Changes

It is appreciated that improving usability is among the hardest things to do with software, especially with Open Source, and that in some (most? all?) cases it is a matter of opinion. However, It is important to have this GEPS as a place to collect feedback on problems and as well as possible solutions.

= Problem The challenges = <blockquote>Making a user interface that novice users can understand is hard. Making a user interface that provides the power and flexibility that advanced users require is really hard. And making an interface that does both is ... nearly impossible.<br><br>Based on my experience with the Gramps team, I think a major overhaul effort would be difficult to execute. Major projects like that require sustained focus. Our developers are volunteers who have to find time to hack code between washing the dishes and changing the oil in the car. The most substantial changes I have seen over the life of Gramps have been slow and evolutionary - and were developed over the course of a series of staged releases.<br>- '''From: Brian Matherly - 2011-03-30 - [http://sourceforge.net/p/gramps/mailman/message/27280108/ Re: (Gramps-devel) Focus On User Interface, Usability]'''</blockquote><hr><blockquote>I just can't see how this can be tackled in the incremental way that Gramps mostly works. The 'little improvements over time' approach seems to have given us a powerful but unwieldy tool.<br>- '''From: Duncan Lithgow - 2011-03-30 [http://sourceforge.net/p/gramps/mailman/message/27280425/ Re: (Gramps-devel) Focus On User Interface, Usability]'''</blockquote> == The reviews and feedback ==

In the reviews of Gramps on Gensoft for [http://www.gensoftreviews.com/?p=1648 GenSoft Review for MS-Windows], [http://www.gensoftreviews.com/?p=1649 GenSoft review for Apple Mac] and the [http://www.gensoftreviews.com/?p=286 GenSoft review for Linux], some selected comments are:

* Aug 11, 2014 - ''VRM'' says: "The manual is inaccurate ...., or just plain wrong. The developers expect you to read the whole manual before attempting anything, yet they provide directions that you’ll not remember by the time you actually get to the software. Also, as for the manual, wall-of-text alert. The program icons? Some are '''mystery meat''', where you guess what they are (Why does that green tree split apart at the bottom?)" Biggest Con: ... I don’t want to read 50 pages of manual to find out if it does or not.

<blockquote>Recently having sought to really use GRAMPS on a regular basis for practical genealogical research has repeatedly illuminated a lack of intuitive or smooth workflow within the user interface, particularly for the new user manually entering information.

In some future major revision of GRAMPS, for example for version 4.0, how about putting a major emphasis on the user interface and its usability? It seems to me that a new user should understand how to enter basic information smoothly and effectively and not feel like they're switching back and forth between a large number of views or performing many steps which could perhaps be combined and lessening redundant processes. It also seems that a new user should not have to load alternate views, gramplets or perform any significant customization. These areas appear to need some attention.<br>- '''From: Greg Lamberson - 2011-03-29 - [http://sourceforge.net/p/gramps/mailman/message/27278184/ (Gramps-devel) Focus On User Interface, Usability]'''</blockquote>

Total: 14 clicks, or 7 clicks and 15 to 17 keystrokes, plus the data you are entering (including selection of place)<br>- '''From: Michael White - 2008-02-11 - [http://sourceforge.net/p/gramps/mailman/message/18563150/ (Gramps-users) My thoughts on usability/data entry]'''</blockquote>

<blockquote>When I add a person in PAF, or Ancestry, I see one screen where I entername, gender, and main events. When I do the same in Gramps, I see halfa dozen screens, one for the person, one extra to add each event, andanother extra to add a location or to choose an existing one. That's alot of work, and when I want to enter birth, baptism, death, and burial,I need at least 9 screens in Gramps, where PAF still has only one. Andin Gramps, it's actually more, because many times I need an extra clickto see whether the location that I want to enter already exists in thedatabase. In those occasions, it is not half a dozen, but a full one,really!<br>- '''From: Enno Borgsteede - 2014-03-31 - [http://sourceforge.net/p/gramps/mailman/message/32167521/ Re: (Gramps-devel) Gramps 3.4.8 from GIT --> Sources]'''</blockquote>

== Examples ==

The description in [https://www.gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php?title=[Start_with_Genealogy |Start with Genealogy]] describes how to add a person and their birthdate and place. This involves opening and closing a large number of different windows. This can be contrasted with a number of other genealogy programs where all this data is input on a single window. = The challenges = <blockquote>Making a user interface that novice users can understand is hard. Making a user interface that provides the power and flexibility that advanced users require is really hard. And making an interface that does both is ... nearly impossible. Based on my experience with the Gramps team, I think a major overhaul effort would be difficult to execute. Major projects like that require sustained focus. Our developers are volunteers who have to find time to hack code between washing the dishes and changing the oil in the car. The most substantial changes I have seen over the life of Gramps have been slow and evolutionary - and were developed over the course of a series of staged releases. </blockquote> <blockquote>I just can'tsee how this can be tackled in the incremental way that Gramps mostlyworks. The 'little improvements over time' approach seems to havegiven us a powerful but unwieldy tool. </blockquote>

== Provide more '''Natural Transcription''' input methods == This is already addressed by [[GEPS_024:_Natural_transcription_of_Records|GEPS 024]].

<blockquote>1. Reduce (gently) the number of different interfaces: this, ofcourse, means that some interfaces will be busier. Too often, confusionresults from too many windows open simultaneously. <br>- '''From: David Lynch - 2011-03-30 - [http://sourceforge.net/p/gramps/mailman/message/27281113/ Re: (Gramps-devel) Focus On User Interface, Usability]'''</blockquote>

Currently As of 20150831 the manual roll over occurs just before a release is made, this is too late for practical use by translators etc.

UseInstall and use: * The '''Translate extension''' tool to translate every kind of text. It's used especially to translate software and to manage multilingual wikis in a sensible way. https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Translate