topic Re: Work Environment strategy? in Project data & BIM

Work Environment strategy?

Mats_Knutsson — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:51:30 GMT

Howdy,

I'm working on the new swedish standard work environment and previously we've used the Int WE pretty much which I don't really like. I have two basic thoughts I would like to share and possibly get commented.

1. Often used buttons - on the top of the screen or in the bottom? For me it's much more natural and faster to have them at the bottom than the top. What about you?

2. If all the chosen standard palettes (info box, tool box, favorites, navigator and quick options) are on the one same side....should they be to the left or right?....I'm normally right handed and preferred the palettes to the right...but after a mouse elbow I'm forced to use left hand and then I prefer left align. What do you think? It's pretty easy to set up a leftie and a rightie WE...I just don't know it it makes sense.

Cheers,
Mats

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Laura Yanoviak — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:26:16 GMT

I don't know that it really matters -- everyone is going to have their own preference. You could implement a standard WE, and allow the Palette Schemes to be Custom/users-preference. Otherwise, take an office poll and go with what is most popular.

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Mats_Knutsson — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:59:47 GMT

Laura wrote:
I don't know that it really matters -- everyone is going to have their own preference. You could implement a standard WE, and allow the Palette Schemes to be Custom/users-preference. Otherwise, take an office poll and go with what is most popular.

Thanks Laura,

I know pretty much everone of the AC users around and almost no-one customize their WE even though they would benefit from it. The reason they don't do it is because the don't know how to. Most of the smaller companies doesn't have a CAD-responsible person...they are architects and pretty happy with AC as it is. The standard WE thus has to be tailored for the average user and that's my goal.

We will put out video instructions on how to create a WE with AC12 but still the average level is pretty low. I hope the vids will get the users to reach the next level.

It's however good to hear others opinions as well.

Cheers,
Mats

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Jere — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:51:11 GMT

I've actually been meaning to customize (or learn how to) my work environment for awhile now.

For now, I have the Info Box, Navigator, and Quick Options stacked on the right side. On the left I have the standard toolbar, plus toolbars for attributes, on-screen view options, simple 3d, and teamwork. Along the top I have the standard and horizontal control box side-by-side.

I've found having the attributes toolbar turned on very helpful.

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Thomas Holm — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:43:20 GMT

Mats_Knutsson wrote:
Howdy,

I'm working on the new swedish standard work environment and previously we've used the Int WE pretty much which I don't really like. I have two basic thoughts I would like to share and possibly get commented.

1. Often used buttons - on the top of the screen or in the bottom? For me it's much more natural and faster to have them at the bottom than the top. What about you?

2. If all the chosen standard palettes (info box, tool box, favorites, navigator and quick options) are on the one same side....should they be to the left or right?....I'm normally right handed and preferred the palettes to the right...but after a mouse elbow I'm forced to use left hand and then I prefer left align. What do you think? It's pretty easy to set up a leftie and a rightie WE...I just don't know it it makes sense.

Cheers,
Mats

Mats, if you as the default have ALL palettes and tool boxes oriented to the left and to the top (nothing at screen edges right and bottom), the WE will be usable even when you switch between machines as I do (portable that I take home and out, and stationary big external screen at work).

Before I did this, I had recurring issues with palettes disappearing and hard to get back when i switched to the small screen.
Also, after a while I found that it was quite good not having to hunt all the way around a big screen for that needed command.

Since this is an issue that is regular on this forum, my recommendation is do it this boring way to make it work trouble-free for as many as possible.

Right- and bottom- oriented don't always work because computers count screen pixels from the top left.

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Mats_Knutsson — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:20:11 GMT

Thanks Tomas,

I didn't know about left-to-right but it makes sense. I used PC before and almost never had any problems. Now on the Mac I have all kinds of problems related this. Best example is when there is a new projector for a presentation...can be hilarious from time to time. I've learned to show up well before the presentation to adjust the stuff.

I will base the WE on left-top (or left-top-bottom...haha). I still think often used buttons should be at the bottom of the screen for faster access. My problem is that when I see the users (my customers) not doing as well as they should...I feel a very strong urge to help them in any way possible. I will create some new toolbars so the most used commands is always directly accessible.

Focus will be on favorites and shortcuts. Every single unnecessary button or missing relevant button is a bad thing. I have the Norweigan WE as inspiration. They have done a terrific job. I used to be a very intensive user back when I worked for NCC and now I get input from all the users in the region so I think (hope) I can taylor the WE to release more productivity among the average user.

