Google Docs Interface Cleaned Up
Google fixed some of the UI in Google Docs word processor application, replacing the all blue bar of tiny icons with a larger toolbar with more traditional and easier to read buttons. The interface is cleaner than before, cleaning up some of the cruft that had developed on the tab area as Google added new features and tried to cram them in.
One curious decision: Google removed the Cut, Copy and Paste buttons from the toolbar. As a power user, I approve this decision, since I never use those buttons and users have got to learn how to use the CTRL shortcuts. However, everything we know about user interfaces says that users still use those buttons even if we don’t want them to. In Microsoft Word 2003, Paste is the number one used command on the toolbar, and Copy is #3.
I like the idea of killing those buttons, but how about a smart interface that removes it after the first time the user invokes CTRL+C/X/V? Without a Paste button, Docs is no longer safe for grandma to use, not that there were a whole lot of less experienced users taking advantage of Google Docs in the first place.
Apparently, Firefox (and in some cases IE7 in Windows Vista) wouldn’t allow Docs access to the clipboard, thus making the buttons useless and forcing Google to issue a popup explaining the error and instructing the user to use keyboard shortcuts. However, how many users who needed those toolbar buttons are using Firefox? Google needs to pay attention to all potential users, not just those familiar with keyboard shortcuts.
>> I like the idea of killing those buttons,
>> but how about a smart interface that removes
>> it after the first time the user invokes CTRL+C/X/V?
>> Without a Paste button, Docs is no longer safe for grandma to use
I do agree 100%. That’s the advantage the online applications have over desktop ones! We are not looking for online clones but the smarter ones than we already have.
Comment by Shantanu Oak | February 28, 2008
My wife (technophobe) uses GDoc on Firefox because I installed it. Pain in the neck for her to learn the Ctrl shortcuts. I wished those buttons worked in Firefox in the first place.
Comment by jo | February 28, 2008
I think IE7’s default security settings get it just right - ask the user whether or not clipboard access should be allowed (I seem to recall that’s the default anyway).
Personally, I see no need for websites to read data from my clipboard at all, so I disabled it. I consider it a security risk if access is allowed transparently, like in IE6.
Amazon’s “book preview” pages often caused my browser to ask whether I wanted to allow Amazon to access my clipboard. Those pages didn’t even have any need to access your clipboard data.
It’s a shame no one ever realized how dangerous this functionality COULD be.
Comment by Tim | March 4, 2008