Technobabbles I try to sound like I know what I'm talking about. Don't be fooled.

Google Docs Gets Menus

Apparently commands in Google Docs weren't organized well enough. Actually, it was more than apparent. Things that would take me milliseconds in Microsoft Word (on account of the fact that I've used it so long) used to take seconds in Docs. The menu structure just wasn't intuitive.

Well, the Docs team did some card-sort studies (part of usability research) and figured out a better way to organize menu commands. Instead of just having one File menu, the top of the application is now graced by a full complement of menus, Office-style (Microsoft pre-2007 or OpenOffice.org, take your pick; they're pretty similar).

I'd say it makes for a pretty neat interface (even better than the last redesign). And what's more, they've brought back the old Save/Save & Close buttons. Sadly, the Discard Changes button is still MIA. I liked that; it kept me from saving unnecessary revisions. Oh well.

So, behold the new toolbar, with menus:

Slick, eh? Now all they have to do is port the changes to Spreadsheets and Presentations.

Apparently commands in Google Docs weren't organized well enough. Actually, it was more than apparent. Things that would take me milliseconds in Microsoft Word (on account of the fact that I've used it so long) used to take seconds in Docs. The menu structure just wasn't intuitive. Well, the Docs team did some card-sort studies (part of usability research) and figured out a better way to organize menu commands. Instead of just having one File menu, the top of the application is now graced by a full complement of menus, Office-style (Microsoft pre-2007 or OpenOffice.org, take your pick; they're pretty similar). I'd say it makes for a pretty neat interface (even better than the last redesign). And what's more, they've brought back the old Save/Save & Close buttons. Sadly, the Discard Changes button is still MIA. I liked that; it kept me from saving unnecessary revisions. Oh well. So, behold the new toolbar, with menus: Slick, eh? Now all they have to do is port the changes to Spreadsheets and Presentations. :D