MenusRevisited2

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* '''Created''': [[Date(2008-01-26T23:10:18Z)]] by NanleyChery
 * '''Credit''': JaneWeideman, CoreyBurger, JeffWaugh, SebastienBacher 		 * '''Created''': <<Date(2008-01-26T23:10:18Z)>> by NanleyChery
 * '''Credit''': MenusRevisited
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The menu system has become extremely crowded in Hardy. This spec talks about which menu items should be removed to keep the desktop sane and the experience intuitive. The General Policy used in Dapper, the first LTS release, will be adhered to. The main menu has become extremely crowded in Hardy. This wiki page talks about which menu items should be removed to keep the desktop sane and the experience intuitive. The General Policy used in Dapper, the first LTS release, will be followed (lightly) as a guideline.
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 * If an item is primarily launched by a specific MIME type and works with one file at a time, it can be hidden  * If an item is primarily launched by a specific MIME type and works with one file at a time, it can be hidden (eg. eog)
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== Specific Menu Item Actions ==

 * Each of the following items has been reviewed and a decision has been made on it. Any item not listed will be kept.

=== Purging "System Tools" ===

 * Applications Menu Editor [Done, "alacarte" use the Accessories category]
  - replace with Alt+dragging and D&D from gnome-app-install? [[BR]]
  - move to "System" > "Preferences"? [[BR]]
  - Known issue - already has a "Menus & Toolbars" item!
 * Avahi Zeroconf Browser
  - hide if installed by default in Dapper
 * Bluetooth file sharing [Done]
  - make appear as gnome-session service, if new gnome-session comes in Dapper/Gnome 2.14 [[BR]]
  - hide if new gnome-session doesn't appear
 * Bluetooth manager [Done]
  - hide due to being crap
 * Bug Report Tool [Done]
  - nuke bug-buddy (obsolete with LaunchpadIntegration)
 * Configuration Editor [Done]
  - Hide, useful only for powerusers
 * Floppy Formatter [Done]
  - Hide due to [http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=302038 Replace "Floppy Formatter" with item in Nautilus's File menu]
 * Gparted [Done]
  - move to "System" > "Administration"
 * Network Tools [Done]
  - move to "System" > "Administration"
 * New Login [Done]
  - replace with button in gnome-screensaver unlock dialog and Log Out dialog
 * New login nested window [Done]
  - remove entirely
 * Run as different user [Done, hidden]
  - remove, not hide
 * System Log [Done]
  - move to "System" > "Administration"
 * System Monitor [Done]
  - move to "System" > "Administration"
 * Ubuntu Device Database [Done]
  - hide (may be available during install and/or in About Ubuntu)
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 * Archive Manager [Done]
  - hide, as it's available as right click in Nautilus. Inexperienced computer users may find right click less "discoverable". [[BR]]
  - [http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=302035 Add "Make Compressed File..." to Nautilus's File menu]
 * File Browser [Done]
  - remove, because it duplicates with the Places menu		  * Passwords and Encryption Keys
  - hide, poweruser tool
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=== Graphics ===   - seems out of place: long file name
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 * Image Viewer [Done]
  - Hide, as it is best accessed by launching a file [[BR]]
  - post-dapper - Slideshow item in Nautilus? (the Finder has it...)
 * XSane Image scanning program [Done]
  - Scanners now accessible via GIMP, so hide.		   - replace Seahorse Preferences with this
 * Manage Print Jobs
  - append to Printing w/ PolicyKit?
    - Printing is for configuring printers, while this is for managing print jobs (has nothing to do with configuration)? -- Jan Claeys
      - with this reasoning, it could be merged with Default Printer -- NanleyChery
 * Tracker Search Tool vs Search for Files...
  - duplicity/overlapping functions?
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=== "Internet" and "Office" ===
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 * GNOME BitTorrent [Done]
  - hide, as it is best accessed by launching a file
 * "Internet" > "Evolution Mail" vs. "Office" > "Evolution"
  - upstream is working on seperate icons for each item ("Calendar", "Tasks", etc.) [[BR]]
  - if the above doesn't come for dapper, fix the menu item in Office to say Groupware and to use a better icon
 * OpenOffice from Template [Done]
  - hide, can be accessed from within OO
  		 === Internet ===

