Section IV: Processing Pen Input
Chapter 15: Processing Strokes Without Translating
This ~apter describes how untranslated strokes can be used.
Topics covered include:
• Markup Layers. Allowing the user to markup a document.
• Ink as a Data Type. The use of untranslated scribbles as a data type.
• Signature pads. Standard component.
• Deferred translation in forms.
• Deferred translation in notetaking applications.
Note: This chapter to come.
Issues
I
Chapter 16: Presenting Input Modes
This chapter describes how to allow the user to switch between input modes.
Topics covered include:
• Types of input modes
• Mode control via pop-up list at right of menu line
• Mode control via palette at right of menu line
• Mode control via palette line
• Mode control via palette in scroll margin
Translation Modes
Drawing and painting applications in traditional graphical user interfaces typically use different input modes for selecting, erasing, and various flavors of drawing and painting.
In addition to these familiar modes, you may want to organize your application around different translation modes.
The most common translation modes are:
• Gestures. This is an edit mode, in which the user can edit or scroll via gestures in the work area.
• Sketch. In this mode the user's strokes are recorded without translation, as free-form sketches.
• Shapes. In this mode common shapes are recognized: circles, squares and ellipses.
• Text. In this mode strokes are processed by the handwriting translation system.
This list is not exhaustive. For example, you might have modes that recognize specialized shapes, such as musical notes in a composing program.
Also, note that translation modes are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
Always Show the Current Mode
If you do provide different input modes, it is essential to provide visual feedback so the user can tell at a glance what the current mode is.
The remainder of this chapter describes different ways to present mode controls.
Page 128 PenPoint User Interfaa Design Guide, Reo. 0.5, 2/15/91
Presenting Input Modes
Mode Control on Menu Line
Given the importance the mode control, it is a good idea to place the mode control where it is always visible to the user. One obvious place for it is on the menu line.
Pap-up List at Right of Menu Line
If the input modes are exclusive, you can meet the requirement to show the current mode by using a pop-up list, as shown in Figure 75.
DraWl ng Paper
Document Edit Options Mode. Sketch
_~~w"'...
Gestures
Mod • Sketch
.---
---
---Figure 75: Pop-up List for Exclusive Modes
:-:-::::-.:-:-:.:-::::-::-:::
Shapes
Letters
Put the list at the right of the menu line, to separate it visually from the other menus.
Using a pop-up list has the advantage that it allows for the compact presentation of many of choices.
Putting the mode control in a standard menu, as shown in Figure 76, is not recommended.
Drawi ng Paper
t---Document Edit Options
---1================='1
---Figure 76: Menu with Checklist for Modes (Not Recommended) This usage should be avoided, because it forces the user to display the menu to discover what what the current mode is.PenPoint User Interface Design Guide, Reo. 0.5,2/15/91 Page 129
Palette at Right of Menu Line
You can also use a palette for the mode control, as shown in Figure 77 below.
Drawi
ngPaper
"'6~~'~
tr1
~.~ t· ....·E·d·i·t .... "Q"pi
1~·~~·.. ·· .. · .... ··· .. · .. · .... ·· .. ···· ..
····I~;r·~.... ·t(5 .. A ..
:.::: :.: :,:,:,:::::: :,: :::.:.:::;::::::~:::: :.:.:~:::: :,:: :.:::::::::::::::::: :,: :.~: :.:.:.:::: :,:,:,:.::'::::::: :.:.::::::::::: :':':.:.::::::::::::: :.:::::::::::::::: ::::::::: :.:: :,::::::: :::::::::::::::
.--- ---
---Figure 77: Palette for Exclusive Modes
When the number of choices is small, the palette is just as compact as the pop-up list, and is easier to use because the user can switch to any mode with a single tap.
If the modes are additive rather than mutually exclusive, it is essential to show them all at once, so the user can see which are on at any given moment.
The palette is the right control for this situation, as shown in Figure 78.
::::::::G2l.~~::::~:::~.::
Figure 78: Palette for Non-Exclusive Modes
Page 130 PenPoint User Interface Design Guide, Rev. 0.5, 2/15/91
Presenting Input Modes
Mode Control in Palette Line
You can also put the palette in a separate palette line. Do this if you have more modes than will fit at the right of the menu line
In Figure 79 below the mode control has been combined with other controls on a palette line.
DraWl ng Paper
... .,.... ...
-
... .Document Edit Options
'''~J''''~'''=='''f6-A'~-''-8--=''''';;-;;--·''Ii1-i''·''''D·
~:;'~:::::::::===~::=::::: .. ::::::~::::::~..==::::~:::~~::..""=--"'=~....::;=::~::..--=::.. ... ~::::~==::~~==~:::::;:;::::::::::=::::::::::;".:::::::::::
--- ---
---Figure 79: Palette Line
The line in the above example contains three groups of controls: input modes at the left, line thicknesses in the center, and fill colors on the right.
If you use a palette line, make sure to add a control to the standard Access Sheet to allow the user to toggle the palette line on and off.
PenPoint User Interface Design Guide, Rer1. 0.5, 2/15/91 Page 131
Mode Control on Pop-up Sheet
In addition, it is often appropriate to put the mode control on a pop-up palette or option sheet. Figure 80 shows a pop-up palette for a drawing application.
fJlY ...
6~~·~·i·~·g..
·p·;1·~'t·t·~.. · ... ..
~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I /'/
> ... .~ .-...., [Q A
1~ II 1- - - • f"·D .. · .. ·m· ..
·~··... · .. · ... · .. ·· .. · .. · ....
~Figure 80: Mode Control on Pop-up Palette
In the above example, the first line of the palette controls the input mode, the second line controls the line thickness, and the third line controls the the fill color.
Issues
Page 132 PenPoint User Interface Design Guide, Rev. OS, 2/15/91
Chapter 17: Handling Keyboard Input
This chapter describes the use of the keyboard.
Note: This chapter to come. ]