[kde-guidelines] Styleguide: Status bar

[Heiko Tietze]

I still think it's a mistake to hide the status bar. But the voting at 
http://user-prompt.com/what-is-a-status-bar-good-for/ is clear (45/45% for 
hide completely and case-by-case vs. 10% for keep it always).
Since the goal of any HIG should be consitency I recommend to write guidelines 
as below. The case-by-case whatever-you-want "guidelines" would simply be the 
last version without the strong advice to use the status bar, IMHO. What's 
your opinion?
_________________________________________________________________________

Viewing and Navigation > Access functions 
* Try to omit the status bar from your application.

http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/StatusBar

== Purpose ==
A ''status bar'' is an area at the bottom of a primary window that displays 
information about the current window's state, background tasks, or other 
contextual information. The status bar ‘frames’ the form and, thereby, has a 
white-space function which is part of the operating system or desktop 
environment branding. Because secondary forms like dialog boxes must not use a 
status bar it denotes a form as primary window too. 

KDE applications should not use a conventional status bar by default to 
maximize the space for content <ref>http://user-prompt.com/what-is-a-status-bar-good-for/</ref>.

== Examples ==

== Guidelines ==
=== Is this the right control ===
* Omit the status bar in the main window to maximize vertical space for 
content.
** Do not show meaningless information like 'Ready'.
** Use a floating panel or [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Tooltip| tool-tips]] for 
short-term status information like full length text of links.
** Move controls to the toolbar.
* Do not display a status bar in secondary or internal windows.
* If a status bar is really necessary in your application consider to use a 
[[Projects/Usability/HIG/Toolbar| toolbar]] with all customization features.
===  Behavior ===
* Do not use the status bars or any kind of replacement for crucial 
information. Users should never have to know what is in the status bar.
* Do not use the status bar or any kind of replacement to display advisory 
messages in place of standard [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Tooltip|tool-tips]].
* Keep the status information plain; e.g. do not add icons.
===  Appearance ===

==  Implementation ==
==  References ==
<references>

[[Category:Usability]][[Category:Behavior]][[Category:Viewing_and_Navigation]]
[[Category:Access_functions]]