"What is this?"
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ensger wrote:
I used Alt-F4 to close the actual window, but that is not the problem. It's one of many points.
What is the issue you have with ALT+F4? It is not clear from your messages. ALT+F4 will *always* close the entire application [window], whether it is IE, Firefox, or anything else. If you want to close only one window/tab then the shortcut is and always has been CTRL+F4.
ensger wrote:
want to have the Google-bar. I was asked to choose a search-engine while downloading, but google was not there!!
Do you mean the Google Toolbar, or having Google in the built-in IE7 toolbar? Because if it is the latter, then you just add it in from the menu. It takes all of five seconds and Google is your default search provider. :confused:
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milk -
Click on the drop down button next to the search box, and click on Find more providers. Google will be near the top of the page that is returned - tick it and submit the page. That is all. http://www.codeproject.com/script/profile/upload/1363/FindProviders.jpg[^]
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milk -
Click on the drop down button next to the search box, and click on Find more providers. Google will be near the top of the page that is returned - tick it and submit the page. That is all. http://www.codeproject.com/script/profile/upload/1363/FindProviders.jpg[^]
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkMaybe I have to try a litle bit more. I now see on the right side an option to choose Google. But I have to choose it every time I start the explorer. Standard is 'Live Search(Standard)'. But maybe I can change - I'll try. Thanks, Gerhard PS: I found it. It's been a little hard, cause I'm using the german version. But thanks's again;)
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ensger wrote:
I used Alt-F4 to close the actual window, but that is not the problem. It's one of many points.
What is the issue you have with ALT+F4? It is not clear from your messages. ALT+F4 will *always* close the entire application [window], whether it is IE, Firefox, or anything else. If you want to close only one window/tab then the shortcut is and always has been CTRL+F4.
ensger wrote:
want to have the Google-bar. I was asked to choose a search-engine while downloading, but google was not there!!
Do you mean the Google Toolbar, or having Google in the built-in IE7 toolbar? Because if it is the latter, then you just add it in from the menu. It takes all of five seconds and Google is your default search provider. :confused:
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkDavid Wulff wrote:
ALT+F4 will *always* close the entire application
Actually, if you have IE6 (which I'm still using), and you have two windows open (eg: one on CodeProject, and one on Google), pressing Alt+F4 will only close the IE window that has the focus. In my example, if I'm looking at the Google window and press Alt+F4, it will just close that window - the Code Project IE window stays open. I guess IE6 opens multiple instances of itself (incidentally, I notice that Word 2003 reacts this way to Alt+F4 too). Anyway, that's what the original poster is complaining about. HTH. :)
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David Wulff wrote:
ALT+F4 will *always* close the entire application
Actually, if you have IE6 (which I'm still using), and you have two windows open (eg: one on CodeProject, and one on Google), pressing Alt+F4 will only close the IE window that has the focus. In my example, if I'm looking at the Google window and press Alt+F4, it will just close that window - the Code Project IE window stays open. I guess IE6 opens multiple instances of itself (incidentally, I notice that Word 2003 reacts this way to Alt+F4 too). Anyway, that's what the original poster is complaining about. HTH. :)
Perhaps I poorly worded it -- better would have been 'application window'. A window is a frame, if a window has the desktop as its parent then I would consider it a separate application window. If a window has the same application as its parent then it is a child window. Office (since Office 2000) and IE6 are exclusively MTI (Multiple Top-Level Interface) applications, IE7 when using tabs is an MDI application. In IE7 each tab is within the same application window, so the behaviour of ALT+F4 is the same in both IE6, IE7, and most other Windows applications. If you open a new window in IE7, rather than a new tab, then again ALT+F4 will consistently close the entire application window.
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milk -
Maybe I have to try a litle bit more. I now see on the right side an option to choose Google. But I have to choose it every time I start the explorer. Standard is 'Live Search(Standard)'. But maybe I can change - I'll try. Thanks, Gerhard PS: I found it. It's been a little hard, cause I'm using the german version. But thanks's again;)
Select "Change Search Defaults" from that menu (bottom option). In the dialog, select Google, then click Set Default. Then click OK. Now Google will be the default search provider.
Stability. What an interesting concept. -- Chris Maunder
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Why has Microsoft abandoned the incredibly useful 'What is this?' help that used to be found in almost every dialog? Previously you would click on the '?' button on a dialog's control bar then click on a control, and it would helpfully popup with a paragraph or two describing what that control did, what you need to enter there, etc. Now it just launches an entire help file, and you have dig through pages of links and information to find the help relevant to the control you want. Microsoft used to have both a '?' and a 'Help' button on all their dialogs. Now they seem to be killing off all the help buttons and raping the 'What is this?' help to take their place. X| If Microsoft are already doing it then context-sensitive help is all but dead now. It is a shame, and a real backwards step IMO. :( Is there any official justification given for this?
