June 22, 2004
Option dialog with handedness
I've started adding more handedness support in my apps. One of the recent changes I've been experimenting with is adding left and right handed layouts for the options dialog.
Here's the normal "mouse" layout I've been using to date:
What I've discovered is that this traditional layout for an options dialog is fine for left handed pen users, but is a bit awkward for right handed users like myself.
The problem is that when I tap on the left list to select a new category my hand is occluding the property pages on the right.
To get around this problem I've started re-arranging the dialog controls when the user is right-handed. Here is how the options dialog appears for right handed users, for instance:
You can determine which handedness the current user has set, by calling SystemParametersInfo:
SystemParametersInfo(SPI_GETMENUDROPALIGNMENT, 0, &gfRightHanded, 0);
Here's more from MSDN.
Posted by Loren at June 22, 2004 12:29 AMIt is definitely easier for right handed users. I wonder if it might impede work flow though (at least for English readers) since the tendency is for the eyes to focus at the top-left then scan right but that may just be a trained habit.
Posted by: Kollen Glynn on June 24, 2004 07:22 PMI wondered about the left-to-right issue too, so that's partly why I coded it up. I've been using it for awhile without a hitch, although I think what's missing now is some type of graphical indication that the list is *here*. Right now, the list has about the same visual weight as the property pages on the other side. Particularly when the list is on the right side, I think some additional visual clue that says "pick here" would help. But after using the list this way for awhile, it helps to reduce the arm movement.
Posted by: Loren on June 25, 2004 11:26 AM