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TextFile

INTRODUCTION TO RATIONAL ACCESS: Objectives, Rationale, and Constraints


Rational Access is a Motif-based user interface for the Delta
Environment. Its primary objective is to make the Environment easier to
use while simplifying installation and support; its secondary objective
is to provide a transition toward the Rational II user interface. Key
ease-of-use features include:

    *   Essential functionality is accessible through the Motif mouse 
        and menu paradigm, with standard operations (file management,
        editing) placed as expected

    *   A window-management icon bar simplifies control of the multiple
        Environment windows presented within the Rational Access window

    *   Frequently-used operations can be placed on a button panel for 
        rapid access using the mouse

    *   Many new "full service" commands are provided, eliminating the 
        need to remember and properly sequence several lower-function-
        ality operations

    *   Dialog boxes are used to present alternatives, choose parameters,
        and confirm potentially destructive actions

    *   A menu-based online help facility is provided.

To make Rational Access attractive to users already facile with Delta's
powerful keyboard-oriented command set, the Access keymap includes most
previously-provided functions, including full support for the
Item-Operation paradigm. To simplify training and support, this keymap
is platform independent. An online function key template can be made to
appear by clicking the [F?] window-management icon. Although not
completed for this 0_4_0 alpha release, this template will be
active--clicking the mouse on one of its "keys" will activate the
associated command. The actual keymap can be augmented or modified using
the standard Environment mechanisms, but the online function key
template will not (and cannot be made to) reflect any such changes.

Rational Access attempts to never gratuitously force the user to move
the hand between mouse and keyboard. The menus and dialog boxes are
designed to completely support usage scenarios typically encountered by
our customers; use of command windows and their attendant complexity
should be limited to specialized (e.g., testing) or less frequent
operations. However, those more comfortable with the keyboard interface
will not be inconvenienced--all functionality is accessible from the
keyboard without recourse to the mouse.

Installation is optimized for simplicity and robustness. A single
Environment command will determine what (if any) version is presently
installed, update it appropriately, enable the Rational Access keymap,
and (re)start its User Interface job. The workstation-resident component
of Rational Access can be installed from either the Environment or the
workstation. The workstation installation command verifies the presence
of necessary files and facilities (e.g., the proper X-server version),
creates the necessary directories and installs all necessary components
(programs, links, fonts, etc.) in the correct, user-approved location.
Every action occurring during installation is logged, and a
de-installation script is create to facilitate back-out. To minimize
installation and support complexity, Rational Access is essentially
non-customizable. Installation involves no compilation and no source
code is provided.

Rational Access includes an online help facility, and general
availability will include hardcopy documentation; see the Rational
Access Information Plan for details. The Fundamentals Training course
will be updated to support Rational Access.

The secondary goal for Rational Access is to provide a transition for
Delta users to the Rational II user interface. The latter will be fully
Motif-compliant, with each Environment window represented as a Motif
window with its own message area, button bar, and context-dependent
menus. Rational Access moves in this direction, but schedule and
resource allocation preclude full Motif compliance. In particular,
Rational Access continues to provide its own management of multiple
windows within a single Motif window, with a single button bar and
static menu.

The 0_4_0 release of Rational Access does not represent final
functionality or quality (see the known bug list).
However, we believe it to be usable enough to justify distribution
within Rational--primarily to obtain feedback that will help us better
achieve our objectives. Comments of all sorts (bug reports, suggested
enhancements) should be sent by e-mail to the Ra_Comments mailing list.
New releases will be distributed every two weeks. Significant changes in
the menu structure and keymap may occur between such releases; they will
be documented, along with known bugs, in an accompanying release note.

This internal distribution is intended to facilitate critique from those
closest to our customers. However, Rational Access is an incomplete,
partially-tested, unannounced product--it must not be installed on any
customer equipment, and should not be demonstrated without prior
discussion with its Product Manager (DHB) or the Marketing Director
(GJR).