Also, video tutorials are a proven way to reduce user confusion. I have links to a video tutorial on each page of my extensions backend, this allow our customers to get immediate help and reduces the support queries tremendously.

I think this usability test points out many of the confusing points about 1.6’s ACL features, which is great to have highlighted for everyone.

In general, I think many things about the ACL User Interface and User Experience could be, and should be, improved in future releases, but given that 1.6 has passed the feature lock date, we’ll likely have to wait for those kind of improvements.

Two things that come to mind that might help people understand the ACL features in the short term:

1. Label the sample levels and groups as “sample level”/”sample group” or even “example level” and “example group.”

When people who know 1.5 see “customer group” it’s likely to confuse them, because they may not yet understand that that’s an example group that came with the sample data.

Simple, small labels to the upper right of those group/level names could make it very clear what they are, and then people could use them as they are intended: to help them figure out how to use the ACL features.

As it is, that sample data for the levels and groups is likely to confuse more people than help them.

2. Provide contextual video tutorials that play in a modal window or small, new browser window that can be moved anywhere where there are ACL features. The help documentation is good for some people, but having video tutorials available right where you need them, and accessible without leaving the page where you are stuck, would be a great help to people with the ACL features.

The ACL is very, very powerful once you wrap your head around it, but I think it’s going to confuse a lot of people…both those who are familiar with 1.5, and people who are totally new to 1.6.

Cheers 🙂
Forest