GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 172300
gnome-ui-properties "Detachable Menu bars"off by default, Handleboxes for Menus.
Last modified: 2007-09-21 23:42:35 UTC
gnome-ui-properties should include an option "Detachable Menu bars" http://mail.gnome.org/archives/usability/2005-March/msg00075.html After a long discussion on the usability mailing list I feel that the infrastructure to allow handle boxes on menus should be put in place but that it should be turned off by default. this is merely exposing UI for an existing but largely ignored Gconf setting. By having it off by default the change can be introduced without upsetting the status quo. When gtk toolbars become more flexible and allow more varied docking setups this will start to become more useful. Having this off by default reduces the risk of accidentally rearranging the toolbars. It has been suggested that it might also be wise to hide toolbar handles by default but I'll file a seperate bug report for that later (and probably bring it up on the desktop-devel list).
Is detaching the menus something really useful for users?
Ccing usability, is "detaching the menus" an useful feature for users?
I've never been asked by anyone if this is possible. If I told - for example - my parents that it was possible, I think they'd just say "OK" and never think about it again, and most certainly never use it. The only application menus they use on a daily basis is the Bookmarks menu in Epiphany and the File menu in AbiWord. First of all, I think it's important to clarify what problem this functionality is trying to solve. I have no idea. I agree though that consistency is good, and also that it should be off by default in any case - just as the handle on all toolbars should be off by default. I also think they should be handled by the same option in gnome-ui-properties, and not two seperate ones - if any.
IMO, this could be added to GConf, and applied by gnome-settings-daemon, but not in the UI. I don't think I've ever seen anyone use this functionality in a way that shouldn't be solved in the application. Eg. a bookmarks sidebar in epiphany, more toolbars items/customisation for Abiword.
Is this bug made obsolete by the comments in bug 408295?
(In reply to comment #5) > Is this bug made obsolete by the comments in bug 408295? This bug is about detachable menus, bug 408295 about detachable toolbars. I'm still not convinced by the detachable menus (not anymore than I am about detachable toolbars...).
Ah ok, I assumed this bug meant "detachable menubars". However, I agree that if we are currently removing the detachable toolbars option, it makes little sense to be adding a detachable menus option.
Closing, then.
Oh well, I'll miss this old report. Maybe some future version of GTK will implement better toolbars without bothering developers with silly details and this whole issue will be as irrelevant as it always should have been. Thanks anyway though.