Menu Improvement Suggestion

[sl23]

I realise not all of it will be acceptable to everyone, but I hope it may be of help in part. Here's my suggestion for improving the menu layout:

My first point is to make a seperation between the two menus MULAB and SESSION. The MULAB menu should only contain items regarding the app itself while the SESSION menu should only contain items regarding a session. If something doesn't fit these two categories then a third menu should be added, or, perhaps combine the two to form one menu? I quite like the idea of combining them as it means less clutter and you could also use the Mu-Lab logo as a button for the menu instead of text. I think it's more aesthetically pleasing. So this is the layout I will suggest. If it's preferred to keep two seperate menus then split as you see fit.

The point you mentioned about the session stuff being combined is here though by the time I add this post you may have sorted it. Maybe yours will be better than my suggestion, but I add it nonetheless.

In the SESSION menu there are twenty nine entries, not including 'hidden' items. I've reduced that to fifteen! Some may disagree on my layout due to an extra click required, but I think a clear, easy-to-find layout is more productive, but that's me

A menu category should be in a bold or slightly larger font for reducing confusion when navigating.

Code: Select all

MULAB Menu

Undo
Redo
---------------
Save
Save As...
Save As Template
---------------
Panic
---------------
(Main Session items here. I believe you're adding a window to choose between single and multi-session?)
+ Session
    New
    Open
    Revert
    Template
    Demo
    Close

+ Composition
    Add
    Select
    Next
----------------
+ Import/Export         
    MIDI File - (When selected asked if import/export.)
    Add Sample
    Mixdown Audio

+ Manage
    Audio Files
    Sequences
    Samples
    Multi-Samples
    Audio/Sample Files
----------------
+ Show/Hide
    Keyboard
    Mod Area
    Rack Desk

+ MIDI
    Edit Session Controller Map
    Auto/Manual Input Focus
    Edit input Focus

(These items aren't used regularly and are App specific so should be kept in a Setup category.)
+ Setup
    Audio
    MIDI
    Shortcuts
    External Editor
    Skin
    Upgrade Sessions
    Insert License Key - (This should be removed/hidden after insertion!)

+ Help - (Diagnostic items added as they're to help solve issues.)
    Mu-Lab Docs
    Intro Movie
    Tutorial
    MuTools.com
    Monitor MIDI Input
    Start/Stop Log
    About
------------------
Quit

[janamdo]

Hi sl23
Is it not simpler to add to the Mulab knob a replacement for the "New session" menu entrance : "Open a new Mulab Program" AND cascade the windows of 2 or more programs ?

Cascading is very handy, because i use 2 computerscreens..so i can easily see what screen to drag away to a another screen or position

[sl23]

I'm not quite sure what you mean but if its because there single and multi open options are combined then a window would open to ask which one you want.

[janamdo]

I'm not quite sure what you mean but if its because there single and multi open options are combined then a window would open to ask which one you want.

Yes is also possible under the session knob a more userfriendly menu and to choose there also to open a second mulab program in a screen

But you can also open a new mulab program under the MUlab knob as it now is :
and as menu line : "Open new Mulab Program" ( get rid of the "New Session")

So a improvement as you suggest for under the session knop except for a second screen for choosinga new mulab program to open, because in my plan it stays under the Mulab knob and it is now named: "Open a New Mulab Program"

Now you have something from both worlds..

[MuTools]

Thanks for suggesting. Unfortunately the proposed menu layout is not fitting MuLab's logic. For example Undo is a session command, not a MuLab command. Save (As) also is a session command, not a MuLab command. Etc.

When i said 'feel free to suggest' i did not expect a total rewrite, i thought we were talking about the New/Open Session aspect i.e. whether the opened session should be opened into the current session or as an extra session.

I've made a new test patch that demonstrates the solution i proposed:

http://www.mutools.com/mulab/temp1485

For how to install an application patch, see http://www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/installation.html

Currently, in M4.0.100, if you do Session -> Open you get an alert "Open session will close this session, ok?". This alert has been replaced by "Open session into...": "This Session" - "Extra Session".
So there is no extra question alert step, only the existing one has been finetuned. And the possibly confusing double menu entries have gone.

Hope this feels like a good compromise to most of you.

[janamdo]

It looks good what you did Jo ..i hope that the new user realize that he has opened a 2e Mulab program?..

There are now 2 session open..good message!

Better: There are now 2 sessions open in 2 Mulab programs.

Extra information example
In the screen header: Mulab Program 2 ( BOLD!) : Session (?): Unnamed Composition

Session (?)..depends on how many session you have openend in the program
A sort of counter
When you start with the first time opening it is (1)

[janamdo]

Do not think that the idea of cascading the windows for multiple programs is not used..THERE IS HERE ONLY A VERTICAL MOVEMENT..just enough to keep on working in the program ( there is no need for click..probably dragging to a second computerscreen will be happen here ( in my case.. )

The user knows that there is here a second screen open ( no need more for messages!!)

