FM9 show stoppers
Klaus Daube
frame at daube.ch
Fri Jan 23 03:20:40 PST 2009
Trying to use FM9 reveals beside the goodies (modern interface,
enhanced book handling, list of referenced files, variables, cross
references, ...) also some misbehaviour becomes obvious:
The first one has already been mentioned here:
Various lists (¶ format by F9, variable names by CTRL+0, ...) do no
more behave as usual:
Having the formats ln-list-narrow and lc-list-check and want to get ln,
i must type l, then arrow-down. Typing ln applies the format n1-
numbered-1st.
Up to FM-8 we entered l, n, enter. The enter must now be avoided like
hell, if the item is the only one in the list starting with that
character.
This was not a special feature of FM-8 and beyond, but is common
behaviour in Windows. In an Open dialog, entering abc opens the list of
files: first all beginning with a, then beginning with ab, then with
abc - which is _very_ vonvenient (well, this might be to an option in
the UI, but on my XP it works this way).
The second one is a tough experience:
Backspace has become a nightmare on my 3MHz machine with 4GB of RAM. I
can not correct input in the usual manner, because i have typed to many
times until the program reacts! Do I need to switch off UNDO (which is
not possible)? I have already switched off "show warnings while
cleaning history", "Checkout HTTP...", "Upload HTTP..." in preferences.
Also the arrow keys - used for example, to extend a selection - a-r-e-v-
e-r-y-s-l-o-w! This is NOT an issue of my machine - no other program
has this behaviour.
A third great annoyance:
The new buttons are gray in normal state and coloured if hovered over.
Since we are now working with larger screens (i have a 24" + a 22" side
by side) easy recognition of items on this real estate is key for
speedy work.
A reason for my displeasure:
FrameMaker users are keyboard-people, while CS (creative) users in the
graphic area are mouse oriented. For graphic work this is also the case
with me. But authoring text is typing and applying formats by short
cuts.
With the large screens FM9 now supports it is slowing down my work
significantly to take the mouse for such operations, even with a tablet
which gives more instant access to remote locations on a screen.
Althoug I like most of the new things - the feeling under my fingertips
is bad.
Klaus daube
http://mymemo.ch und nie mehr einen Gedanken oder Termin verpassen.
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