SUGGESTION: simplify the documentation window as desscribed here
Please change the documentation window (https://www.mathworks.com/help/index.html) so I don't have to first click a magnifying glass before I can to get to a text field to enter my search term.
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Hi Kenneth, assuming this isn't an April Fool's joke? :-)
Jokes aside I'm part of our User Experience team here at MathWorks. Thanks for pointing this out; we've heard similar feedback before and even though it seems straightforward I'd love to learn more so we can improve. A couple questions if you don't mind - you can respond here if you're comfortable, or feel free to send me a private message as well.
- You referenced the documentation homepage. Is that the only place you want a search box, or do you want to always see the box on every page? (e.g. plot - 2-D line plot - MATLAB)
- What about the text field vs icon do you prefer? Easier to see, fewer clicks, more functionality, something else?
I kinda feel that the search facility is hidden for MATLAB Answers as well ( https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers )
I can only speak of my own preferences. I usually keep a browser window open to the MATLAB documentation window (https://www.mathworks.com/help/index.html) while I'm working. It seems to offeer the most comprehensive documentation. It is a bit of a nuisance to have to click first on the magnifyiing glass to get a text field each time. Then I have to click in the text field before I can enter my search term. To me, it is an annoying and unnecessary mousing step. All I want is a field to enter my search text as soon as I go to that page.
The plot - 2-D page you provided and every other help page has the same issue... must click to get to a text field. This is unnecessary. So... yes, I would want the same thing for EVERY page that requires clicking on the magnifying glass icon. As it is now, when I am viewing a help page and I want to then check another item I have to click the magnifying glass icon again. It's just a nuisance
Right now I keep the help window in a separate Windows desktop so I can go back and forth with keyboard shortcuts. So... for extra credit... maybe MATLAB could include a browser window (of the user's default browser) as a "Layout Option" on the MATLAB Home tab
I'm happy to elaborate further if you have any further comments. I've been using MATLAB for many, many years and I have a number of suggestions that I will submit here as I encounter them in my work.
Thank you for your reply and your interest.
Appreciate the thoughtful response Kenneth, and I and the team would love to hear more suggestions as they come up.
I'm hopeful that even though it doesn't fully address all your concerns, I can save you a click right away. When you click the search icon, you don't have to also mouse over and click into the box before typing; the cursor is automatically focused in the search box right away. So you can click once on the icon and just start typing.
Of course you shouldn't have to post on our forum to discover this, so it means we can do better and I will pass this along to the relevant teams.
I'd love to learn more about your workflow and this idea of a browser window in MATLAB. Would you mind if I contact you separately to set up a call so you can share some of your ideas?
I am happy to have you contact me separately to set up a call.
I am currently retired and I am spending a lot of time exploring 40 years worth of MATLAB code that I have developed throughout my career and bringing it up to date when I can. As I do, I anticipate many suggestions for improvements which I will post here.
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