P
Phil
I've spent some time working with Office 2007, and have a couple of general
comments about the user interface, especially with regard to MS-Access. While
I understand the need to give applications a fresh look, and interface
innovations can make upgrading either desirable or necessary, the interface
as implemented with Access is impenetrable. I understand the metaphor, but
the ability to get to commonly used tasks is frequently stymied by a
voluminous display of options or no evident way of figuring out how to do
something. Earlier versions of Access had hit on a wonderfully sensible
metaphor for how users interact with the application by restricting the view
into the work to tables, queries, forms, reports, etc. The current interface
seems to head in the wrong direction by making this harder (and not more
rewarding) rather than easier.
This is true to a lesser degree with the other Office applications. The
interface frequently has the aroma of designers run amok rather than
amazingly sensible refinement. It would be insulting to compare the effort to
Apple, but it seems that they have a good track record of getting things to
look right (even if they don't always work right). This doesn't seem to look
quite right. It's difficult to find visual and logical anchors that are
meaningful. For example, the big circle in the corner is neat, but it doesn't
solve many problems.
I've been hoping that Microsoft would start looking at things to take away
from the interface instead of add. It seems like a trend toward the American
penchant for cars with outlandish chrome geegaws, curiously squished sheet
metal, and grilles with "personality." In the meantime, they just don't seem
to run right. Surely the best design team in the world can sharpen this up a
little better!
Phil
----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-980c-178eadbf6d41&dg=microsoft.public.access
comments about the user interface, especially with regard to MS-Access. While
I understand the need to give applications a fresh look, and interface
innovations can make upgrading either desirable or necessary, the interface
as implemented with Access is impenetrable. I understand the metaphor, but
the ability to get to commonly used tasks is frequently stymied by a
voluminous display of options or no evident way of figuring out how to do
something. Earlier versions of Access had hit on a wonderfully sensible
metaphor for how users interact with the application by restricting the view
into the work to tables, queries, forms, reports, etc. The current interface
seems to head in the wrong direction by making this harder (and not more
rewarding) rather than easier.
This is true to a lesser degree with the other Office applications. The
interface frequently has the aroma of designers run amok rather than
amazingly sensible refinement. It would be insulting to compare the effort to
Apple, but it seems that they have a good track record of getting things to
look right (even if they don't always work right). This doesn't seem to look
quite right. It's difficult to find visual and logical anchors that are
meaningful. For example, the big circle in the corner is neat, but it doesn't
solve many problems.
I've been hoping that Microsoft would start looking at things to take away
from the interface instead of add. It seems like a trend toward the American
penchant for cars with outlandish chrome geegaws, curiously squished sheet
metal, and grilles with "personality." In the meantime, they just don't seem
to run right. Surely the best design team in the world can sharpen this up a
little better!
Phil
----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-980c-178eadbf6d41&dg=microsoft.public.access