4 ms·

Confused about the conclusion versus the analysis: no one uses the command bar, ergo we should make this useless interface element bigger and more complex! "No

Confused about the conclusion versus the analysis: no one uses the command bar, ergo we should make this useless interface element bigger and more complex! "Note that we haven’t finalized the exact number of commands in the ribbon yet. It will likely end up between 198 and 203 when we’re done." 203 buttons?!

fefzero 15y ago
It definitely seems like a jump. Did they interview users? If so, why not reference that data? If not, why not? And what user data prompted them to create 203 buttons if some of the (far less than 200) commands they have now don't get used in more than 1% of user sessions?
- iaskwhy 15y ago
  I'd guess most Microsoft apps have hundreds of buttons as well. 99% of them are not shown by default but you can customise it to your own taste, that's why there are so many of them.
- recoiledsnake 15y ago
  I think they've learned from the Office 2007 metrics and feedback. Also they have listed the reasons for choosing the ribbon over other approaches. I don't see a 'jump'. >And what user data prompted them to create 203 buttons if some of the (far less than 200) commands they have now don't get used in more than 1% of user sessions? You say that as if the 200 buttons were on one screen. They are spread out over different contexts and tabs. I believe they were trying to make the commands more discoverable from the previous versions.
  - fefzero 15y ago
    I was only referencing the parent post about the 200 buttons, it's certainly true that they're available in ribbon form. If the commands are things that were previously available and less discoverable, then that's one thing. However, I felt like it was a jump to go from having so few commands available menu to having around 200. Do they expect the new commands to be used frequently? Were they actually needed? That's what I was trying to ask.
ak217 15y ago
No, 203 commands. Each button can have drop-down menus that expose multiple sub-commands. The ribbon replaces a traditional menu. How many commands do you count in your file manager's menu? (Probably less than 203, but I think if they can organize them well, more power to them)
vilya 15y ago
I was thinking the same thing. Their data, according to the article, indicates that over half of all functions used in Explorer are via the right-click menu and yet they conclude that these items aren't discoverable enough? Bizarre. I think they're overlooking the fact that it's often a smaller & quicker movement to get to an entry in the right click menu than to mouse up to the toolbar and click there. Fitt's Law applies.
- djeikyb 15y ago
  But they aren't eliminating the context menu, no? Right clicking is intuitive for me, but it is not for many people. I speak from my own experiences doing tech support professionally and for family and friends.

fefzero 15y ago

It definitely seems like a jump. Did they interview users? If so, why not reference that data? If not, why not? And what user data prompted them to create 203 buttons if some of the (far less than 200) commands they have now don't get used in more than 1% of user sessions?

iaskwhy 15y ago
I'd guess most Microsoft apps have hundreds of buttons as well. 99% of them are not shown by default but you can customise it to your own taste, that's why there are so many of them.
recoiledsnake 15y ago
I think they've learned from the Office 2007 metrics and feedback. Also they have listed the reasons for choosing the ribbon over other approaches. I don't see a 'jump'. >And what user data prompted them to create 203 buttons if some of the (far less than 200) commands they have now don't get used in more than 1% of user sessions? You say that as if the 200 buttons were on one screen. They are spread out over different contexts and tabs. I believe they were trying to make the commands more discoverable from the previous versions.
- fefzero 15y ago
  I was only referencing the parent post about the 200 buttons, it's certainly true that they're available in ribbon form. If the commands are things that were previously available and less discoverable, then that's one thing. However, I felt like it was a jump to go from having so few commands available menu to having around 200. Do they expect the new commands to be used frequently? Were they actually needed? That's what I was trying to ask.

ak217 15y ago

No, 203 commands. Each button can have drop-down menus that expose multiple sub-commands. The ribbon replaces a traditional menu. How many commands do you count in your file manager's menu? (Probably less than 203, but I think if they can organize them well, more power to them)

vilya 15y ago

I was thinking the same thing. Their data, according to the article, indicates that over half of all functions used in Explorer are via the right-click menu and yet they conclude that these items aren't discoverable enough? Bizarre. I think they're overlooking the fact that it's often a smaller & quicker movement to get to an entry in the right click menu than to mouse up to the toolbar and click there. Fitt's Law applies.

djeikyb 15y ago
But they aren't eliminating the context menu, no? Right clicking is intuitive for me, but it is not for many people. I speak from my own experiences doing tech support professionally and for family and friends.