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author | Jean-Baptiste Queru <jbq@google.com> | 2009-07-31 17:38:20 -0700 |
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committer | Jean-Baptiste Queru <jbq@google.com> | 2009-07-31 17:38:20 -0700 |
commit | 5c1207be90fdf296c1b83034b7c68915e1749284 (patch) | |
tree | e5679f6183458d8179821d5615dabafcb959704d /docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines | |
parent | a8675f67e33bc7337d148358783b0fd138b501ff (diff) | |
download | frameworks_base-5c1207be90fdf296c1b83034b7c68915e1749284.zip frameworks_base-5c1207be90fdf296c1b83034b7c68915e1749284.tar.gz frameworks_base-5c1207be90fdf296c1b83034b7c68915e1749284.tar.bz2 |
donut snapshot
Diffstat (limited to 'docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines')
-rw-r--r-- | docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/icon_design.jd | 240 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/index.jd | 8 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/menu_design.jd | 507 |
3 files changed, 527 insertions, 228 deletions
diff --git a/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/icon_design.jd b/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/icon_design.jd index 155684a..5f0a278 100644 --- a/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/icon_design.jd +++ b/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/icon_design.jd @@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ application can use the standard icons by referencing them as resources.</li> <li style="margin-top:4px;"><a href="#dodonts">General guidelines</a></li> <li><a href="#templatespack">Using the Icon Templates Pack</a></li> -<li><a href="#file">Icon appendix</a> +<li><a href="#iconappendix">Icon appendix</a> <ol> <li><a href="#launcherapx">Launcher icons</a></li> <li><a href="#menuapx">Menu icons</a></li> @@ -989,25 +989,9 @@ simply look at image filenames, which use the format <table class="image-caption"> <tr> - <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_add.png" title="ic_menu_add" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Add</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_archive.png" title="ic_menu_archive" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Archive</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_attachment.png" title="ic_menu_attachment" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Attach</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_back.png" title="ic_menu_back" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Back</div></td> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> @@ -1024,9 +1008,6 @@ simply look at image filenames, which use the format <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_close_clear_cancel.png" title="ic_menu_close_clear_cancel" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Clear / Close / Cancel / Discard </div></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_compass.png" title="ic_menu_compass" alt="Android asset" /> @@ -1036,40 +1017,24 @@ simply look at image filenames, which use the format <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_delete.png" title="ic_menu_delete" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Delete</div></td> - + <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_directions.png" title="ic_menu_directions" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Directions</div></td> - + +</tr> +<tr> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_edit.png" title="ic_menu_edit" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Edit</div></td> -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_favorite.png" title="ic_menu_favorite" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Favorite</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_forward.png" title="ic_menu_forward" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Forward</div></td> - - <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_gallery.png" title="ic_menu_gallery" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Gallery</div></td> -</tr> -<tr> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_goto.png" title="ic_menu_goto" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Go to</div></td> - <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_help.png" title="ic_menu_help" alt="Android asset" /> @@ -1077,16 +1042,6 @@ simply look at image filenames, which use the format <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_recent_history.png" title="ic_menu_recent_history" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">History</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_home.png" title="ic_menu_home" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Home</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_info_details.png" title="ic_menu_info_details" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Info / details</div></td> @@ -1094,14 +1049,6 @@ simply look at image filenames, which use the format <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_mapmode.png" title="ic_menu_mapmode" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Map mode</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_mark.png" title="ic_menu_mark" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Mark</div></td> - -</tr> -<tr> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> @@ -1113,11 +1060,8 @@ simply look at image filenames, which use the format <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_more.png" title="ic_menu_more" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">More</div></td> - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_play_clip.png" title="ic_menu_play_clip" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Play</div></td> - +</tr> +<tr> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_preferences.png" title="ic_menu_preferences" alt="Android asset" /> @@ -1125,11 +1069,6 @@ simply look at image filenames, which use the format <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_refresh.png" title="ic_menu_refresh" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Refresh</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_rotate.png" title="ic_menu_rotate" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Rotate</div></td> @@ -1138,9 +1077,6 @@ simply look at image filenames, which use the format <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_save.png" title="ic_menu_save" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Save</div></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_send.png" title="ic_menu_send" alt="Android asset" /> @@ -1158,26 +1094,15 @@ simply look at image filenames, which use the format <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_shuffle.png" title="ic_menu_shuffle" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Shuffle</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_upload.png" title="ic_menu_upload" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Upload</div></td> - + +</tr> +<tr> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_view.png" title="ic_menu_view" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">View</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/ic_menu_camera_video_view.png" title="ic_menu_camera_video_view" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Video</div></td> - -</tr> -<tr> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> @@ -1214,131 +1139,21 @@ or simply look at the image filename, which use the format <tr> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_data_connected_3g.png" title="stat_sys_data_connected_3g" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">3G</div></td> - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_signal_flightmode.png" title="stat_sys_signal_flightmode" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Airplane mode</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_alarm.png" title="stat_notify_alarm" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Alarm</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_data_bluetooth.png" title="stat_sys_data_bluetooth" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Bluetooth</div></td> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_data_bluetooth_connected.png" title="stat_sys_data_bluetooth_connected" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Bluetooth connected</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_calendar.png" title="stat_notify_calendar" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Calendar</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_disk_full.png" title="stat_notify_disk_full" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Disk full</div></td> - -</tr> -<tr> - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_data_connected_e.png" title="stat_sys_data_connected_e" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">EDGE</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_email_generic.png" title="stat_notify_email_generic" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Email</div></td> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_email.png" title="stat_notify_email" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Gmail</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_data_connected_g.png" title="stat_sys_data_connected_g" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">GPRS</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_chat.png" title="stat_notify_chat" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">IM</div></td> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_install_complete.png" title="stat_sys_install_complete" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Installation complete</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_musicplayer.png" title="stat_notify_musicplayer" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Music</div></td> - -</tr> -<tr> - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_r_signal_4.png" title="stat_sys_r_signal_4" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Roaming</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_signal_4.png" title="stat_sys_signal_4" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Signal</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_signal_null.png" title="stat_sys_signal_null" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Signal unavailable</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_ringer_silent_old.png" title="stat_sys_ringer_silent_old" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Silent mode</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_sms.png" title="stat_notify_sms" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">SMS/MMS</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_speakerphone.png" title="stat_sys_speakerphone" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Speaker phone</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_sync_anim0.png" title="stat_notify_sync_anim0" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Sync</div></td> - -</tr> -<tr> - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_sync_error.png" title="stat_notify_sync_error" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Sync error</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_data_usb.png" title="stat_sys_data_usb" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">USB connected</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_ringer_vibrate.png" title="stat_sys_ringer_vibrate" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Vibrate</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_voicemail.png" title="stat_notify_voicemail" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Voicemail</div></td> @@ -1349,32 +1164,6 @@ or simply look at the image filename, which use the format <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_wifi_signal_4.png" title="stat_sys_wifi_signal_4" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">WiFi</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_wifi_in_range.png" title="stat_notify_wifi_in_range" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">WiFi network