As example here a program what costs almost 900 Euro

[sl23]

Thanks for suggesting. Unfortunately the proposed menu layout is not fitting MuLab's logic. For example Undo is a session command, not a MuLab command. Save (As) also is a session command, not a MuLab command. Etc.

I did say above that this is a combined menu. So there's no distinction between this or that. Only one menu button is required and make it look better by replacing the text MULAB with the mulab logo.

When i said 'feel free to suggest' i did not expect a total rewrite, i thought we were talking about the New/Open Session aspect i.e. whether the opened session should be opened into the current session or as an extra session.

Well, that was my plan which is why I asked if you minded the suggestion Hope you don't mind. Thing is, as I also said above, the menu system for me is a bit messy. I believe if you applied ALL my suggestions it would look and feel better and be easier to find what you're looking for.

I find that in the current menu, there are several items that don't need to be shown and could be placed within a Category or Sub-Menu.

Would it really require a rewrite? All the commands are the same just renamed and reorganised. Surely that doesn't require a rewrite.

I've made a new test patch that demonstrates the solution i proposed:

I like it, it's definitely an improvement, but I feel it bloats the SESSION menu and leaves the MULAB menu a bit bare, which is why I suggested combining the two into one and creating more categories. Currently the two menu buttons take up a fair bit of space. But a single button in the form of a logo would reduce this to your logo leaving more room for other stuff. Also, it compacts the whole menu when open instead of having to scroll, I hate that!


I don't wish to put down your work so I hope it doesn't appear that way. But the whole menu thing needs some work. It's appearance is unusual compared to almost every other app I've used and I'm sorry to say it's not in a good way

There are three Show/Hide options that should at least be placed together but are scattered throughout the menu! Why not place them in a category? are they used so mush they need to be on show permanently?

When the menu opens the size should autofit the contents of the menu. Perhaps instead of the '+' sign to expand a category, the category should open to the side as windows start menu does? Maybe that's just me?

The menu should be Themeable, allowing the text and background to be coloured to fit the current theme.

Ideally, I think the menu should be completely customisable to allow moving of items whether by drag n drop or a specific option screen. Again this would imitate the Start menu.

Perhaps I'm going a bit far, but all these little things help make the app more user friendly for everyone as it can be tailored to suit each persons requirements.

Just a few ideas to help that's all. I don't expect they'll be added but I think you should do something with the menu system. I mean surely at some point in the future you will end up changing it even if I hadn't requested it. It's not as though the menu is finished and is never going to be changed.

Anyway, hope I haven't offended you, just a few ideas that I thought may help make Mu-Lab more user friendly

[MuTools]

I've made a new test patch that demonstrates the solution i proposed:

I like it, it's definitely an improvement

I'm glad you like it.

Also, it compacts the whole menu when open instead of having to scroll, I hate that!

That's screen dependent of course. The more screen the more it can show.

Please don't forget that if there are functions you use a lot and you do'nt like using the menus all the time, then you can make a keyboard shortcut for it, cfr www.mutools.com/mulab/docs/function-shortcuts.html

[sl23]

Thanks, but I don't like shortcuts, I do occasionally use them but not a fan. Trying to find the keys detracts from what I'm doing and tends to be quicker using the menu!

Oh! I didn't realise it was screen dependant but if it were me I'd make it so this wasn't an issue.

I like to think you'd keep these things in mind and maybe add to a future version at some point

[liquidsound]

Regardless of the above suggestions, MuLab is going to grow and expand more and more in the future and eventually any kind of "Smart" menu system it's going to have challenges in keeping up probably including the current one.

Wouldn't be safer to adopt the usual menu bar system that can be hidden by a Full Screen command, but still accessible by one main cascade button if needed, turning the workspace as it is now and allowing you to manage the menus in a more relaxed way? Then you wouldn't have to juggle with choices and More of them coming in v5,6,7.....?

[sl23]

That's sort of what I meant. Just one button for the menu like Firefox.

[janamdo]

That's sort of what I meant. Just one button for the menu like Firefox.

That is really cool one button in the form of the Mulab logo and a modernized menu
That is really focussing on MULAB as name .. one knob for all the musical answers..
..big MULAB (Jo) is watching you ..beware

[sl23]

Glad you like it I don't think it likely to catch on though

[janamdo]

Glad you like it I don't think it likely to catch on though

Yes i like it.. .. i hope Jo likes it too, because it is super mega cool to have one Mulablogo button