...
The list of actions is visually divided into two sections. The upper section contains actions relevant to the selected item, while the lower section contains the global actions offering offers copy & paste and undo/redo.
...
In order to show all available actions (and not just the common ones), you click on a link button located right above the section containing the global actionsclipboard. The new actions are then sliding in and are appended to the list of common actions. Making them visible thus moves down the second section with the global actionsboth copy&paste and undo/redo. The link button stays in place, but now offers to reduce the list - a click slides-out the additional actions again.
...
Layout and usage of Copy & Paste and Undo/Redo
Copy & Paste and Undo/Redo belong to the list of global actions. They only show up always appear in tuples (pairs, actually). They are thus also show up on one shown on a single line to both group them and to make more space available to the other actions.
The These action pairs use a mechanism on mouse hover to inform the user what precise action will take place should he choose to select ita particular action. If a user moves the mouse over one of these buttonsmember of an action pair, it is visually emphasized and takes over most of the line to show more details on the action it will run.
| Mockup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
...
The ability to show more details is a valuable preview of what will be done and required to build trust into these functions. Only if you know what you're going to e.g. going to undo will you be ready to actually undo it. This is especially true if the target of the undo action is no longer visible.
Note that this function work on mouse hover and thus fails on touch devices. Thus, a tooltip with the same detailed action is also shown after a short delay if the user tapstap-and-holds the action. Likewise, the tooltip also appear on a right mouse click as described on the pages on the clipboard and undo/redo.
The Preview
The preview takes over the entire lower area of the sidebar, which is always bottom aligned. The preview may be minimized to make more room available for actions and possibly other units currently visible.
...
The sidebar can be collapsed so it uses up less space. When collapsed, only icons for the common and global actions actions, copy&paste, undo/redo as well as an icon to show the preview in a popup window are visible. A collapsed sidebar doesn't support the display of all available actions or of additional information on an item.
...
Please note that except for the global functions actions in the second section of the upper area of the sidebar, all icons related to actions shall stay in place to avoid confusion. The use animations avoids disorienting Use animations to avoid a disorientation of the user.
Showing notifications
The following definitions ensure that:
...
- first scroll the upper area to the top so that the list of actions becomes visible,
- then transition from showing all actions to just he common ones
- and finally use an animation to collapse the sidebar
- during which the side-by-side arranged global actionscopy&paste and undo/redo icons fade out and the vertically layouted laid out icons fade in
Note that one important goal during the transition from expanded to collapsed appearance that the icons of all common actions stay in place.