One of the new features of OS X Lion is the ability of working with applications in full screen mode. Working in full screen mode is very practical when you want to concentrate on one application and make full use of your screen. This option has been implemented in Merlin as well, so when using a Merlin version 2.8 or newer which is running on OS X Lion, just click on the appropriate button and see Merlin hiding the menu bar and switching  the current view of your projects in full screen mode. If you need a menu item, just move the mouse towards the top of the window and Merlin blends the menu bar along with the toolbar for you. But what would you want Merlin to do when running in full screen mode?
What should happen with the toolbar when Merlin runs in full screen mode?
You need the toolbar to switch from view to view, to call the library or the elements area, toggle the inspector’s display, check the project settings,  or start publishing. You don’t need the toolbar when scheduling, updating your project’s tasks or maybe presenting the project’s schedule to stakeholders.
So what do you think? Should Merlin’s full screen mode in Lion show up, with or without the toolbar? We are very curious to read your thoughts…
Personally I’d love the Toolbar to still be available on the screen. I don’t really use all the keyboard shortcuts and therefore I use the mouse more intensively. I use the content of the toolbar multiple times every time I open Merlin. WIth the toolbar not showing in full screen is the reason why I exit full screen most of the time as seems like a laborious process to keep trying to get access temporarily by hovering my mouse in the top right cornet the whole time.
Thanks Julian, good to know 🙂
I agree with Julian and think the toolbar needs to be shown in fullscreen. It doesn’t use up much real estate for the functionality it provides…
I answered this in Twitter already, but since the discussion seems to be here…
I’m on an 13″ MBA and things like “not that much screen estate“ takes a whole new meaning here. The toolbar needs the space for at least three tasks.
The first four buttons are assigned to CMD 1 to CMD 4, which are them easy and accessible shortcuts.
I’m not convinced that the other four need to be visible in full screen mode, but I think they could turned into a vertical design.