[Scribus] Usability needs attention -- time for a feature moratorium?

[Hedley Finger]

As a complete newcomer to Scribus, my expectations from working on 
Macintosh (OS 9 for 6 years, OS X for 3), Windows, HP-UX with Motif, 
Sun OpenLook, etc. with PageMaker, Illustrator, FrameMaker (three 
platforms), various word processors, vector graphics apps, etc. are 
frequently not met.  I am amazed how often seemingly commonplace 
actions break with well-established precedents.

For example, you cannot copy from the layout and paste into the 
Scrapbook but must right-drag.  (When was the first Macintosh released?)

If you do something in a palette or dialogue which changes an object, 
you would think that Ctrl-z would restore the previous state but more 
often than not, the key event is not trapped by the palette/dialogue 
with focus but goes through to the layout/canvas/window where it 
undoes some OTHER state.  I keep getting this all the time and am 
beginning to think that Scribus is a secret cult where you have to 
remember what you can do or not do in various contexts in order to be 
accepted into the brotherhood.  Sadly, it will be a long time before 
this novice becomes and acolyte!

The serious point I am trying to make is that perhaps it is time for 
a moratorium on feature building for a point release or two while 
usability issues are addressed, especially implementing orthogonality 
across objects and controls.

Are there any other rank newbies who want to tell of their 
experiences/opinions?

(It is the end of a long and tiring day ...)

Regards,
Hedley


--
Hedley Stewart Finger
28 Regent Street   Camberwell VIC 3124   Australia
Tel. +61 3 9809 1229   Mobile +61 412 461 558,
E-mail <mailto:hfinger at handholding.com.au>