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkDavid Wulff wrote:
If Microsoft are already doing it then context-sensitive help is all but dead now. It is a shame, and a real backwards step IMO.
Was easier to drop support than come out with a halfway decent way to create HTML help. :~ :rolleyes:
I'd love to help, but unfortunatley I have prior commitments monitoring the length of my grass. :Andrew Bleakley:
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ensger wrote:
I used Alt-F4 to close the actual window, but that is not the problem. It's one of many points.
What is the issue you have with ALT+F4? It is not clear from your messages. ALT+F4 will *always* close the entire application [window], whether it is IE, Firefox, or anything else. If you want to close only one window/tab then the shortcut is and always has been CTRL+F4.
ensger wrote:
want to have the Google-bar. I was asked to choose a search-engine while downloading, but google was not there!!
Do you mean the Google Toolbar, or having Google in the built-in IE7 toolbar? Because if it is the latter, then you just add it in from the menu. It takes all of five seconds and Google is your default search provider. :confused:
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milk -
Actually, Ctrl+W will close the current tab in Firefox. Firefox will also warn you if try to close more than one tab.
bendodge wrote:
Actually, Ctrl+W will close the current tab in Firefox
So will CTRL+TAB, the recomended Windows' shortcut. The CTRL+W behaviour is identical in IE7.
bendodge wrote:
Firefox will also warn you if try to close more than one tab
So does IE7...
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milk -
bendodge wrote:
Actually, Ctrl+W will close the current tab in Firefox
So will CTRL+TAB, the recomended Windows' shortcut. The CTRL+W behaviour is identical in IE7.
bendodge wrote:
Firefox will also warn you if try to close more than one tab
So does IE7...
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milk -
Why has Microsoft abandoned the incredibly useful 'What is this?' help that used to be found in almost every dialog? Previously you would click on the '?' button on a dialog's control bar then click on a control, and it would helpfully popup with a paragraph or two describing what that control did, what you need to enter there, etc. Now it just launches an entire help file, and you have dig through pages of links and information to find the help relevant to the control you want. Microsoft used to have both a '?' and a 'Help' button on all their dialogs. Now they seem to be killing off all the help buttons and raping the 'What is this?' help to take their place. X| If Microsoft are already doing it then context-sensitive help is all but dead now. It is a shame, and a real backwards step IMO. :( Is there any official justification given for this?
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkBecause they asked themselves: "Is anyone actually using that?". And the answer was obvious. I remember the only time I used that button was out of sheer curiosity. ;P
Asynchronously daydreaming...
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Because they asked themselves: "Is anyone actually using that?". And the answer was obvious. I remember the only time I used that button was out of sheer curiosity. ;P
Asynchronously daydreaming...
So when you are faced with a dialog like this one (below), how do you find information about one of the fields? Pressing the '?' button just loads the home page for the help system. http://www.codeproject.com/script/profile/upload/1363/Options.jpg[^]
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milk -
Why has Microsoft abandoned the incredibly useful 'What is this?' help that used to be found in almost every dialog? Previously you would click on the '?' button on a dialog's control bar then click on a control, and it would helpfully popup with a paragraph or two describing what that control did, what you need to enter there, etc. Now it just launches an entire help file, and you have dig through pages of links and information to find the help relevant to the control you want. Microsoft used to have both a '?' and a 'Help' button on all their dialogs. Now they seem to be killing off all the help buttons and raping the 'What is this?' help to take their place. X| If Microsoft are already doing it then context-sensitive help is all but dead now. It is a shame, and a real backwards step IMO. :( Is there any official justification given for this?
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkAre you using a beta or full version? Right clicking on a control in theory should give you a result or hitting F1 e.g. after a control/checkbox click or listbox item highlight. If they've left it out then, agreed... that is seriously sad!:mad: Hey maybe the new generation of humans have nano-CFM implants and never need to ask for help:laugh: I must take a look at Vista when theres more hardware driver support hehe »«»«» **©**heers »«»«»
These are a few of my favourite things...
Web Design
- XHTML»CSS
Web Programming
- JScript»JavaScript»XML»XSL»ASP.NET
Programming
- MsDOS(the Ark!)»2d Games-GML»VB.NET
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Are you using a beta or full version? Right clicking on a control in theory should give you a result or hitting F1 e.g. after a control/checkbox click or listbox item highlight. If they've left it out then, agreed... that is seriously sad!:mad: Hey maybe the new generation of humans have nano-CFM implants and never need to ask for help:laugh: I must take a look at Vista when theres more hardware driver support hehe »«»«» **©**heers »«»«»
These are a few of my favourite things...
Web Design
- XHTML»CSS
Web Programming
- JScript»JavaScript»XML»XSL»ASP.NET
Programming
- MsDOS(the Ark!)»2d Games-GML»VB.NET
All release versions here, no betas.
Ricky Dean wrote:
Right clicking on a control in theory should give you a result or hitting F1 after a click or list highlight.
