CodeGuru Home VC++ / MFC / C++ .NET / C# Visual Basic VB Forums Developer.com
Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    2,675

    [RESOLVED] Where to put the About menu item if I don't have a Help menu

    I have a really small app with really few (2: File and View) menus on the main window's menu bar. I have just created an About box for the app, and am wondering where to put the menu item to open it in the absence of a Help menu.

    I have inspected many small apps I have on my system, but either they have no menu bar at all (like the Character Map) or they actually have a real Help menu like even the Windows Calculator and Notepad have.

    In the past I have seen some apps that had an item labeled About! on the menu bar, where the ! denotes that this item doesn't drop down a menu, but rather causes immidiate action. But I haven't seen that for a long time and am wondering whether it is deprecated or actually has never been "canonical" at all. However, that's the way I have it right now.

    Or might it be better to have a Help menu that dissappoints users by only having a single About entry? The File menu of the app in question only has a single Exit item so far too, but it's planned to be extended in the future.

    This is for Windows, but I think basic GUI design questions like that are somehow cross-platform.

    TIA
    I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam; I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me.

    This is a snakeskin jacket! And for me it's a symbol of my individuality, and my belief... in personal freedom.

  2. #2
    Arjay's Avatar
    Arjay is offline Moderator / EX MS MVP Power Poster
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    13,490

    Re: Where to put the About menu item if I don't have a Help menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Eri523 View Post
    Or might it be better to have a Help menu that dissappoints users by only having a single About entry?
    This would be the way I'd go. I wouldn't worry about disappointing users - I believe this is the standard approach for small apps with an About box (but no help).

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    2,675

    Re: Where to put the About menu item if I don't have a Help menu

    Thanks, Arjay. Think I'll change that as soon as I'll have time for programming again (which is not now).
    I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam; I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me.

    This is a snakeskin jacket! And for me it's a symbol of my individuality, and my belief... in personal freedom.

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  





Click Here to Expand Forum to Full Width

Featured