Consistent position of Save button in multiple layouts
I'm currently working on a system aimed primarily at desktop users that has a wide range of layouts: some grids, some forms, and a variety of custom interactive interfaces with different designs.
There is currently some debate as to where a 'Save' button should be.
For instance, on a form-based layout, it might make sense for the button to be fixed to the bottom right, as it may follow the user's reading pattern as they complete the form. However, on other interfaces, it's hard to know exactly what the reading pattern would be (e.g. in a grid, or an interactive editor where the controls are already at the top).
Rather than have Save buttons in different places for each of these layouts, we feel that it would be more usable for them to always be in the same place, regardless of layout design.
To begin with, it seems most sensible to have the Save button fixed at the top of the page, rather than the bottom, as it's presumably easier to notice here.
The debate is now whether the button should be in the top left or right. If it's in the top left, I feel that it's most likely that all users would at least notice it. If it's in the top right, the argument is that it would be more intuitive for users, as it would likely follow their reading pattern of the page, regardless of the layout. It also appears that a lot of other systems do this.
I'm just wondering if anyone may have any suggestions on this: principally, what is the 'best' position for a Save button within a system that has these many layouts?
Thanks for reading!