2

I'm implementing a javascript folder tree with basic explorer function: add/update/delete. It's like this:

[Menu] Add new school

+School A
-- Class A1
-- Classs A2
-----Student Tom
+School B
-- Class B1
-----Student Jerry

Currently we click on the name to show a modal box for editing. User can drags students to re-order a class. As a customer request, when the school manager right-click on "Student Tom", a pop-up menu appears that allow him to delete Tom.

My question is: is this reasonable in user UI experience? I think it's not natural for people to right-click on a website except when they want to access the default browser command (save link as,...)? Or I'm just over-thought?

My recommendation is that when the user hover on the name, a delete button appears.

Improve this question
5
  • 1
    I think your recommendation of a delete button is a good idea. – GrandmasterB Aug 20 '12 at 4:13
  • @GrandmasterB: I hope that too. But since there is a customer request that just go opposite, I think I would go their way if it does no harm. I'm not a UI master. – Hoàng Long Aug 20 '12 at 4:24
  • I think you'll be fine with a right-click if thats what the customer insists. Users will just need to be taught that the right-click menu is there because they wont be expecting it. You could possibly add something that says 'right click for options' when an item is selected. – GrandmasterB Aug 20 '12 at 4:35
  • 1
    I'd disagree about the 'hover to show a button' approach. As soon as you hover-off the name then the button would (presumably) disappear so you'd not actually be able to get to the button. Also as you mouse-over any element on the page you'd get flashes of buttons appearing all over the place. You'd have to have a couple of delays in there - one in place when you start hovering and another delay when you mouse-out - so many delays you might as well have gone with a click anyway. – JonW♦ Aug 20 '12 at 9:04
  • I've seen a UI where hovering anywhere on a row shows edit and delete buttons, with a fade transition. It seemed natural enough. – Chris Aug 20 '12 at 21:45
4

Right clicking on the web is indeed much less used.

Hover should be avoided in my opinion, especially if there any chance this will be used on a mobile device where this isn't possible.

I'd also point out that edit and delete are related actions and in iOS in particular you often click "edit" to reveal a "delete".

Based on the usage frequency of edit vs. delete I'd stick with the left click and choose how to display the 2 options:

  • Open the edit dialog and have a button for delete
  • or on click show 2 buttons of "edit" and "delete" and continue from there.

Hope this makes sense.

Improve this answer
2
  • I'm in much agreement with this view, and would go with option 1 - click = show editor. Just wanted to add that the benefit in having a delete option in the dialog is three-fold: 1) You're saving the space of a button in the toolbar (tiny bit of info for the eye to deal with); 2) Users are two clicks away from deleting something, instead of one (safer, less chance of accidental mouse click); 3) The button on the editor can say 'Delete' where on the toolbar it would normally show 'X'. – Izhaki Aug 21 '12 at 1:49
  • I would also consider a sliding editor rather than a dialog - the latter being more fashionable with desktop applications, but not as much with web ones. – Izhaki Aug 21 '12 at 1:50
0

On the web, it is counter intuitive to right click for contextual menu related to the content instead of the user agent. I would suggest a [x] button with delete functionality.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.