available</div></td> - -</tr> -<tr> - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_wifi_unavailable.png" title="stat_sys_wifi_unavailable" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">WiFi unavailable</div></td> - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_battery_100.png" title="stat_sys_battery_100" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Battery 100%</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_battery_empty.png" title="stat_sys_battery_empty" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">Battery empty</div></td> - - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_phone_call.png" title="stat_sys_phone_call" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Call</div></td> @@ -1383,6 +1172,8 @@ or simply look at the image filename, which use the format <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_phone_call_forward.png" title="stat_sys_phone_call_forward" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Call forward</div></td> +</tr> +<tr> <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_phone_call_on_hold.png" title="stat_sys_phone_call_on_hold" alt="Android asset" /> @@ -1390,13 +1181,6 @@ or simply look at the image filename, which use the format <td class="image-caption-i image-list"> - <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_sys_gps_on.png" title="stat_sys_gps_on" alt="Android asset" /> - <div class="caption">GPS on</div></td> - -</tr> -<tr> - -<td class="image-caption-i image-list"> <img src="{@docRoot}images/icon_design/stat_notify_missed_call.png" title="stat_notify_missed_call" alt="Android asset" /> <div class="caption">Missed call</div></td> diff --git a/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/index.jd b/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/index.jd index 0b9d275..2d14fa6 100644 --- a/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/index.jd +++ b/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/index.jd @@ -39,6 +39,14 @@ graphics files and templates that will make your designer's life easier.</dd> multitasking, activity reuse, intents, the activity stack, and tasks. It covers this all from a high-level design perspective. </dd> + <dt><a href="{@docRoot}guide/practices/ui_guidelines/menu_design.html">Menu Design Guidelines</a> </dt> + <dd>Android applications make use of Option menus and Context menus + that enable users to perform operations and navigate to other parts + of your application or to other applications. These guidelines describe + the difference between Options and Context menus, how to arrange + menu items, when to put commands on-screen, and other details about + menu design. +</dd> </dl> diff --git a/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/menu_design.jd b/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/menu_design.jd new file mode 100644 index 0000000..518cea1 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/html/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/menu_design.jd @@ -0,0 +1,507 @@ +page.title=Menu Design Guidelines +@jd:body + +<div id="qv-wrapper"> +<div id="qv"> + +<h2>Menu design quickview</h2> + +<ul> + <li>An Options menu is for any commands that are global to the current activity. </li> + <li>A Context menu is for any commands that apply to the current selection. </li> + <li>Place the most frequently used operations first. </li> + <li>Put only the most important commands fixed on the screen. </li> + <li>The commands on the Context menu that appears when you touch & hold on an item should be duplicated on the activity you get to by a normal press on that item. +</ul> + + +<h2>In this document</h2> + +<ol> + <li><a href=#tour_of_the_menus>Tour of the Menus</a> + <ol> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#options_menu>Options Menu</a></li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#context_menu>Context Menu</a></li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#comparison_of_options_and_context_menus>Comparison of Options & Context Menus</a></li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#commands_fixed>Commands Fixed in an Activity Screen</a></li> + </ol> + </li> + <li><a href=#guidelines>Guidelines</a> + <ol> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#separate_commands>Separate specific from global commands</a></li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#most_frequently_used>Place most frequently used first</a></li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#dont_put_commands>Don't put commands <em>only</em> in a Context menu</li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#first_in_context_menu>First command in Context menu should be most intuitive</li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#selecting_content_item>Selecting an item should perform most intuitive operation</a></li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#context_menu_should_identify>A Context menu should identify the selected item</li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#most_important_commands>Put only most important commands fixed on the screen</a></li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#short_names>Use short names in Options icon menu</a></li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#a_dialog_should_not_have_an_options_menu>A dialog should not have Options menu</a></li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#do_not_substitute_message>If no Options menu, don't display message</a></li> + <li style="padding-top: 4px;"><a href=#dim_hide_menu_items>Dim or hide menu items not available</a></li> + </ol> + </li> +</ol> + +<h2>See also</h2> + +<ol> + <li><a href="http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2008/12/touch-mode.html">Touch mode</a></li> + <li><a href="{@docRoot}guide/practices/ui_guidelines/activity_task_design.html">Activity and Task Design</a></li> +</ol> + +</div> +</div> + +<p> + A menu holds a set of commands (user actions) that are normally hidden, and + are accessible by a button, key, or gesture. Menu commands provide a means + for performing operations and for navigating to other parts of your + application or other applications. Menus are useful for freeing screen space, + as an alternative to placing functionality and navigation, in buttons or other + user controls in the content area of your application. +</p> + +<p> + The Android system provides two types of menus you can use to provide + functionality or navigation. Between them, you should be able to organize + the functionality and navigation for your application. Briefly: + <ul> + <li>The <em>Options menu</em> contains primary functionality that applies + globally to the current activity or starts a related activity. + It is typically invoked by a user pressing a hard button, often labeled MENU.