Do dialogs/windows really need to be modal?

Dorico
1

The Dorico UI is best in class, but I don’t understand why some dialogs are modal and others are not. Spot checking these are modal (just picking off examples)

  • Expression Map Editor
  • Perc maps
  • Playback Techniques
  • Instrument editor
  • …

These aren’t

  • All the shift options windows
  • Line annotations
  • …

I did a lot of searching but not finding discussion on the topic. Modal dialogs are for if you don’t want to allow editing of the main document while in it. But I don’t see how editing an Exp map is a problem with that. The Dorico UI is best in class but this is probably the only annoyance that I keep having to quit the dialog just to open another for some information

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2

I agree that this is a significant annoyance. In particular, it becomes frustrating when a modal dialog is open and I attempt to access the online help from the menu. I cannot see why allowing access to help resources in this situation would present any risk.

When using an unfamiliar dialog, it seems counterintuitive that the relevant help page cannot be opened directly from the dialog. This limitation has been a persistent source of frustration for many years.

It really surprises me that there isn’t a clamouring from users to have this addressed.

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