[Lotus Notes Sucks: Example 3]
The Mail Message Shortcut Menu
Problem
When I right-click a mail message, I expect to see a shortcut menu with the most likely used commands appropriate to the object, not the commands I see, such as Copy as Link.
Analysis
- Open in New Window doesn't do that. It's still trapped inside Lotus Notes where you can't see more than one MDI window at a time. It's a new tab.
- The Open command, being the default, should be bold.
- The Clear command should be labeled Delete. Clear would erase the text and attachments from an email message, leaving the message. Delete removes the email message; it deletes it.
- Opening the Document Properties window doesn't require more information, so the ellipsis are not needed.
In fact, why bother to continue examining this list. Look at Microsoft Outlook's shortcut menu for a mail message:
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Notice the commands that are available. They are useful and certainly better that those provided by Lotus Notes. |
User Interface Guideline Violations
- Interface does not follow established conventions, such as Document Properties being at the bottom of the list.
- The shortcut menu should have commands like Mark as Read or Mark as Unread (whichever is appropriate), Delete and Move.
- Interface does not use standard terminology.
Conclusion
Lotus Notes sucks.