Best regards,
Mats

Re: Work Environment strategy?

__archiben — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:44:26 GMT

Mats_Knutsson wrote:
I still think often used buttons should be at the bottom of the screen for faster access.

it really depends on your background - as a mac user, i'm used to going to the top of my screen for commands: the apple menu, system controls and application menus have always been there. windows is not 100% the reverse, but close: the 'start-your-engines' button and system tray controls are at the bottom and the application menus are tied to the window so could be anywhere if the app isn't maximised.

is the 'palette scheme' really the most important part of the work environment though? i would say that 'commands', 'tools' and 'shortcuts' are: i have two palette schemes for two different resolution monitors, but it's the content - or as much of it as possible - of those palettes schemes that i want to remain constant.

i also have a problem every time i hear of companies who impose shortcuts and the like on to their users. data safety, sure, and there has to be an optimum environment for teaching new users. but you can achieve the same thing in so many different ways with archicad that some users are bound to take to certain processes more than others. why restrict that?

anyway. here's an andy/james/me mashup you may or may not have seen . . . http://www.archicad.ca/?p=54

bottom line is that everyone is different. and different users will graphically map certain processes differently in their heads. if anything you need to be providing a framework first and a finished work environment second, no?

cheers
~/archiben

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:13:17 GMT

Laura wrote:
I don't know that it really matters -- everyone is going to have their own preference.

My experience in an office that has people with widely varying skill levels (an which ones don't) and everybody helping each other from time to time, it sure helps to have the WE the same all stations.

Since we use dual monitors we have a top right side orientation (Navigator & Tool Bar on the right side of the left monitor shortens access from right monitor) which works fine except as Mat mentioned when I go on the road with my MacBook Pro and a projector.

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Thomas Holm — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:56:32 GMT

~/archiben wrote:
i would say that 'commands', 'tools' and 'shortcuts' are: i have two palette schemes for two different resolution monitors, but it's the content - or as much of it as possible - of those palettes schemes that i want to remain constant.

i also have a problem every time i hear of companies who impose shortcuts and the like on to their users. data safety, sure, and there has to be an optimum environment for teaching new users. but you can achieve the same thing in so many different ways with archicad that some users are bound to take to certain processes more than others. why restrict that?

anyway. here's an andy/james/me mashup you may or may not have seen . . . http://www.archicad.ca/?p=54

bottom line is that everyone is different. and different users will graphically map certain processes differently in their heads. if anything you need to be providing a framework first and a finished work environment second, no?

I very much agree with Ben!

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:00:07 GMT

It's expected that people will often develop their own personal WEs but I always recommend that there be a company standard to switch back to for service and support functions. It also is good to provide a WE based on the office standards to get people stared of on the same footing.

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:25:57 GMT

Because we all share here is mine WE:

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Mats_Knutsson — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:48:11 GMT

Miki wrote:
Because we all share here is mine WE:

Thanks! You like a lot of buttons obviously! I'll post the WE I'm working on when AC12 is "official".

Swedish national day tomorrow! Wave a flag!

Cheers,
Mats

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Rakela Raul — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:03:11 GMT

Because we all share here is mine WE:

that is not archicad but a look alike though

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Laura Yanoviak — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:22:12 GMT

Matthew wrote:
It's expected that people will often develop their own personal WEs but I always recommend that there be a company standard to switch back to for service and support functions. It also is good to provide a WE based on the office standards to get people stared of on the same footing.

This is what we've done during BIMplementation, but have no problems with users' customizing their WEs once everyone is up to speed with the software (as long as they take it upon themselves to understand what needs to be done!).

Re: Work Environment strategy?

JaredBanks — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:16:23 GMT

I've found having everyone in the company using the same WE very helpful. I'm coordinating ArchiCAD between three office locations so I'm doing a lot of help over the phone. It's indispensable to be able to tell the user in another office "okay, look at spot 'X' on your screen for this button or that option" and know that the screen they are looking at is the same that I'm looking at on my machine. And that if I say press '=' to get project info, I know that it'll work on their machine as well.

In that regard, I have two standard WE: one for wide format screens and one for small laptop screens, as people often switch between the two depending on where they are working at the time. The only difference being where palettes are located on the screen (always top and left side, with the info box as big as possible on the left side so as many options as possible are visible). Having new users learn how to switch between the two WE hasn't been bad so far...

Re: Work Environment strategy?

Mats_Knutsson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:45:39 GMT

Here is my AC12 beta WE.
Mats