Mr. Noel, Please take no personal offence.
Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk] The buttons were taken out at the time (in X1) to redo the control bar and remove excess clutter.
So the "excess" clutter was removed, what type of clutter was deemed worthy?
Consequently we got the non-configurable command-ribbon because new users were overwhelmed with the possibilities represented by the non-customized out-of-the-box cluttered-with-all-possibilities button bars?
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An assessment of clutter is based in knowledge of the work to be done.
webster defines clutter as “to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness.”
"clutter is anything that is disorganized"
"clutter is anything you don’t need"
"a state of disorder"
Synonyms = untidiness, mess, disorder, confusion, litter, muddle, disarray, jumble, hotchpotch
For me All of these definitions describe the X Series UI. Command-Ribbon items cannot be organized, are not needed, reduced effectiveness (especially the menus), and are distracting, extra-click menus everywhere,...
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Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk] That said I think with touch screens its not an unreasonable request to want buttons for undo/redo ...
But not for mouse users? ;)
When watching the screen it is way easier to click a button than look away from the screen to be assured ones' fingers are on the correct keys. Way inefficient.
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Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk] At the time it was determined that most users do not use those buttons but use shortcut keys.
This is the first I read about this consideration.
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You are saying, MOST of the, about 40,000, at the time, 7/8 Sonar users did not use the standard out-of-the-box-not-customized cluttered-with-all-possibilities button bars?
Most meaning 60%? 80%? At 80% that means 20% DID use these buttons bars. About 8,000 users.
I would have been INCLUDED in the group that did NOT use the standard out-of-the-box-not-customized cluttered-with-all-possibilities button bars. Because I do NOT use the out-of-the-box button bars for any program.
I DO still use my 8.5.3 customized button bars spread across both screens, positioned where needed, so I do not have to look away from my work.
The X series Command-Ribbon covers more space and provides less convienience. It is true clutter (clutter is anything you don’t need).
The single row of customized button bars I use in 8.5.3, and the row of screen-context buttons use less space and provide more value. These button bars have links to what I ACTUALLY USE most often, as close to the work my eyes are looking at. Most Sonar key commands require looking at the keyboard. A distraction best. (I do use many standard windows key commands.
With most of the users claiming to use key commands, the same assessment should have been made about the command-ribbon: Most users do NOT use the command-ribbon, and therefore it is "excess" clutter.. They learn key commands. Or, more probably, for most of us, we find the item on a menu.
So why does the command-ribbon exist?
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Just reviewing THIS thread:: How many thousands of user hours, and user dollars spent, to make the program do what it usedto? Buy a Midi controller with undo button, map a midi key, buy foot controllers, use remote access pads, get an extra program,....
All this could be fixed with a couple of programming hours.
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Is the same to be understood for the removal of color customization? Somebody who could-not-be-refused figgered most users did not use colors? So customization was not needed?
And it has only taken nearly 4 years of complaining to get some bit of user color preferences?
Don't get me started.
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