It always used to be that way, but sadly not any longer.
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milk -
So when you are faced with a dialog like this one (below), how do you find information about one of the fields? Pressing the '?' button just loads the home page for the help system. http://www.codeproject.com/script/profile/upload/1363/Options.jpg[^]
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkThe options there seem self explanatory to me :wtf:. Now, if there were images instead of the actual text I would find myself in need of some extra information. Also in case of list items, you can always try and right-click them, see what that menu brings up (if any), or check if they have tooltips (this could be checked for all controls as well, since it's easier to have a tooltip than to have an extra button in your interface which would require extra mouse movment and clicks).
Asynchronously daydreaming...
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All release versions here, no betas.
Ricky Dean wrote:
Right clicking on a control in theory should give you a result or hitting F1 after a click or list highlight.
It always used to be that way, but sadly not any longer.
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkThats just crazy! You'de think they would of at least made it similar to a web tooltip. (like leaving the arrow over the control/checkbox/radio button/list item etc and after a short amount of time the tool tip appears) cheers
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Why has Microsoft abandoned the incredibly useful 'What is this?' help that used to be found in almost every dialog? Previously you would click on the '?' button on a dialog's control bar then click on a control, and it would helpfully popup with a paragraph or two describing what that control did, what you need to enter there, etc. Now it just launches an entire help file, and you have dig through pages of links and information to find the help relevant to the control you want. Microsoft used to have both a '?' and a 'Help' button on all their dialogs. Now they seem to be killing off all the help buttons and raping the 'What is this?' help to take their place. X| If Microsoft are already doing it then context-sensitive help is all but dead now. It is a shame, and a real backwards step IMO. :( Is there any official justification given for this?
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkWhy has Microsoft abandoned the incredibly useful 'What is this?' help that used to be found in almost every dialog? Haven't tooltips made it at least partially redundant? I say partially, because IMO tooltips should only have a few words to describe a given control, but if that turns out not to be enough, then I'd say the What's This thingamaflinger should still be there to display a more complete sentence or two. In other words, I'm in complete agreement with you. I hardly ever use it, but when I do need it, I appreciate that it's there--otherwise, as you pointed out, the typical help file is so massive it's useless.
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As you've said, all the Visual Studio stuff does this (including everything based on it such as SQL Server Management Studio), but so does Office, Internet Explorer, and all of their other flagship products. I can't find any 'What is this?' buttons in Vista as an OS.
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkThey added voice recognition. You're supposed to scream at it. But I've heard it's hard of hearing so you have to scream really really loud.
Todd Smith
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ensger wrote:
I used Alt-F4 to close the actual window, but that is not the problem. It's one of many points.
What is the issue you have with ALT+F4? It is not clear from your messages. ALT+F4 will *always* close the entire application [window], whether it is IE, Firefox, or anything else. If you want to close only one window/tab then the shortcut is and always has been CTRL+F4.
ensger wrote:
want to have the Google-bar. I was asked to choose a search-engine while downloading, but google was not there!!
Do you mean the Google Toolbar, or having Google in the built-in IE7 toolbar? Because if it is the latter, then you just add it in from the menu. It takes all of five seconds and Google is your default search provider. :confused:
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkYou can use Ctrl+W to close individual windows as well. Just a hint though: if you're using IE7 there was a bug with the Google Toolbar that stopped the "Open in new tab" feature working. I don't know if it's been fixed because I haven't downloaded the toolbar to try. Back to the original, I stopped using the "What is this?" feature quite a while back. I got sick and tired of getting "There is no help topic associated with this item." I figure if nobody's using it outside Redmond (or inside Redmond for that matter), why carry on supporting it?
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Why has Microsoft abandoned the incredibly useful 'What is this?' help that used to be found in almost every dialog? Previously you would click on the '?' button on a dialog's control bar then click on a control, and it would helpfully popup with a paragraph or two describing what that control did, what you need to enter there, etc. Now it just launches an entire help file, and you have dig through pages of links and information to find the help relevant to the control you want. Microsoft used to have both a '?' and a 'Help' button on all their dialogs. Now they seem to be killing off all the help buttons and raping the 'What is this?' help to take their place. X| If Microsoft are already doing it then context-sensitive help is all but dead now. It is a shame, and a real backwards step IMO. :( Is there any official justification given for this?
Ðavid Wulff What kind of music should programmers listen to?
Join the Code Project Last.fm group | dwulff
I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milkOne of the most surprising things that's come from recent usability research is how infrequently users use help. They've also found a very strong direct relationship between experience and the use of help. As an extension to that, when users do resort to help, it's rarely to identify a specific UI element, but rather to solve a specific problem. In other words, most users don't end up in a dialog asking "what does this check box item do"? What users want to know is how to accomplish specific tasks; the help for Microsoft Office has gone in this direction and has gotten very good. Vista is taking this to the next step and in some cases will interactively walk you through the solution.
Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
