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WebWord Weblog Posting

Posting Date: September 02, 2002
 

application metering APIs (Anil Dash) -- "Speaking of missed opportunities in programming interfaces, why don't mainstream Windows applications support usage metering at the function level? Meaning, when I deploy Microsoft Office across my enterprise, I want each installed app to track which menu choices are selected, and how often, by my users. At the simplest level, I could use this information to inform my choices about customizing the default configuration for the suite when I install it."

 

  

Reader Comments...
 

Ummm, I would curse if someone customized my menus for their own perception of my benefit. I depend on consistency between my home and work PCs, and, really, on all other computers. When mom calls with a question, I cannot easily walk her through her problem if her menus are different from mine. Consistency is its own language. Don't build barriers and create local dialects.

Posted by: Jack on September 2, 2002 11:57 AM

 

Yeah, but your knowledge of the applications is more than most users', so you're to one side of the usage bell curve. And most people *don't* have the same version of Office at home and work. Even if they do, recent versions' personalized menus distinguish the two installations.

I think consistency between home and office (in situations where the office doesn't control the home PC's environment) is something only the most technical users can manage, and those people probably wouldn't get the bolted-down install of the office platform anyway.

Posted by: Anil on September 3, 2002 02:53 AM

 

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