing dialog is in the action window. You can see very few playlists without having to scroll up and down.  Not a big step ahead.

PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND: from the point of view of UI design, the Action Window is great for launching and managing tasks that are done IN PARALLEL with playing music, ie the user is doing SOMETHING ELSE. For tasks that require the user's fulltime attention, a modal dialog is better. The previous approach to iPod sync was perfect - modal dialog, large size, for choosing playlists. Then a small dialog, in the action window, out of the way, for managing the sync. Choosing playlists is a FOREGROUND task that is poorly suited to the Action Window.
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njkyle

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Having just had a brief experience with MC 11, I have to agree with your coment. It explains well why it just feels awkward compared to MC 10, almost like I had lost some features.

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gpvillamil

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Moreover - the "deleting files" dialog when syncing is a foreground dialog, where the only option is to cancel! It seems like this should be in the Action Window!
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JimH

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I wish I could say more about this, but I'm afraid we can't change it.  We'll revisit this issue when we begin work on the next major version.
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BlueGlow

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>>We'll revisit this issue when we begin work on the next major version.
Good to hear, I find many operations more difficult to perform in the small action window.

I know it's too early to think about, but please consider an interim version, after the dust clears on 11, with the action window change released before the world changing v12 enhancements threaten stability. I'm in for an upgrade fee just for that change.

Thanks.
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