Hi, David-

> I think I'd argue though that if a form can be launched from several places that it really isn't a single instance sort of form, or that making it modal might be a good solution.

While I used to agree with this, now I have to respectfully disagree. Modal <> single instance, really, IMO. Modal forms should be limited to situations where the application needs--really needs--the user to do something before continuing with anything else. As with a Quick Add that gets the minimum information for a customer while ringing up a purchase. Since it's a bummer that certain things don't function while a modal form is open (say, the edit menu) and since it's by it's nature obstructive, they really shouldn't be used often. One of the few things I truly liked about what Alan Cooper has to say, as a matter fact.

Single instance just means that a form doesn't logically need to be open more than once, or in environments when having more than one copy of the form open is confusing to users. In that case, it's much better to activate the copy they have open. It seems like it would be fairly easy to open the second copy if the first one is already the active form. In that case, the user, reasonably might really mean for it.

Meant to add to this that it does make sense freqently to offer access to forms in multiple places.


JMO.