Re: Proterm 3.1 and a Microcom 14.4 modem

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Jeffrey Robertson <jeffr@bnr.ca> wrote:

> In article <55pitm$22k@darla.visi.com>, Nathan Mates <nathan@visi.com> wrote:
>
> >   [Similarly, Mac revisionist historians have forgotten what the
> >'Maximize' icon in the title bar does. ...
> >Macs system 1-6.0.8 and the GS are the original standard: the
> >full screen.]

It is a "zoom box", not a "maximize icon".

According to the original Human Interface Guidelines (1986, i.e. Mac
Plus, System 4.x):

The zoom box is used to toggle the size of the window between the
"standard state" and the "user-selected state" (i.e. last dragged
position and size).  Regarding the standard state, I quote:

"The standard state is generally the full screen, or close to it, and
should be the size and location best suited to working on the document."

"The user can't change the standard size and location, but the
application can change it within context.  For example, a word processor
might define the standard size and location as wide enough to display a
document whose width is specified in the Page Setup dialog box.  If the
user invokes Page Setup to specify a wider or narrower document, the
application might change the values for the standard size and location
to reflect that change."

> This is how the Xwindows I use at work operates.  I'd've said it
> was the convention, too.  I didn't know Macs changed.

The change to which Nathan referred is how the zoom box is handled in
the Macintosh Finder (but not necessarily in other applications).  I was
also surprised by this when I used System 7.x recently, after having
previously been more familiar with System 6.x (which works the same as
the IIgs).  In 6.x or earlier, the Finder defines the "standard state"
as almost the full screen (it leave the rightmost column of icons
visible on the desktop).

In 7.x, the "standard state" is defined as "large enough to show all the
icons" (where possible).  This is limited by the edges of the screen,
the menu bar, and the rightmost column of icons (the same size as the
System 6.x zoomed window).  Note that the horizontal and vertical
dimensions are handled separately.  For example, if the icons are
organised in two columns but more than one screens deep, the zoomed
window will be maximum height but only as wide as it needs to be to
display the two columns of icons.  If there is only one icon, then the
zoomed window will be just large enough to show that one icon.

Finder simply picked on a different definition of the "standard state".
It is debatable whether it is a better definition, but I have certainly
found it handy.

You can get the old behaviour (zoom to nearly full screen) by holding
down the Option key and clicking on the zoom box.

> >   PT 3.1 is about 3-4 years old, I think. Don't confuse Apple Human
> >Interface Guidelines from 1996 with the guidelines from 1992-93.
> 
> I havent.

Try the original Human Interface Guidelines - they clearly state how
text selection with a mouse is supposed to be handled, including range
selection and double-click to select a word.

Triple-click is not defined.  It should be added as an optional feature
in more recent editions (or supplements) of the H.I.G.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail Mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand