Systray layout opinion

[Musaran]

This thread started as suggestions and comments about the avast systray menu naming and layout, and got a little deeper into interface design.
Summary so far...

General guidelines:

• Make it user friendly, especially for newcomers.
• Unify the interface of systray menu, main window(s) and menu(s).
• Unify naming.

These may be better discussed in the avast! User Interface future... thread.

Suggested interface changes:

• Antivirus and on-access scanner in the same window.
• File scanner as a "provider".
• Group "Start/Stop" and "Suspend/Resume" in the "Sensitivity" level.

Suggested naming changes:

Original	Suggestion
"Start avast! Antivirus	"File scanner"
"Provider"	"Service" or "Shield"
"avast! Log Viewer"	"Event log..."
"Program Settings..."	"Settings..."
"Updating"	"Update"
"VRDB"	"File Recovery Safety" or "File Safety"
"Virus Chest"	"File Chest" or "Safe Storage Zone"
"iAVS"	"Known Viruses" (replace or append)
"iNews"	"Security News" (replace or append)

Common to menu suggestions:
"------------" is  a menu separator.
"->" indicates a submenu.
"(checkmark)" means the item can be checked like a checkbox.
"(radiomark)" means one item can be active in the group.

Systray menu

avast! Antivirus	(optional tile, not selectable)
Open
Settings...
Upgrade to Professional...
Update->
?->	or "Help & Documentation", or "Information"
------------
Shields	aka Provider (optional tile, not selectable)
Overall (status)->	(sets all shields at once)
Peer to Peer (status)->
Instant Messaging (status)->
Email (status)->	(includes Outlook/Exchange)
Web (status)->
System (status)->
File (status)->

(status) shows the actual status of a Shield.
"VRDB" is controlled by File Shield sensitivity.


Service menu: (wichever)

Sensitivity	(optional tile, not selectable)
Custom (radiomark)
High (radiomark)
Normal (radiomark)
Asleep (radiomark)
Off (radiomark)
--------
Settings...
Assitant...	(for email only actually)
Scan...	(for file only actually)
Safe Storage Zone	aka Virus Chest (for file only actually)

? menu

About...
Help
www.avast.com	or "Web Site"
(iAVS) Known Viruses
(iNews) Security News
Event Log

Update menu

Anti-virus->	Now
	Automatically (checkmark)
(iAVS) Known Viruses->	Now
	Automatically (checkmark)
File Safety->	Now

Please comment if something is not clear: it is probably because of wrong design.


The original content of this first message was moved to my next post.

[lee16]

These suggestions would probably serve better in the suggestion thread: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=57.195

--lee

[Lisandro]

Some things are wrong in the avast! systray context menu layout in my opinion.
These things should be kept short, compact, fast.
Otherwise the user won't bother to read, or not notice what he is looking for.

If the user even read this... well, will he/she read the help file? Will he/she even learn about any computer program? 

[Musaran]

Copied here from original previous message:
Some things are wrong in the avast! systray context menu layout in my opinion.

These things should be kept short, compact, fast.
Otherwise the user won't bother to read, or not notice what he is looking for.

"avast" is repeated 5 times.
One is enough : "About avast! 4...".
Make it bold or something, so that it is understood as the title for the whole menu.

"Start avast! Antivirus"
To "Start" avast would mean that it is was not started, and not protecting.
And this is in fact the file scanner.
I suggest "File scaner".

"avast! Log Viewer"
"Log..." would be too short.
"Event log..." should be enough.

"Program Settings..."
"Settings..." is enough.

"Pause Provider" and "Resume Provider"
These 2 could be just one "Services" menu.
A check mark would mark curently active entries.

"Stop Provider"
A check mark here too would allow to relaunch the service (if technically possible)

The last two could be regrouped in a unique "Service" menu item, with a submenu listing services, and each a submenu with "Suspend"/"Resume"/"Active", "Stop"/"Relaunch" or other action pertaining to the service.

"Updating" submenu
"Update" is repeated, this is useless.
A "Both" entry would be usefull.
"VRDB" could be mentionned also.

"Set/Change Password"
"..." lacks, because it spawns a dialog box.

"avast! Professional Edition Info..."
"Upgrade to avast! Professional Edition..."
Both leading to similar web page...
A unique "About the Professional Edition..." would be enough.

"Stop/Start On-Access protection"
This should be an "All" entry in the "Service" menu(s).


Original message:

These suggestions would probably serve better in the suggestion thread: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=57.195

--lee

Sorry, I overlooked that.
(I wasn't thinking of it as a feature)
I copied the message over there, this thread may be closed.

[igor]

Honestly, I really don't see much reason for the suggested changes.
There is one correct note: the ellipsis is missing in the "Set/Change password" item; I have just fixed that. Maybe the "Start avast! Antivirus" should be replaced by something better, we might change it in future.
But that's probably all... I really don't think the rest would help that much to the understanding, in some cases it may even lead to some confision (such as when "Program settings" replaced by "Settings", it's not clear whether it's Program, or Resident protection settings).

Btw, "Program update" always updates the virus database as well, so there's no need to have the "both" option. Also, VRDB doesn't have anything to do with it...

[neiby]

Igor, as a relative newcomer to avast (I've only been using it for a few months) I would like to say that I agree with almost all of musaran's suggestions. With just a few minor tweaks, that menu could be much more clear and concise.

[Musaran]

such as when "Program settings" replaced by "Settings", it's not clear whether it's Program, or Resident protection settings).

How clear is it that "Program settings..." relates to "Start avast! antivirus" ?

"Start program" & "Program settings..."
"Start avast! antivirus" & "avast! antivirus settings..."
"Start" & "Settings..."
"avast! antivirus"->("Start","Settings")
Use what you want, but use the same.