 
 * Terminal Server Client vs VNC Client
  - duplicity/overlapping functions?
    - we should make sure both RDP & SDP protocols are still available though -- Jan Claeys
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   * Brasero Disc Burning
  - does more than just sound and video (probably best place though)
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 * CD Player [Done]
  - nuke, replaced by Sound Juicer
 * Recording Level Monitor [Done, hidden]
  - hide/nuke for Dapper [[BR]]
  - should be incorporated into Sound preferences
 * Rhythmbox Music Player
  - keep
 * Serpentine Audio-CD Creator
  - keep for dapper [[BR]]
  - post-dapper, integrate into Nautilus/Rhythmbox in an obvious way
 * Sound Juicer CD Ripper
  - keep for Dapper, [[BR]]
  - post dapper, integrate into Nautilus/Rhythmbox in an obvious way
 * Sound Recorder
  - keep
 * Totem [Done, reverted according to users echo on it]
  - hide, as it is best accessed by launching a file
 * Volume Control [Done]
  - hide for dapper, available on panel [[BR]]
  - should be incorporated into Sound preferences
 * Volume Monitor [Done]
  - hide for dapper [[BR]]
  - should be incorporated into Sound preferences		   - CD/DVD Creator still needed?
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''See also'' [http://live.gnome.org/PreferencesRevisited PreferencesRevisited] ''See also'' [[http://live.gnome.org/PreferencesRevisited|PreferencesRevisited]]
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 * File Management [Done]
 - remove (redundant with "Edit" > "Preferences" in Nautilus)
 * Login Photo [Done]
 - remove (redundant with "About Me")
 * Multimedia Systems Selector [Done]
  - hide, due to confusion for users and likelyhood of users messing their system up
 * PalmOS devices [Done]
  - remove [[BR]]
  - accessible from the Pilot applet, and not useful without the Pilot applet [[BR]]
  - [https://launchpad.net/malone/bugs/3787 Better handling of handhelds]
 * Windows [Done]		  * Default Printer
  - append to Printing w/ PolicyKit?
 * Main Menu
  - accessible through right-click on menu
    - do we care about the (non-)discoverability of that? -- Jan Claeys
 
      - it's something to consider, as the right-click should satisfy the single point of access - NanleyChery
 * Windows
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=== Other tasks === === Related Issues ===
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 * Generate list of applications that install a menu item in Applications > System Tools
 * Make certain hiding application on menu does not hide it on Open With... [Done]
 * Develop way to right-click on menu item and select "Hide"		  * HardyReducingDuplication
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  * "About Me" + "Users & Groups" + "Sessions"
  * "Font" + "Theme"		   * "About Me" + "Users & Groups"
   - Use Policy Kit
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== Outstanding issues == == Removed Items ==
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We should probably coordinate with upstream (Gnome) during their 2.14 cycle.  * Avahi SSH Server Browser
  - hide, poweruser tool
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== Reviewers Comments ==   - is already covered by Places -> Connect to server (Nautilus)
 * Avahi VNC Server Browser
  - hide, as it is accessible through Vinagre's Find function
 * Network Manager Editor (Internet + Preferences)
  - can be accessed from nm-applet right-click menu.
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MarkShuttleworth: very nicely written up. Clean and crisp. Very clear what the plan is. Thank you! Please let's get this in asap so we can deal with feedback.   - https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager-applet/+bug/201127
 * Hardware Testing
  - Item in System Tools
 * System Tools Menu


