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| <h2> |
| Filtering large user interfaces</h2> |
| <P> |
| The rich extensibility mechanisms in the workbench provide many ways for plug-ins to contribute to the platform |
| UI. However, extensibility can introduce its own set of problems. While allowing for a rich set of features |
| contributed by many different developers, it can also create an overwhelming experience for the new user who is |
| trying to navigate through vast menus and preferences pages. As the Eclipse platform matures, the need for |
| filtering mechanisms that help reduce the UI clutter and guide the user to their desired tasks has become apparent. |
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| The activity and context mechanisms address the problem of too much clutter in the user interface: |
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| <ul> |
| <li><a href="../reference/extension-points/org_eclipse_ui_activities.html"> |
| <b>Activities</b></a> |
| allow platform integrators to define large-grained groupings of functionality that are only |
| shown when a particular user activity is enabled. Users can explicitly (or implicitly through trigger points) |
| enable or disable activities.</li> |
| <li><a href="../reference/extension-points/org_eclipse_ui_contexts.html"> |
| <b>Contexts</b></a> are used to dynamically enable functionality while the user is performing a specific task. |
| They influence what commands are available to the user at any given moment.</li> |
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