</li> + <li>The <em>Context menu</em> contains secondary functionality for the currently + selected item. It is typically invoked by a user's touch & hold + on an item. Like on the Options menu, the operation can run either + in the current or another activity.</li> + </ul> +</p> + +<p> + All but the simplest applications have menus. The system automatically + lays the menus out and provides standard ways for users to access them. + In this sense, they are familiar and dependable ways for users to access + functionality across all applications. All menus are panels that "float" + on top of the activity screen and are smaller than full screen, so that the + application is still visible around its edges. This is a visual reminder + that a menu is an intermediary operation that disappears once it's used. +</p> + +<p> + Let's start out with a quick tour of the menus. +</p> + +<h2 id="tour_of_the_menus">Tour of the Menus</h2> + +<blockquote> + <b>NOTE</b> - Your menus and screens might not look like those shown in this document; + they may vary from one version of Android or device to another. +</blockquote> + +<h3 id="options_menu">Options Menu</h3> + +<p> + The Options menu contains commands that apply globally across the current + activity, or can start another activity. They do not apply to a selected + item in the content (a <a href="#context_menu">Context menu</a> does that). +</p> + +<p> + On most devices, a user presses the MENU button to access the Options menu, + as shown in the screenshot below. To close the menu, the user presses + MENU again, or presses the BACK button. + In fact, to cancel out of any menu, press the BACK button. (Pressing the MENU + button or touching outside the menu also works.) Note that how to invoke this + menu may be different on different devices. +</p> + +<p> + Each + <a href="{@docRoot}guide/practices/ui_guidelines/activity_task_design.html#activities">activity</a> + activity has its own set of operations and therefore its own Options menu. + An application with multiple activities would have a different Options menu + for each activity. +</p> + +<p> + For example, in the message list view of an email program, the Options menu + might let you search the messages, compose a new message, refresh the list, + or change the email settings. The compose view of an email program would + have a different Options menu, such as adding a CC field, attaching a file, + or discarding the message. +</p> + +<p id="options_icon_expanded_menus"> + In order to handle a large number of menu items, the Options menu + progressively discloses them in two steps: +</p> + +<ul> + <li> + <b>Options icon menu</b> - The first press of the MENU button displays a + non-scrollable grid of icons at the bottom of the screen. (On the G1 + phone, up to 6 buttons typically appear.) + </li> + <li> + <b>Options expanded menu</b> - If the activity has more menu items than will + fit on the icon menu, then the last icon is labeled "More" — selecting it + displays a list that can contain any number of menu items and will scroll + as necessary. + </li> +</ul> + +<img src={@docRoot}images/menu_design/MenuDiagram.png> + +<p> + On some versions of Android, the user can display keyboard shortcuts in the + icon menu by long pressing the MENU button — the text in the icon menu + alternates between the command names and their keyboard shortcuts (if any). +</p> + +<h3 id="context_menu">Context Menu</h3> + +<p> + A Context menu is similar to a right-click context menu in a desktop + operating system. It is normally a shortcut that duplicates commands + found elsewhere. +</p> + +<p> + A user can touch & hold on content on the screen to + access a Context menu (if one exists), as shown in the screenshot below. + A Context menu is a list of menu items (commands) that can operate + on the selected content. The command can either be part of the current + activity, or the system can pass the selected content along to + an operation in another activity (by way of an + <a href="{@docRoot}guide/practices/ui_guidelines/activity_task_design.html#intents">intent</a>). +</p> + +<p> + For example, in an email message list, a user can touch & hold on + an email message to open a Context menu containing commands to read, + archive, or delete the message. +</p> + +<p id="location"> + A user can also touch & hold a <em>location</em> on the screen to + access a Context menu. An example is when the user does touch & hold + on a blank spot on the Home screen, a Context menu appears; selecting + an item from that menu inserts an icon at that location. +</p> + +<img src={@docRoot}images/menu_design/ContextMenuDiagram.png> + +<h4 id="context_menu_shortcut">Context Menu is a Shortcut</h4> + +<p> + In the above example, if the user performs touch & hold on the contact + "Obi Wan Kenobi", a Context menu opens. The commands provided in + this Context menu are the complete set of actions that can be performed + on this contact. +</p> + +<p> + A normal touch on an item in the content activates the most intuitive + command for that selection — in this case, "View contact". + We recommend that the most intuitive command also be listed as the + first item in the Context menu. In this example, selecting the contact + "Obi Wan Kenobi" runs the same command "View contact" that is listed + at the top of the Context menu. +</p> + +<p> + Also note, as shown in the following screenshot, the Context menu and the + next screen both hold the same complete set of commands that can be performed + on this contact. The Context menu displays the commands in a list, + while the "View contact" activity splits them into various items in the + Options menu, icon buttons and list items. +</p> + +<p> + Because of this duplication, using the Context menu is considered a <em>shortcut</em> + for going to the next screen and performing the operation there. Context menus + are less discoverable than either buttons fixed on-screen or the Options menu. + Many users never discover or use Context menus. It is for this reason that, for + the most part, any command on a Context menu should also appear on the most + intuitive operation's screen. As the next section explains, text operations, + such as "Select text" might appear only on a Context menu. Also, rich + applications, such as browsers, which themselves can contain web applications, + may have commands on Context menus that are not available elsewhere. +</p> + +<img src={@docRoot}images/menu_design/ContextMenuViewContactDiagram.png> + +<h4>Text Commands in Context Menu</h4> + +<p> + Text links and text fields in the content both have system-provided operations + that are common across all applications: operations such as "Select all", "Select text", + "Copy all", and "Add to dictionary". If the text field is editable, it also + has other operations, such as "Cut all" and "Input Method", and if text + is also on the clipboard, it has "Paste". The system automatically inserts + the appropriate menu items into the Context menu of text links and text + fields, as shown in the following screenshot. +</p> + +<img src={@docRoot}images/menu_design/TextFieldContextMenuDiagram.png> + + +<h3 id="comparison_of_options_and_context_menus">Comparison of Options and Context Menus</h3> + +<p> + An Options menu holds commands that are global to the activity while a + Context menu holds commands that apply only to an item in the content. + As shown in these diagrams, the user navigates to the menu, then + touches a menu item to perform an action or open a dialog. +</p> + +<img src={@docRoot}images/menu_design/TaskFlowDiagram.png> + +<p> + For more technical information on menus, see + <a href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/ui/menus.html">Creating Menus</a>. +</p> + +<h3 id="commands_fixed">Commands Fixed in an Activity Screen</h4> + +<p> + Commands can also be fixed directly on screen, typically in + text buttons, graphic buttons, or list items. This placement is by far the most + discoverable location for commands — a user can immediately see the command + without having to first press a button. This increased visibility needs to be + weighed against the space such user controls take up, or the sense that they + might clutter the visual design. +</p> + +<h2 id="guidelines">Guidelines</h2> + +<p> + Selecting the right kind of menu to present, and using menus + consistently, are critical factors in good application design. The following + guidelines should assist user experience designers and application developers + toward this end. +</p> + +<h3 id="separate_commands">Separate selection-specific commands from global commands</h3> + +<p> + Put any commands that are global to the current activity in the Options menu + or place them fixed in an activity screen; put commands that apply to the + current selection in the Context menu. (In any case, the command + could either run as part of this activity or start another activity.) +</p> + +<p> + You can determine in which menu to place a command by what it operates on: + If the command acts on selected content (or a particular + <a href="#location">location</a>) on the screen, put the command in the + Context menu for that content. If the command acts on no specific content + or location, put it in the Options menu. This separation of commands + is enforced by the system in the following way. When you press the MENU + button to display the Options menu, the selected content becomes unselected, + and so cannot be operated on. For an explanation + of why the content becomes unselected, see the article on + <a href="http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2008/12/touch-mode.html">Touch mode</a>. +</p> + +<p> + An example of a selection-specific Context menu is when a user performs a + touch & hold on a person's name in a list view of a contacts application. + The Context menu would typically contain commands "View contact", "Call contact", + and "Edit contact". +</p> + +<h3 id="most_frequently_used">Place the most frequently used operations first</h3> + +<p> + Because of limited screen height, some menus may be scrollable, so it's + important to place the most important commands so they can be viewed without + scrolling. In the case of the Options menu, place the most frequently used + operation on its <a href="#options_icon_expanded_menus">icon menu</a>; + the user will have to select "More" to see the rest. + It's also useful to place similar commands in the same location — + for example, the Search icon might always be the first icon in the Options + menu across several activities that offer search. +</p> + +<p> + In a Context menu, the most intuitive command should be first, followed + by commands in order of decreasing use, with the least used command at the bottom. +</p> + +<h3 id="dont_put_commands">Don't put commands <em>only</em> in a Context menu</h3> +<p> + If a user can fully access your application without using Context menus, + then it's designed properly! In general, if part of your application is inaccessible + without using Context menus, then you need to duplicate those commands elsewhere. +</p> + +<p> + Before opening a Context menu, it has no visual representation that identifies + its presence (whereas the Options menu has the MENU button), and so is not + particularly discoverable. + Therefore, in general, a Context menu should <em>duplicate</em> commands + found in the corresponding activity screen. For example, while it's useful to + let the user call a phone number from a Context menu invoked by touch + & hold