[Sheets-devel] So what do you think about...

[Stephen C. <sj...@br...>]

I've been thinking about making some UI changes to sheets again, and wanted to run it past some people.

Here are some of the problems I have been thinking about:
1. Middle-clicking is cool, but an awkward gesture for new users
2. Rolling over the text to see what gets highlighted so you can click on it is annoying
3. When you are "navigating" code, sometimes it is easier to use the keyboard than the mouse

So here is my proposal (feel free to complain loudly):
1. Make editing explicit.  You can't type into a fragment until you have turned editing on.
2. Use the left mouse button for navigating codelinks in non-editing mode.  Control-left click while editing (with a tooltip to remind users)
3. Underline all codelinks upon display (rather than waiting for a mouseover)
4. In non-editing mode, typing letters on the keyboard navigates to the link by that name and pressing return follows the highlighted link (sort of like the link navigation feature in mozilla firebird)

Alternative proposal:
1. Don't muck with the editing mode because it is fine like it is now.
2. Add tooltips on codelinks that reminds users to middle click, and possibly has some useful information about the link.
3. Underline all links upon display (and don't bother turning things blue, just underline).
4. Add a special link navigation mode that you enter by pressing some key combination, which temporarily turns on the keypress navigates links mode.

Anyway, just shooting off some ideas.  No promises about actually changing the behavior yet.  :)

--Steve