Combutcon
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A combutcon is an interface widget that integrates a button and a popup menu. It consists of a primary button and an arrow button that launches a popup menu when it is clicked.
The term 'combutcon' is a portmanteau of the words combined, button and icon, and it was coined by Alan Cooper.
The combutcon is very similar to a drop-down list.
[edit] Combutcon types
There are two types of combutcons: a value combutcon, or an independent combutcon.
[edit] Value combutcon
In this type, the primary button performs an action that is the function of a value. The popup menu provides optional values. Clicking on a value in the popup menu changes the current selected value of the combutcon and calls the primary action. One example of a value combutcon is the Microsoft Word line spacing combutcon.
[edit] Independent combutcon
In this type, the primary button and the items in the popup menu perform independent but related actions. One example of this type of combutcon is the Adobe webpage conversion combutcon.
A variation on the user interface for independent combutcons is the fused combutcon. The fused combutcon does not have two separate buttons, but joins the down arrow and the primary button into a single button. This variation is closest to a combobox. One example of a fused combutcon is the Microsoft Internet Explorer mail control button.
The combutcon makes efficient use of toolbar space, since it combines the functions of multiple buttons.
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