Agreed. This way, the “Edit Mode” command can be removed from the Edit menu, which is too long already.

@jay: hmm, wasn't this a button that is removed because it was not needed that much? Then now add it somewhere else?
This confuses me.

@Adolfo: I don't agree. The menu lets you use it fast with the key board short cuts. The status bar would ask for the use of the mouse.

(In reply to Cor Nouws from comment #2)
> @jay: hmm, wasn't this a button that is removed because it was not needed
> that much? Then now add it somewhere else?
> This confuses me.

Yes its not used enough to have it in the toolbars, especially when the toolbars should consist of frequently used features. But it is still useful to have it easy accessible in the interface without opening the menu, and we do have a section in the statusbar for ways to view the document. It is also in MS Word's statusbar. ;D

> @Adolfo: I don't agree. The menu lets you use it fast with the key board
> short cuts. The status bar would ask for the use of the mouse.

Yes it is useful to have it accessible in more than just one location (not everyone will notice the statusbar button, especially keyboard users) and for it to have a shortcut associated to it.

(In reply to Cor Nouws from comment #2)
> @Adolfo: I don't agree. The menu lets you use it fast with the key board
> short cuts. The status bar would ask for the use of the mouse.

Why do you think that a status bar icon can not have a keyboard shortcut? If it’s a technical reason, that can be solved.

(In reply to Jay Philips from comment #3)
> It is also in MS Word's statusbar. ;D

That’s not a good rationale by itself.
 
> Yes it is useful to have it accessible in more than just one location (not
> everyone will notice the statusbar button, especially keyboard users)

If you think that not everyone is going to notice the status bar button, then why add it in the first place? I think you’re contradicting yourself.

(In reply to Adolfo Jayme from comment #4)
> (In reply to Jay Philips from comment #3)
> > It is also in MS Word's statusbar. ;D
> 
> That’s not a good rationale by itself.

Its an added bonus to know that other competing office suites have done something similar.

> > Yes it is useful to have it accessible in more than just one location (not
> > everyone will notice the statusbar button, especially keyboard users)
> 
> If you think that not everyone is going to notice the status bar button,
> then why add it in the first place? I think you’re contradicting yourself.

I'm not contradicting myself. I am stating the obvious, that not everyone will notice it, just like not everyone noticed the 'Edit File' button in the toolbar. I may have incorrectly wrote that keyboard users wouldnt notice it, but what i meant was keyboard users wouldnt care that its in the statusbar, just like they wouldnt care that its in the Edit menu, as they will use the shortcut key anyway.