== Controversial Items ==

 * Transmission?
  - like gnome-bt, what are the benefits of having it in the menu? [keeping]
    - Transmission isn't like gnome-bt. Gnome-bt is a program that operates on a torrent file and downloads it. Transmission is a torrent manager. Removing Transmission makes as much sense as removing f-spot or Rhythmbox. -- Adam Petaccia 2007 01 28
  - Menu entry doesn't explain what it is (Anonymous)
   - https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/transmission/+bug/184238 = Menu name will be changed
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see ["/Comments"]
see [[/Comments]]

Summary

The main menu has become extremely crowded in Hardy. This wiki page talks about which menu items should be removed to keep the desktop sane and the experience intuitive. The General Policy used in Dapper, the first LTS release, will be followed (lightly) as a guideline.

Rationale

General Policy

The following general policy guidelines are followed in each decision

  • If an item is primarily launched by a specific MIME type and works with one file at a time, it can be hidden (eg. eog)

  • The separation between Applications > System Tools and the System menu must be removed. This will be achieved by removing the items in Applications > System Tools

    • With above, items that are mostly system administration tasks and/or use gksudo should be moved to System > Administration

    • Items which affect only the current user are to be moved to System > Preferences

    • Anything else that is not going to be hidden/removed is moved to Applications > Accessories

  • Tools which are likely to simply confuse users are to be hidden or removed
  • Tools which have their functionality replaced with another simpler tool are being hidden or removed
  • There should be a single point to access each function of the system

Implementation

Accessories

  • Passwords and Encryption Keys
    • - hide, poweruser tool - seems out of place: long file name - replace Seahorse Preferences with this
  • Manage Print Jobs

    • - append to Printing w/ PolicyKit?

      • - Printing is for configuring printers, while this is for managing print jobs (has nothing to do with configuration)? -- Jan Claeys

        • - with this reasoning, it could be merged with Default Printer -- NanleyChery

  • Tracker Search Tool vs Search for Files...
    • - duplicity/overlapping functions?

Internet

  • Terminal Server Client vs VNC Client
    • - duplicity/overlapping functions?

      • - we should make sure both RDP & SDP protocols are still available though -- Jan Claeys

Sound and video

  • Brasero Disc Burning
    • - does more than just sound and video (probably best place though) - CD/DVD Creator still needed?

Shortening "System" > "Preferences"

See also PreferencesRevisited

  • Default Printer
  • Main Menu
    • - accessible through right-click on menu
      • - do we care about the (non-)discoverability of that? -- Jan Claeys

        • - it's something to consider, as the right-click should satisfy the single point of access - NanleyChery

  • Windows
    • - hide, power users only

Coordination with Gnome

  • Pass ideas and rationale to upstream
  • Encourage upstream to do the following integration work:

    • "About Me" + "Users & Groups"

      • - Use Policy Kit
    • "Keyboard" + "Keyboard Shortcuts"

Removed Items

  • Avahi SSH Server Browser
    • - hide, poweruser tool

      - is already covered by Places -> Connect to server (Nautilus)

  • Avahi VNC Server Browser
    • - hide, as it is accessible through Vinagre's Find function
  • Network Manager Editor (Internet + Preferences)
  • Hardware Testing
    • - Item in System Tools
  • System Tools Menu

Controversial Items

  • Transmission?
    • - like gnome-bt, what are the benefits of having it in the menu? [keeping]
      • - Transmission isn't like gnome-bt. Gnome-bt is a program that operates on a torrent file and downloads it. Transmission is a torrent manager. Removing Transmission makes as much sense as removing f-spot or Rhythmbox. -- Adam Petaccia 2007 01 28
      - Menu entry doesn't explain what it is (Anonymous)

Discussion and Comments

see /Comments

Random Quote

"We must be proactive, eternally vigilant, forever fighting, overwhelmingly clever and handsome." - Robert Love

CategoryDesktopTeam

MenusRevisited2 (last edited 2008-08-06 16:16:19 by localhost)