By the Way, distinction between program and resident protection is a concept for programmers or system administrators, not for the average user.
Who wants an anti-virus not active ?

Btw, "Program update" always updates the virus database as well, so there's no need to have the "both" option.

"Program and virus database update"
It is not just being precise, it is also not letting the user believe avast does something stupid (update only the program).

[Lisandro]

Musaran, I respect your opinion...
But, you stay here writing and writing about avast and you could take a short time to read something about it.
avast is on more than 20 languages... A little change in English will bring a lot of work to all of us, translators.
Ok, we can improve, thanks for the comments but, as any other newbie, please, don't take it so strong to say you must do that, you should change, this needs to be changed, etc..

By the Way, distinction between program and resident protection is a concept for programmers or system administrators, not for the average user. Who wants an anti-virus not active ?

In fact not. There are users that want a second (backup) antivirus, non-active.
The two kinds of updates - program and definitions - is well spread in Internet. Tons of applications do that, specially, antivirus, antispywares, etc.

Btw, "Program update" always updates the virus database as well, so there's no need to have the "both" option.
"Program and virus database update"
It is not just being precise, it is also not letting the user believe avast does something stupid (update only the program).

You can't. Please, be resonable... there are many reasons to do so... The number of letters used there, the non-accented characters in other languages besides English... Well, believe in your team 

[Musaran]

avast is on more than 20 languages... A little change in English will bring a lot of work to all of us, translators.

If a change is necessary, the work has to be done anyway.
If a change is useless, no need for excuses.
And besides, an anti-virus faces much greater challenges than translation.

Ok, we can improve, thanks for the comments but, as any other newbie, please, don't take it so strong to say you must do that, you should change, this needs to be changed, etc..

I know been told "you are doing it wrong" by a someone who does nothing of the like is unpleasant.
But when I feel something is wrong enough to go and tell, I just do so straight.
Trying to disguise my thoughts would be obscure, or even lying.

Likewise, I prefer being proved wrong than left in mistake.

Positivate : I wouldn't bother to comment on a bad program.

The two kinds of updates - program and definitions - is well spread in Internet. Tons of applications do that, specially, antivirus, antispywares, etc.

That means users are more likely to be used to it.
Sadly, it doesn't mean it is a good idea. ("program" meaning both)

"Update/Anti-virus" would naturally include both.

It just struck me that "viral database" is obscure. (edit: "iAVS" in fact, even worse)
"virus knowledge", "virus identification" or "virus profiles" are more accessible terms.

In fact not. There are users that want a second (backup) antivirus, non-active.

Right, I didn't think of that.

Nevertheless, resident protection is part of avast!, not a separate feature.
Reversely, "avast anti-virus" includes all features, not just file scanning.
This should be reflected in the interface layout (not only systray menu).

Currently, a normal click on systray icon brings resident on-access scanner configuration.
Not accessible from there are :
-File scanning.
-General settings (one of them affects mail).

[Musaran]

Other thoughts about this menu:

• "Pause/Resume" and "Stop/Start" can be merged and reduced to "Off/Asleep/On"
• Less used menu item should be further away.
• "About..." should be first or last in the menu.
• VRDB doesn't need to be separate. Same icon can animate "a" or "i".
• Keep items as short as possible, no more, no less.

Summary of the sugested layout :

(Menu)	(Submenu)
avast! 4 Antivirus	(tile, not selectable)
About...
Settings...
Upgrade to Professional...
Update->	Anti-virus     (or All)
	Virus knowledge     (or profiles/identification)
Event Log
Quarantine Zone	(Virus Chest)
------------
File Imprint (On Inactivity)->	Generate Upon Inactivity (checkmark)
	Generate Upon Screen Saver
	Off
	------------
	Generate Now!
	Settings...
File Scanner (Running)->	Scan...
	Pause/Resume
------------
Shields	(Provider)(tile, not selectable)
Overall (on)->	On (checkmark)
	Asleep
	Off
	--------     (separator from above group)
	Settings...
Peer2peer (asleep)->	(same submenu)
Instant Messenging (on)->	(same submenu)
Email (off)->	(same submenu)
	Assitant...
Web (on)->	(same submenu)
System (on)->	(same submenu)(or Machine/???)
------------
Web Site	(or www.avast.com)
Help
Open	(better name for this ?)

Some say titles in menu are bad.
In this case :

• Make "About..." "About avast! 4 Antivirus..." and consider it as a sort of title.
• Remove "Shields" Title.

If this menu is too long :

• Make "Shields" a menu item with submenus.
• Remove "Web Site", it is in the about box already.

Lastly, I am not sure wether "..." is for...
...spawning dialog boxes ?
...spawing any window ?

[bob3160]

This almost sounds like:
"If you do it my way, I'll be happy"
"If you don't, I'll write some more."
That's my opinion.

[DavidR]

Whilst it is never a good point getting involved in discussions on style/aesthetics/layout etc. there are many differing opinions and none is totally right.

Over the time I have been on these forums there have been a number of suggestion/opinions about the context menu of the avast icon. I myself suggesting adding a link for the help file so people didn't have to open the on-demand scanning to access it.

There have been many other suggestions but for the most part these have been for the inclusion of entries, rather than the removal or re-ordering/rationalising of the context menu. All of those requests/suggestions are equally valid, in their opinion. But to assume that it is wrong just because in your opinion it is wrong.

Sorry, just my opinion.

[kamulko]

I like my girlfriend but much more if:
1- eyes like nicole kidman
2- legs like sharon stone
3- lips like monica bellucci
4-bottom like britney spears... on and on and on... 
Why plump for a girl you don't like as it is?
Why use a product if you don't appreciate it? 

[kamulko]

wise words, DavidR...

[Lisandro]

I was trying to say the same... but nobody heard me... so