I have demonstrated the differences between DMX3 and DMX4 to several sets of end-users and managers and I am consistently getting the same kind of comments about usability:

Without the awareness that this interface is fundamentally different from a standard web interface they are lost on how to use it. Moreover, when using the AJAX controls users (who do understand how to use Windows Explorer) are frustrated by certain akward movements.

Specifically, here is the feedback I have received:

- Select/Multi-select is not intuitively obvious for a web interface. If a checkbox were visbile on the lines that are selected it would clear up the confusion.

- When multiple lines are selected all single select operations should be available on a right-click (previously reported).

- Within a single line there should be clickable icon or link to open the line. Users do not understand that they require a single-click to select and a double-click to open.

- For all selected lines, buttons are necessary on the module (header or footer) instead of (or in addtion to) the right-click menu. (Also, the extra movement on the right-click menu to select the Item, then action is annoying.).

- All managers and administrators have expressed a desire to hide the details pane.

- Soft delete vs. Hard delete can be a problem. When the administrators want all deletes to be hard they would like an option to have all deletes be Hard Deletes. If Hard/Soft deletes are implemented, only approval role users should see the soft deletes. Soft deletes are also not dim enough to distinguish them from active files on many displays.

- Administrators have requested the ability to completely hide the folder (tree view) pane.

- Finally, I had 2 comments about the icons in the menus. Those users would like to be able to optionally turn the icons off.

Hi Lance,

I'm sorry you feel this way about DMX 4. I spent about a year to get the product in this direction and from your comments I understand your users would rather have DMX 3. The whole exercise of DMX 4 was to preserve some of the good of DMX 3 and move to the vernacular of Windows Explorer. The assumption being that this would be closer to a user's experience and less of a mind leap. Hence the folder tree, the double click, the icons, etc. From your writings that assumption would be invalidated. Do you not think your users would be happier with DMX 3?

Kind regards,
Peter Donker

Peter,

Don't get me wrong. We really like DMX4. The feedback we are getting is to address a diverse body of users. Expert users prefer the ability to use more Windows-like controls. Also, WebDAV is crucial in order to do the synchronization tasks specified for this project. DMX3 is not really an option.

The recommendations I have posted here do not take anthing away from the improvements that DMX4 offers.

However, in order to accomodate our customers requirements, we need to provide controls that novice users will also understand. The requests for these UI features should all be selectable so that they will only appear if the module instance is set to use them.

Since these are part of my customer's requirements for implementation, not part of the standard product, my customer is willing to pay for these enhancements.

I am providing this feedback so you can see what users in the field are saying. I have demonstrated DMX3 and DMX4 to 4 potential customers. The comments came from users that range from novice to system developers and administrators. What I found interesting is that I received the same types of comments from every demonstration and from every level of user. So, given the customer feedback, it would make DMX4 attractive to a wider base of customers if it offers both the advanced windows-like functionallity as well as the legacy type UI.

Fortunately, I have a customer that is willing to fund some of these features.

OK, that clears that up. Thanks. What I could see is a 'transplant' of the DMX 3 interface on DMX 4. That would come close to your needs, no? The elegance of the DMX 3 interface was in the use of querystring parameters instead of Ajax for control. The advantage is that you can link to any step in any process. With DMX 4 this is no longer possible, but the whole UI experience is closer to a Windows app.

Let's see if others wish to chip in on this subject.

Peter

Hi Peter,

Adding DMX3-like UI as an option would be great. However, with a few tweaks DMX4 may not be so far away. (One of the DMX4 features that is really great is that you can list more files in a smaller space.)

The biggest thing that is not obvoius to a novice user is that select works differently in DMX4. If you (optionally) add a checkbox to the beginning of each line and then check it on the AJAX select the user will have the normal visual clues that DMX3 provided.

Next, if you embed some hyperlinked icons on each line (download and details) like DMX3, then clicking on the hyperlink could skip the AJAX select property and launch the hyperlink action.

Finally, being able to hide the detail and treeview panes will help restricted and novice users that should not have much access.

ITEM icons along the top would be a nice touch but it is the lowest priority because the Folder menu item acts the same as a rollover/dropdown menu. I would probably just change it to an Item menu when there is no TreeView displayed

I know I may not be explaining this very clearly so would it help if I "mocked-up" the screen?

Thanx,

Lance

Hi Lance,

I think I see where you're taking this. I want to add a column management facility which could include a checkbox column I guess. I'd have to devote more time to that. I've also wanted to add switches for the three major panels. These enhancements would already get you quite far. My first priority, however, is to weed out any bugs from the current release. Bug reports are now less frequent, but it's a good idea to let it live for yet another Month before making new changes. The install base is rapidly growing and it's encouraging to see the current version (04.00.03) is already leading to a lot less support calls than the .0 version. For further planning keep in mind that I'm off to OpenForce beginning of November so I'll not want to release a .0 version just before that. Instead, I'll keep on collecting feedback and making a selection for implementation for a release in November/December.

Peter

[Bump]

 

"- Within a single line there should be clickable icon or link to open the line. Users do not understand that they require a single-click to select and a double-click to open."

"- For all selected lines, buttons are necessary on the module (header or footer) instead of (or in addtion to) the right-click menu. (Also, the extra movement on the right-click menu to select the Item, then action is annoying.)."" Next, if you embed some hyperlinked icons on each line (download and details) like DMX3, then clicking on the hyperlink could skip the AJAX select property and launch the hyperlink action."

         [CB] - And allow for right click on the download icon to 'copy shortcut'.

"- Administrators have requested the ability to completely hide the folder (tree view) pane."

 

-Collis