[Lotus Notes Sucks: Example 10]

The Attachment Window

Problem

If I double-click an attachment icon, the attachment doesn't open. Its default behavior is to show this window:

Analysis

This infuriating "feature" has many problems:

1. Launch... should be labeled Open. Notice there shouldn't be an ellipsis either. An ellipsis indicates that more information is needed to execute the command.
2. Detach... should be labeled Save As....
3. Either View or Open should be the default action.
4. In the Length field, note that the correct abbreviation for kilo is a small letter k, not a capital letter K. Apparently, the Lotus Notes programmers are illiterate.
5. None of the buttons have shortcut keys (ALT+V, etc). Users who can't use a mouse would appreciate access keys.
6. When I double-click an attachment icon, something should happen, such as opening the attachment. I certainly don't see the point to showing me this stupid window.

It gets better: Even though the button is labeled Detach, the dialog box that appears is titled Save Attachment. And even though the button is labeled Detach, the attachment is not removed from the email message. And if you want to "detach," you must use this window. You cannot drag the file icon from the mail message window onto, for example, your desktop.

After I click View, the attachment appears (or runs—which is another problem), the Attachment window is in the way; it's on top of the attachment you want to view.

Update for version 6.5.2

Some problems are solved, others are created.

1. Lanch is gone, replaced by View and Open. This is better, but
2. Detach is renamed as Save..., which is still incorrect. Since the user can change the name of the file, the correct name is Save As....
3. Neither View nor Open is the default action.
4. The K in kilo is still incorrectly capitalized.
5. Still no shortcut keys.
6. Double-clicking still does the same old stupid thing as described earlier.

But there's more...

1. Since clicking Delete results in only a confirmation dialog appearing, the ellipses are inappropriate. The ellipses indicate that more information is needed to execute a command beyond a simple confirmation dialog box.

This is version 6.5.2 and Lotus Notes still doesn't get it right.

User Interface Guideline Violations

• Interrupting the user's work flow with a window that should rarely appear.
• The interface terminology is inconsistent.
• Forcing the user to do more work than necessary.
• Forcing the user to click unnecessarily.
• Interface does not use standard terminology.
• Forcing the user to deal with stupidity.

Conclusion

Lotus Notes sucks.

Last Updated: January 28, 2005