[IxDA Discuss] Should closing a window save changes?

[Paul Schreiber]

On Apr 3, 2007, at 4:45 am, Darryll DeCoster wrote:

> I recently added a Mac to my mass of computers, and honestly it is  
> very
> counter intuitive to not have to click a save or apply button on  
> changes.
> That's not say I think it's wrong - but having been a Windows user  
> since the
> days of Windows 3.1, I am a little accustomed to some things. If  
> the user
> base is primarily a Windows user base, then the function should  
> conform to
> what they expect there as well - unless there are very compelling  
> reasons to
> make the change.

I don't think this has anything to do with being *intuitive* -- it's  
just what you're used to. Windows is full of extraneous steps, while  
the Mac OS follows the direct manipulation principle more closely.  
(An example is the Mac OS X Finder's lack of a rename command. You  
just click on the the file name and wait.)

Another reason instant-apply preferences make sense is Mac OS X's  
window layering model.

With a modal dialog, the sequence of events is clear:
- make the preference change
- click OK
- see windows update

In this case, you're blocked from interacting with other windows  
(documents) until the change is complete.

If you open a modeless preferences dialog and make a change, I feel  
it would be confusing if the change *didn't* affect existing windows  
until you clicked OK ... or Apply ... or Save ... or whatever the  
button may be. Having the changes occur immediately is consistent  
with other interactions, like changing the text to bold.


Paul

          shad 96c / uw cs 2001
        / mac activist / fumbler / eda / headliner / navy-souper
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