[Lotus Notes Sucks: Example 78]
Meeting Invitations
Problem
Lotus Notes allows a user to "invite" other users to a meeting. Each recipient of this invitation then receives an email message where he or she can accept it, decline it, etc. Unlike "regular" email messages, you cannot take action unless you open it; that is, you cannot process the invitation when Lotus Notes displays the Preview Pane.
Once you do open it, there is a button labelled Request Information... If you click it, you are committed to requesting information. If you change your mind, this dialog box appears:
Notice there is no way to not request information.
In fact, Andrew sent me an email message about this:
If I am reviewing a meeting and decide to click the Request Information button at the top of the window. I am presented with a form where I can type a message that will be sent to the meeting chair. If I did not want to send the message, or accidentally clicked Request Information or simply clicked the button to see what it does, there is no way to get out of the screen without sending the chair a message. In fact if I click the Request Information button twice I create double jeopardy because I now am forced to send two messages when I don't want to send any.
Notes presents a dialog box with three options, none which allow you to exit the screen without sending the chair a message. Notes won't even let you close Notes without sending the chair a message. Notes won't even let you turn off your computer without sending the chair a message. The only way we know to get out without sending a message is to pull the power plug out of the back of the computer.
User Interface Guideline Violations
- Interface does not do as the user expects, specifically: the Cancel button is used to "continue editing"—you can't cancel. Also, the pressing ESC doesn't escape, it continues editing.
- Forcing the user to deal with stupidity.
Conclusion
Lotus Notes sucks.