Incluír entradas no menú do aplicativo

Figura 2-1O menú do aplicativo

The Applications menu, which appears on the panel at the top of the screen by default, is the primary mechanism by which users discover and run applications. You place entries in this menu by installing an appropriate .desktop file.

The menu is arranged into a set of categories, such as Accessories and Games. Applications are placed in particular categories by the set of keywords they include in their .desktop file.

Guías
  • Asigne o seu aplicativo a só unha categoría no menú Aplicativos
  • For application suites that wrap a number of smaller sub-applications into a single window, such as Evolution or OpenOffice.org, add a menu item for each sub-application. For example, the mail, calendar, and tasklist in Evolution should each have their own menu item.

Technical details can be found in the freedesktop.org menu and desktop entry specifications.

2.1.1. Nomes do elemento de menú

2.1.1.1. Inclúa unha descrición funcional no nome de menú

In the menu item name, include a description of functionality in addition to the proper name of the application. This is especially useful novice users, and to users of systems where numerous applications are installed by default. Users are more likely to find your application if the name that appears in the menu includes a description of its functionality.

For example, user testing of MIT's Athena system revealed that users had difficulty finding the file manager because they were unfamiliar with the name "Nautilus". Because users did not associate the word "Nautilus" with the concept "file manager" the menu item did not help them. This is an example of not using the user's language. See Sección 1.3 ― Crear unha coincidencia entre o seu aplicativo e o mundo real for more on this topic.

Exemplo 2-1Inclúa unha descrición funcional nos nomes de menú
Elemento de menú orixinal Elemento de menú revisado
Epiphany Navegador web Epiphany

2.1.1.2. Só poña información útil no nome de menú

Do not include words like "GNOME", "X Window System", "GTK+" or other platform details in Application menu names. The user probably already knows what platform they are using, and if they don't, then application names are not the right place to inform them.

Exemplo 2-2Elimine a información non esencial dos nomes de menú
Elemento de menú orixinal Elemento de menú revisado
Visor de imaxes de GNOME Visor de imaxes
Editor de blogs GTK Editor de blogs

Do not include technical details when the user does not need to know them, or can infer them from context. Avoid technical jargon unless the application is to be used only by a technical audience.

For example, when both a client and a server for something are listed in the menus, remove the word "Client" from the menu name for the client.

Exemplo 2-3Elimine argot técnico dos nomes de menú
Elemento de menú orixinal Elemento de menú revisado
Cliente de batalla naval de GNOME Batalla naval
Servidor de Batalla naval de GNOME Servidor multixogador de Batalla naval
Cliente VideoLAN de GNOME Reprodutor de filmes VideoLAN
Forneza a información correcta

Try to imagine what words users will be looking for when they select your application from the Applications menu. That is the information that should be in the menu name. For example, a user wanting to play a movie will probably not be looking for the word "Client". On the other hand, a user wanting to transmit movies from their computer may well look for the word "Server". Avoid thinking of the applications menu as an ontology!

2.1.1.3. Formatos do nome de menú

  1. If your application's proper name is already descriptive of its functionality, and not just suggestive, use the format: Application Name

    Exemplo 2-4Usando nomes de aplicativos como nome de menú
    Nome do aplicativo Nome do menú
    Dicionario Dicionario
    Ferramenta de busca Ferramenta de busca
  2. If there is a succinct functional description of your application, use the format: ApplicationName FunctionalDescription

    Exemplo 2-5Usar unha descrición funcional nos nomes de menú
    Nome do aplicativo Nome do elemento de menú
    O GIMP Editor de imaxes de GIMP
    Subalicativo de correo de Evolution Correo de Evolution
    AbiWord Procesador de textos de AbiWord
    Galeon Navegador Web Galeon
    Gramps Xenealoxía Gramps
    AisleRiot Solitario AisleRiot
  3. A few applications, particularly games, do not have appropriate functional descriptions (but note that many games do). In this case, use Application Name as the menu name.

    Exemplo 2-6Using application's name as menu name where no functional description exists
    Nome do aplicativo Nome do elemento de menú
    Bomber Maze Bomber Maze

2.1.2. Suxestións dos elementos de menú

Tooltips help provide users with enough information to run the right application. Many users use tooltips to explore a new environment.

Provide a tooltip for each Application menu item you add, following these guidelines:

Guías
  • Phrase the tooltip as an imperative verb, for example "design", "write" or "check".
  • Describe the most important tasks users can accomplish with your application.
  • While tooltips should not be verbose, they should be longer and more descriptive than the item's name.
Exemplo 2-7Exemplos de suxestións para aplicativos de GNOME
Aplicativo Suxestión de elemento de menú
Mapa de caracteres Inserir caracteres especiais nos documentos
Memprof Comprobe se os seus aplicativos teñen fugas de memoria
Same Gnome Arrange long chains of similarly-colored balls to eliminate them
Cliente de batalla naval de GNOME Find and sink enemy ships in this networked version of Battleship