the toe of webdev

It really is a simple concept, but seems to be one all too often forgotten.

In any application it is necessary (not optional) to keep all menus intact.  If an option is not applicable in a given scenario, then disable it.  Do NOT hide it.

If your application has grown to massive proportions as is the case with:

1. Blender
2. Maya
3. Photoshop
4. The GIMP
5. Dreamweaver

Just to name a few — then you need to consider an alternative such as the splash screen or the first page of the help manual, discussing the fact that menus and or their menu items may disappear but that it is simply a context issue.

This enables the user to realize they must not be in the right context.  ”Filters” and “Effects” are not working properly?  Then you probably do not have anything on the canvas selected or you have the wrong type of object selected.

Leaving it to the user to guess their dilemma and its solution is not appropriate.

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