A split button couples a primary action on the left with an attached dropdown menu of related actions. This component is used when there are many possible actions but only one primary action.
Do we have one split button in the ribbon that has an icon for thr primary action, and another type that has just text as a primary action?
The split button is separated into two areas: the label/icon and the arrow icon. The separator between them signals that the two areas result in different actions.
The icon which opens the menu act as a menu (see more information in <<menu link>>)
<<TBD - Update>>
Order
For the items within the menu
Popularity - when there are a few available items (e.g. less than 5)
Alphabetically - when
Internal Logic
When you click the primary action on the left, the action is activated.
When you click the arrow, it exposes a menu alternative actions.
The primary button should appear in the menu and indicated as selected
Default Selection
The primary action should be the most common use case, while the dropdown menu shows a list of related actions.
Persistent split button <<?Can the default be changed - according to the menu?>>. The default is kept until the user makes a different selection which then becomes default. The button label changes accordingly.
States
Split buttons can be enabled or disabled
The menu can also contain specific disabled actions while the Primary is enable and vice versa
If a split button is disabled, the colour of the button changes and the cursor indicates that you cannot click the split button
Interaction <Continue Here>
If the split button is selected using keyboard actions and then Enter is presses, the primary action occurs.
Best practice
This pattern is used when there are many possible actions but only one primary action
Use a split button only if the actions are related and only one of the actions in commonly used