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JabRef / jabref

Graphical Java application for managing BibTeX and biblatex (.bib) databases
https://devdocs.jabref.org
MIT License
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Main Menu: change File tab #4668

Closed MartinKarim closed 5 years ago

MartinKarim commented 5 years ago

mmfile

Description of Issue Possible Solution Warnings
separate new library items for LaTeX and Biblatex are used use hierarchy to reduce number of items in the tab -
Import and Export share one item with one masive submenu separate export and import for easier use keep import submenu, but change the export submenu as shown above.
- - other changes can be found in issues #4665 , #4666 , #4667
AEgit commented 5 years ago

Again, I am not sure, whether this additional hierarchy is useful, given the limited number of options - if there are plans to provide additional options, it makes sense to me to have these hierarchies, but otherwise they do not appear convenient. Isn't avoiding deep hierarchies generally considered better?

MartinKarim commented 5 years ago

You are right, deep hierarchies should be avoided in most cases. Mainly for the following reasons:

  1. It hides functions from the user
  2. It adds additional steps to access a menu item

Point 1 does not seem a big issue here, as the name of the action is still stated in the first level of the menu, only additional information was put into the second level. Point 2 is very much valid here, as an additional step is added to a very basic function.

But hierarchies in menus can have an advantage as well. They reduce the number of menu items that are displayed at once, making the menu easier to search, which increases efficiency. They can also structure a decision process and guide the user, as I mentioned in #4682 .

The number of items in the File tab is already quite high, which is why hierarchy seems as an appropriate means to make it more structured. Especially in the Export item, the hierarchy is meant to guide the user though the process, which can seems odd for more experienced users.

AEgit commented 5 years ago

Maybe have a user survey for this? As you mentioned before, in the end it comes down to a trade-off between learnability and efficiency/convenience. I think I know which option I would prefer, but I might be represent just a minority.