Context Menus and Menu Buttons

Context Menus are suitable for expert users who want shortcuts. Do not use them for Options that cannot be chosen any other way and Users who are not computer experts and are not familiar with popup menus.

Figure 1: Possible assignments of context menus

Legend

Violet: Application level
White: Window level
Green: Element level

Elements

Available

Function texts with access character
Shortcut keys
Separators for contextual/visual structure
Cascading menu options

Possibilities

Icons (only for functions with icons elsewhere in the system)
"Radio button items" for graphic representation of information about sessions or about a status

Figure 2: Example of a context menu with icons

And the F-Keys?

Objective: List of function key assignments

Removed from the context menu
Put in Help menu (for example)

Figure 3: Functions listed in the help menu

Does and Dont's of Menubuttons*

Guidelines

Menubuttons have more* functions
- Display & Selection from within the menu
- Define the default action
- Use the button with the default action
Menubuttons: What for ?
- Selection from options palette
- Differentiation of an action i.e.Delete (at button)
Menubuttons must:
- All functions must be contained within the menu
- if default function has not been changed, the action stands first within menu
- make default function visible on button

*) up to now only standard function 'pulldown menu' in ALV Tree/Grid

Figure 4: Illustration of actions triggered by a menu button

Other Functions

Application toolbar

Has only a few functions left:

a) For working with screen elements (example: tree)

b) For working on the whole object.

Caution: A menu with functions for using the application (even when the toolbar is hidden) is always required!

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