on a name in a list of contacts, that operation should <em>also</em> + be available by the user touching the phone number itself when viewing contact details. + See <a href="#context_menu_shortcut">shortcut</a> for an illustration of this example. +</p> + +<h3 id="first_in_context_menu">The first command in a Context menu should be the selection's most intuitive command</h3> + +<p> + As described under <a href="#context_menu_shortcut">shortcut</a>, + touching on an item in the content should activate the same command as touching + the first item in the Context menu. Both cases should be the most intuitive + operation for that item. +</p> + +<h3 id="selecting_content_item">Selecting an item in the content should perform the most intuitive operation</h3> + +<p> + In your application, when the user touches any actionable text (such as a link + or list item) or image (such as a photo icon), execute the operation most + likely to be desired by the user. +</p> + +<p> + Some examples of primary operations: +</p> + +<ul> + <li>Selecting an image executes "View image"</li> + <li>Selecting a media icon or filename executes "Play"</li> + <li>Selecting a URL link executes "Open link"</li> + <li>Selecting an address executes "Go to address" (in a maps application)</li> +</ul> + +<p> + Note that selecting the same item in different contexts might invoke + different operations: +</p> + +<ul> + <li>In a contact application, selecting a contact executes "View details"</li> + <li>In an IM application, selecting a contact executes "Start chat"</li> + <li>In an Email application, when adding a recipient to the "To" field + through the contact book, selecting a contact executes "Add to recipient + list"</li> +</ul> + + +<h3 id="context_menu_should_identify">A Context menu should identify the selected item</h3> + +<p> + When a user does touch & hold on an item, the Context menu should + contain the name of the selected item. Therefore, + when creating a Context menu, be sure to include a title and the name of the + selected item so that it's clear to the user what the context is. + For example, if a user selects a contact "Joan of Arc", put that name in the + title of the Context menu (using + {@link android.view.ContextMenu#setHeaderTitle(java.lang.CharSequence) setHeaderTitle}). + Likewise, a command to edit the contact should be called "Edit contact", + not just "Edit". +</p> + + +<h3 id="most_important_commands">Put only the most important commands fixed on the screen</h3> + +<p> + By putting commands in menus, you free up the screen to hold more content. + On the other hand, fixing commands in the content area of an activity + makes them more prominent and easy to use. +</p> + +<p> + Here are a number of important reasons to place commands fixed on the activity screen: +</p> + + <ul> + <li> + To give a command the highest prominence, ensuring the command is obvious and won't be overlooked.<br> + Example: A "Buy" button in a store application. + </li> + <li> + When quick access to the command is important and going to the menu would be + tedious or slow.<br> + Example: Next/Previous buttons or Zoom In/Out buttons in an image viewing application. + </li> + <li> + When in the middle of an operation that needs to be completed.<br> + Example: Save/Discard buttons in an image crop activity. + </li> + <li> + Dialogs and wizards.<br> + Example: OK/Cancel buttons + </li> + <li> + For direct manipulation.<br> + Example: Dragging an icon in the Home screen to the trash + </li> + </ul> + +<h3 id="short_names">Use short names in the Options icon menu</h3> + +<p> + If a text label in the <a href="#options_icon_expanded_menus">Options icon menu</a> + is too long, the system truncates it in the middle. Thus, "Create Notification" + is truncated to something like "Create…ication". You have no control over + this truncation, so the best bet is to keep the text short. In some versions of Android, + when the icon is highlighted by a navigation key (such as a trackball), the + entire descriptive text may be shown as a marquee, where the words are + readable as they scroll by. <!--For more information, see the Text Guidelines + [update link].--> +</p> + +<h3 id="a_dialog_should_not_have_an_options_menu">A dialog should not have an Options menu</h3> + +<p> + When a dialog is displayed, pressing the MENU button should do nothing. This also holds true + for activities that look like dialogs. A dialog box is recognizable by being + smaller than full-screen, having zero to three buttons, is non-scrollable, and + possibly a list of selectable items that can include checkboxes or radio buttons. + <!--For examples of dialogs, see Text Guidelines.--> +</p> + +<p> + The rationale behind not having a menu is that when a dialog is displayed, the user is in + the middle of a procedure and should not be allowed to start a new global task + (which is what the Option menu provides). +</p> + +<h3 id="do_not_substitute_message">If an activity has no Options menu, do not display a message</h3> + +<p> + When the user presses the MENU button, if there is no Options menu, the system + currently does nothing. We recommend you do not perform any action (such as + displaying a message). It's a better user experience for this behavior to be + consistent across applications. +</p> + + + +<h3 id="dim_hide_menu_items">Dim or hide menu items that are not available in the current context</h3> + +<p> + Sometimes a menu item's action cannot be performed — for example, + the "Forward" button in a browser cannot work until after the "Back" + button has been pressed. We recommend: +</p> + +<ul> + <li> + <b>In Options menu</b> - disable the menu item, which dims the text and icon, + turning it gray. This applies to menu items in both the icon menu and the + "More" menu. It would be disorienting for the icon menu to change from 6 + items to 5 items, and we treat the "More" menu the same way. + </li> + <li> + <b>In Context menu</b> - hide the menu item. This makes the menu shorter so the + user sees only available choices (which also reduces any scrolling). + </li> +</ul> + +</body> +</html> + |