Building the Menu System

Summary: Design Suggestion

The design of your application's menu system—its contents and arrangement—will largely determine how easy it is to use. Grouping similar commands together and placing the menus in an order consistent with their use will make an application more “intuitive.”

Summary: Design Suggestion

Whenever you can, use standard names for common commands. Existing professional Windows applications can be a source of guidance. Descriptive names also help users navigate the menu system and understand how the program works.

Since QuickCase:W can cut and paste commands—and entire menus—from one position to another, feel free to revise your menu system until you find a layout right for your application (Figure 5.8).