Hi all,
From what I've read on this thread, here is a quick recap from what I see useful for KMenu:
- A search function for KMenu listed programs, a la katapult.
- Most used applications clearly visible (essential for someone who's not familiar with computers)
- Simple menus:
- Applications ordered by name
- No submenus for categories by default
- Group support
- Descriptions in kmenu items.
- Easily editable menus
- Draggable icons to and from the desktop and taskbar/panels to the kmenu
- More easily identifiable KMenu button and one that can be customized by distros while still showing that it has the same function as the stock Trinity button.
A search function for KMenu listed programs, a la katapult.
This saves time, especially if you're a power user. If you already know what you want, you shouldn't be forced to travel through the menus, nor write the applications executable name.
Applications stored by name
I think this is the easiest way to identify something in a listing, if you don't know the icon.
No submenus for categories by default
It is not practical to use this and it is problematic to travel through auto selecting folders with this. For instance, I have been living with the 1 to 2 entries per subfolder in the Utilities category in KMenu for ages and it bugs me. They're so little apps that it is counterproductive to having them on a subfolder. While I agree that it is a problem to have a screen filed with entries, it could alternatively be provided a button to click down on a list that is greater than "x" entries. Something easy to use, perhaps bigger than the entries themselves so that you don't accidentally click outside the menu and it closes everything.
One of the big problems of excessive submenus is that they extend to the right of the first popup of the menu, sometimes excessively. My KDE3 setup is extending to almost half my 16:10 screen when I let it over the "Office" menu, without submenus. This is due to two things:
- Excessibly large program names on the favorites list: GNU Image Manipulation Program - Image Editor
- KMenu doesn't deal with this problem gracefully and it gets worse with excessive submenus.
Group support
While I don't think this is essential, it could be useful for navigation and to avoid subfolders. You would have:
Internet -> Chrome (Notice the alfabetic order)
Firefox
Konqueror
Opera
------------ (KMENU separator, placed automatically for different groups)
Konversation
Kopete
Pidgin
------------
aMule
KTorrent
I guess something like this would facilitate navigation, even though some apps already provide this.
Descriptions in kmenu items.
Office -> OpenOffice.org Base (Database)
OpenOffice.org Draw (Drawing Program)
OpenOffice.org Math (Formula Editor)
The current description is shown after "-" but it could, alternatively, be in parenthesis or, in a nicer way, be in parenthesis and stylized to be in smaller lets and in a lighter color tone so it doesn't get in the way of the more important information: the program's name.
This description is very important nonetheless to someone who does not know what program it should use.
Easily editable menus, draggable icons to and from the desktop and taskbar/panels to the kmenu
Usability features. The current editor requires a save process which is rather strange on modern desktop environments. Draggable icons is useful IMO and has been around for ages. It is not an essential feature but it is one I miss, especially if I want to drag one to a panel for quick access.
More easily identifiable KMenu button and one that can be customized by distros while still showing that it has the same function as the stock Trinity button.
While the windows "Start" button is a rather strange concept, the fact that the button is visually distinct is a win. Even on new versions of windows 7, there's nothing like that round button which conveys a different functionality to the user. Gnome also gets points for having the description of the menu as a button, even though I think it lacks a bit for not looking a button, especially as it does not give feedback on hover.
I appreciate any thoughts on this.
Best regards,
Tiago