For software designers, a table is anything that shows a list of items in rows. Sometimes it has multiple columns of data, sometimes just one. For modern Mac OS, tables are made with NSTableView, built into Apple’s Cocoa framework.
In Goldenseal, we use tables for many things. Once we figured out the basics of NSTableView, we got most of them working fine in Goldenseal Pro, also.
The most complicated tables in Goldenseal are breakdown tables. Those show detailed line items in Estimates, Sales, Material Purchases, etc. They work kinda like a spreadsheet, but on steroids. Each row has several different types of data entry cells— text, popup lists, check boxes, padlocks. Some cells can change their type, depending on what’s in other cells.
A year ago, breakdown tables were already showing data, so we were optimistic about them. We just had to add data entry. Click and type, or click and choose from a menu, or click to unlock a padlock.
Alas, our staff has really struggled with that part. We’ve tried many different approaches. Each got some things working OK, but then hit a dead end. Each time we took a break and worked on other things for a while, then tried again. Each failure made it all the more frustrating.
During holiday break this week, there was a “eureka” moment. Maybe the problem is bigger than just getting table cells to show popup menus. Maybe breakdown tables need a more extreme solution. Maybe the current design is fundamentally wrong.
Breakdown tables were also a struggle in the original Goldenseal. They took over a year of programmer time, with lots of futzing and fiddling. They’ve had the most bugs since then. Users often find them confusing. They still aren’t perfect.
Part of the problem is that the tables are very dense. Each line item only gets a little rectangular strip of screen space, maybe 1/4″ x 7″. It’s not many pixels to work with. Even worse, many table cells pop up a list of choices. That has to happen from a teensy box about 1/4″ x 1″. It’s too small for good interface design. Overall, the crowding makes breakdowns hard to program, and hard for users to understand.
For Goldenseal Pro, we already decided to put breakdown tables into a separate window, rather than in the main layout. It’s better use of screen space. Also, now there is room for useful buttons: you can click the Insert Row button, instead of control-click, click Delete Row instead of control-shift-click. The new setup is much more obvious for beginners.
We will now make the same interface change for data entry into table rows. Instead of typing or list-choosing directly in the row, you’ll double-click and see a data entry window. It will have regular data entry fields in a comfy layout, with helpful buttons.
For our programmers, the change saves a few thousand lines of code, and lots of frustration. No more futzing with rows and columns, and cramped interface design. In fact, breakdowns will have the same interface that we already use for lists, so we can reuse that code. Simpler design, which means fewer bugs.
For beginners, the new interface will be much easier to understand. Useful buttons, and less clutter. Easier for tired data entry staff, as well.
The change probably will be hardest for our long-time users, especially those who started out on the MacNail estimating spreadsheet. Goldenseal breakdowns still look and behave a bit like an Excel spreadsheet. Goldenseal Pro breakdowns will be less so.
Hopefully, the advantages will offset the annoyances, even for users who love Excel.
Dennis Kolva
Programming Director
TurtleSoft.com