Placing Entries in the Applications Menu

Figure 2-1 The Applications menu

The Applications menu, which appears on the panel at the top of the screen by default, is the primary mechanism by which users discover and run applications. You place entries in this menu by installing an appropriate .desktop file.

The menu is arranged into a set of categories, such as Accessories and Games. Applications are placed in particular categories by the set of keywords they include in their .desktop file.

Guidelines
  • Assign your application to only one category on the Applications menu
  • For application suites that wrap a number of smaller sub-applications into a single window, such as Evolution or OpenOffice.org, add a menu item for each sub-application. For example, the mail, calendar, and tasklist in Evolution should each have their own menu item.

Technical details can be found in the freedesktop.org menu and desktop entry specifications.

2.1.1. Menu Item Names

2.1.1.1. Include a functional description in the menu name

In the menu item name, include a description of functionality in addition to the proper name of the application. This is especially useful novice users, and to users of systems where numerous applications are installed by default. Users are more likely to find your application if the name that appears in the menu includes a description of its functionality.

For example, user testing of MIT's Athena system revealed that users had difficulty finding the file manager because they were unfamiliar with the name "Nautilus". Because users did not associate the word "Nautilus" with the concept "file manager" the menu item did not help them. This is an example of not using the user's language. See Section 1.3 ― Create a Match Between Your Application and the Real World for more on this topic.

Example 2-1 Including functional description in menu names
Original menu item Revised menu item
Epiphany Epiphany Web Browser

2.1.1.2. Only put useful information in the menu name

Do not include words like "GNOME", "X Window System", "GTK+" or other platform details in Application menu names. The user probably already knows what platform they are using, and if they don't, then application names are not the right place to inform them.

Example 2-2 Removing non-essential information from menu names
Original menu item Revised menu item
GNOME Image Viewer Image Viewer
GTK Blog Editor Blog Editor

Do not include technical details when the user does not need to know them, or can infer them from context. Avoid technical jargon unless the application is to be used only by a technical audience.

For example, when both a client and a server for something are listed in the menus, remove the word "Client" from the menu name for the client.

Example 2-3 Removing technical jargon from menu names
Original menu item Revised menu item
Gnome Batalla Naval Client Batalla Naval
Gnome Batalla Naval Server Batalla Naval Multiplayer Server
Gnome VideoLAN Client VideoLAN Movie Player
Providing the right information

Try to imagine what words users will be looking for when they select your application from the Applications menu. That is the information that should be in the menu name. For example, a user wanting to play a movie will probably not be looking for the word "Client". On the other hand, a user wanting to transmit movies from their computer may well look for the word "Server". Avoid thinking of the applications menu as an ontology!

2.1.1.3. Menu name formats

  1. If your application's proper name is already descriptive of its functionality, and not just suggestive, use the format: Application Name

    Example 2-4 Using application's name as menu name
    Application name Menu name
    Dictionary Dictionary
    Search Tool Search Tool

  2. If there is a succinct functional description of your application, use the format: ApplicationName FunctionalDescription

    Example 2-5 Using functional description in menu names
    Application name Menu item name
    The GIMP GIMP Image Editor
    Evolution email sub-application Evolution Email
    AbiWord AbiWord Word Processor
    Galeon Galeon Web Browser
    Gramps Gramps Genealogy
    AisleRiot AisleRiot Solitaire

  3. A few applications, particularly games, do not have appropriate functional descriptions (but note that many games do). In this case, use Application Name as the menu name.

    Example 2-6 Using applicaton's name as menu name where no functional description exists
    Application name Menu item name
    Bomber Maze Bomber Maze

2.1.2. Menu Item Tooltips

Tooltips help provide users with enough information to run the right application. Many users use tooltips to explore a new environment.

Provide a tooltip for each Application menu item you add, following these guidelines:

Guidelines
  • Phrase the tooltip as an imperative verb, for example "design", "write" or "check".
  • Describe the most important tasks users can accomplish with your application.
  • While tooltips should not be verbose, they should be longer and more descriptive than the item's name.
Example 2-7 Example tooltips for GNOME applications
Application Menu item tooltip
Character Map Insert special characters into documents
Memprof Check your applications for memory leaks
Same Gnome Arrange long chains of similarly-colored balls to eliminate them
Gnome Batalla Naval Client Find and sink enemy ships in this networked version of Battleship
Placing Entries in the Applications Menu GConf Keys