RE: open source IBM i. was Re: From RGP to ¿Java ?

One must also consider that the tab key is nowhere near the numeric keypad.
People doing high speed data entry often are turning sheets of paper with
their left hands while keying with their right.

There may also be the case where the user only has one hand. I did a
training class a few weeks ago where the use was missing his left hand.

Paul Nelson
Office 512-392-2577
Cell 708-670-6978
nelsonp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Vern Hamberg
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 3:06 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: open source IBM i. was Re: From RGP to ¿Java ?

True enough - but there are more places to go with the Tab key than just
the entry elements of the form - if you happen to stray off of the form,
good luck getting back.

So I still think it takes a little more work - and still not so good for
heads down data entry as the green screen - oh - and do you have
something for a newline? Seriously, that'd be cool!

Vern

Raul A. Jager W. wrote:

A simple "form" in html allows the user to go from field to field using
the tab key.
A small JavaScript will make the + behave as "field +" and the - as
"field -".

Vern Hamberg escribió:

Au contraire, Pierre! Or Jean!!

Any interface where you have to use your eye to locate where you are
entering text is inherently slow. It IS possible, probably, to write a
GUI app that uses tabs and some kind of newline key for navigation, but
it's not simple to do. Heads down data entry people really fly on green
screens.

Users that do occasional entry can use a well-designed GUI just fine, I
suppose.

JMHO
Vern

Josh Diggs wrote:

I don't really buy this argument. Of course people who already know the

current process don't want it to change. In my opinion that has very little
to do with green screen versus GUI. Instead, I think that is indicative of
user's resistance to change. The other side of that coin is that any new
users are almost certainly going to be GUI literate. As such you only have
to train functionality, and not interface for new users.

I do agree that green screen data entry is faster bar none.

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx

[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Wintermute, Sharon

Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 6:35 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: RE: open source IBM i. was Re: From RGP to ¿Java ?


One point I would like to make is that not every one WANTS a GUI.

For straight data entry purposes, its much faster to use a "green

screen" style of entry. The end user that actually "uses" the system is not
the one pushing for a gui - management is.

One client offered the users a choice, 8 out of 10 wanted the green

screen. Speed of data entry was the reason. Point and click just does not
give that to you. Most of the users used the type-ahead feature. At that
point they didn't want the PC but it was forced on them for email purposes.
Now, they see the benefit of point and click for some things, but straight
data entry? - No.

Now granted the other 2 were casual users that really didn't enter any

data, they simply "managed". They were the ones that wanted the same GUI
type applications they had on their desktops.

Sharon Wintermute


-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx

[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Nathan Andelin

Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 8:20 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: open source IBM i. was Re: From RGP to ¿Java ?

From: M. Lazarus
Have you gone on a sales call where your competition has the GUI and
you don't? I have and it's not pretty.

Your competition provides a GUI, and you don't? It was about 1993 when

we began feeling pressure from prospects and competitors to provide a GUI -
which begs the question, what have you been doing for the past 16 years, or
so?

Waiting for IBM to fix the problem?

Nathan.




--
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing

list To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe,
unsubscribe, or change list options,

visit: http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx Before posting, please take a

moment to review the archives at http://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.

--
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing

list To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe,
unsubscribe, or change list options,

visit: http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx Before posting, please take a

moment to review the archives at http://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.