Blooper 6: Features Exclusively on Toolbar Buttons

From GUI Bloopers, by Jeff Johnson (Morgan Kaufman Publishers, 2000). Used without permission.

What's wrong with this?

• It violates users' expectations about availability of commands.
• It doesn't allow for hierarchical grouping of commands.
• It doesn't provide information about keyboard equivalents.
• Some users prefer using menus.
• The advantage of using a toolbar (easy access to the most frequently used commands) is diluted.

Design Rule: Primary Windows should always include a menubar.

What's right about this?

All commands which are available to the user are in the menubar. Those which are most frequently used are in the toolbar.

The frequency of usage can be determined with user studies, and individual users may be able to customize the toolbar to serve their own needs.

March 21, 2005