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UI guidelines for dialog boxes

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  • O Olli

    Nishant S wrote: The default windows behaviour is to tab on TAB and dismiss on ENTER I know, you know... but my customers do not really now... When you see them work, they click from edit to edit for example, and not so many are using the keyboard navigation (coz they don't know...)

    Olli I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.....
    :suss: :rolleyes: :suss:

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    Phil J Pearson
    wrote on last edited by
    #46

    Then you should upgrade to the latest version of customer. There's really no excuse for continuing to use the old, broken version. Phil

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    • P Phil J Pearson

      Then you should upgrade to the latest version of customer. There's really no excuse for continuing to use the old, broken version. Phil

      O Offline
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      Olli
      wrote on last edited by
      #47

      LOL :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

      Olli I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.....
      :suss: :rolleyes: :suss:

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      • N Nish Nishant

        Hello James Twine. First of all, thanks for the reply! James R. Twine wrote: 3. On Windows based systems, the dialog will have a Close button [X} in the title bar which will duplicate the behaviour of the CANCEL button This is default behavior. The same goes for (see below). Not for Java and VB developed applications!!! James R. Twine wrote: There are cases where non-modal windows are very useful for data entry. The Properties window in DevStudio is a perfect example: image having to manually dismiss a dialog each time you changed a control's text, ID, or style in the resource editor... Hmmm. I guess I'll have to add a special case clause for that!!! :-( Regards, Nish

        Author of the romantic comedy Summer Love and Some more Cricket [New Win] Review by Shog9 Click here for review[NW]

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        James R Twine
        wrote on last edited by
        #48

        Nishant S wrote: Not for Java and VB developed applications!!!    That is because their implementation of the boxes is broken! :)  Actually, now that I think about it, I KNOW that the Dialog Manager automatically handles , but I am not so sure about ...    Peace! -=- James. "There is nothing worse than being oblivious to the fact that you do not know what you are doing." [Get Check Favorites 1.4 Now!]

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        • M Michael P Butler

          What's wrong with the "offical" Microsoft User Interface Guidelines? http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnwue/html/ch09d.asp Michael :-) Look, try and use your intelligence, man, even if you are a politician. - The Doctor

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          James R Twine
          wrote on last edited by
          #49

          Michael P Butler wrote: What's wrong with the "offical" Microsoft User Interface Guidelines?    Nothing... Except a lot of developers are ignorant of them.  There are broken GUIs everywhere...    Peace! -=- James. "There is nothing worse than being oblivious to the fact that you do not know what you are doing." [Get Check Favorites 1.4 Now!]

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          • N Nish Nishant

            Hey guys I am working on a set of UI guidelines for designing dialog boxes. I have a few tips ready already. But I am looking for several more. Your suggestions are welcome Dialog boxes 1. All dialog boxes will have a CANCEL button, and when the user clicks the CANCEL button the dialog will be dismissed without any changes being applied 2. Pressing ESCAPE when a dialog box is active will have the same effect as clicking the CANCEL button 3. On Windows based systems, the dialog will have a Close button [X} in the title bar which will duplicate the behaviour of the CANCEL button 4. All dialog boxes will have an OK button and when the user clicks the OK button, the dialog will be dismissed and all changes will be applied 5. Pressing ENTER on a dialog box will have the same effect as clicking on the OK button, except when the focus is on a multi-line edit box 6. The size of the dialog box will be such that it will fit within the screen on the lowest target resolution which by default is fixed as 640 x 480. Depending on the target requirements this default may be raised or lowered. 7. Dialog boxes that accept data entry should be modal. 8. Ideally there should not be more than 10 data entry fields on a dialog box, inclusive of edit boxes, combo boxes, list boxes, check boxes and radio buttons. Text fields are not counted. Under special situations where it is absolutely necessary that there will be more than 10 data entry fields in a dialog, they should be arranged in logical groups using group boxes. 9. The tab order should be sequential and logical. Random jumping of tabs is strictly not allowed. Nish

            Author of the romantic comedy Summer Love and Some more Cricket [New Win] Review by Shog9 Click here for review[NW]

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            J Offline
            James R Twine
            wrote on last edited by
            #50

            A few more...    If you use color as part of your interface, like using Green test for informational messages and Red for errors, make the colors selectable by the user!  Many developers forget that some users are colorblind, and others may be using a red or green color as their background color.    If you have a drop-down combobox, make sure to adjust it's dropped width as required.    When showing MessageBoxes to confirm an action with MB_OKCANCEL, MB_YESNO, MB_YESNOCANCEL, etc, make sure to default the "safe" choice.  This one is forgotten most often.  For example, if you are asking the user to confirm a delete action with a message like "Are you sure you want to delete this item? This action cannot be undone!", and are using a MB_YESNO MessageBox, the [No] button should be the default button.    Peace! -=- James. "There is nothing worse than being oblivious to the fact that you do not know what you are doing." [Get Check Favorites 1.4 Now!]

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            • N NormDroid

              Have you checked the Windows User Interface Guidlines. Normski. - Professional Windows Programmer

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              James R Twine
              wrote on last edited by
              #51

              Perhaps try searching for "Official Guidelines for User Interface Developers and Designers", or for "The Windows User Experience" instead...  That is the new name for the book.    Peace! -=- James. "There is nothing worse than being oblivious to the fact that you do not know what you are doing." [Get Check Favorites 1.4 Now!]

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              • J James R Twine

                A few more...    If you use color as part of your interface, like using Green test for informational messages and Red for errors, make the colors selectable by the user!  Many developers forget that some users are colorblind, and others may be using a red or green color as their background color.    If you have a drop-down combobox, make sure to adjust it's dropped width as required.    When showing MessageBoxes to confirm an action with MB_OKCANCEL, MB_YESNO, MB_YESNOCANCEL, etc, make sure to default the "safe" choice.  This one is forgotten most often.  For example, if you are asking the user to confirm a delete action with a message like "Are you sure you want to delete this item? This action cannot be undone!", and are using a MB_YESNO MessageBox, the [No] button should be the default button.    Peace! -=- James. "There is nothing worse than being oblivious to the fact that you do not know what you are doing." [Get Check Favorites 1.4 Now!]

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                Michael P Butler
                wrote on last edited by
                #52

                James R. Twine wrote: make sure to default the "safe" choice. This one is forgotten most often. I'll hold my hand up to that one, it is one of my most common mistakes. Luckily I don't do any "dangerous" applications. "Launch Nuclear Missile at Iraq YES No" :~ Michael :-) Look, try and use your intelligence, man, even if you are a politician. - The Doctor

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                • M Michael P Butler

                  James R. Twine wrote: make sure to default the "safe" choice. This one is forgotten most often. I'll hold my hand up to that one, it is one of my most common mistakes. Luckily I don't do any "dangerous" applications. "Launch Nuclear Missile at Iraq YES No" :~ Michael :-) Look, try and use your intelligence, man, even if you are a politician. - The Doctor

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                  J Offline
                  James R Twine
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #53

                  Michael P Butler wrote: Look, try and use your intelligence, man, even if you are a politician. - The Doctor     :eek: Sweet!  Another _Who_vian (or Apprentice Time Lord)! :-D    Peace! -=- James. "There is nothing worse than being oblivious to the fact that you do not know what you are doing." [Get Check Favorites 1.4 Now!]

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                  • N Nish Nishant

                    Hey guys I am working on a set of UI guidelines for designing dialog boxes. I have a few tips ready already. But I am looking for several more. Your suggestions are welcome Dialog boxes 1. All dialog boxes will have a CANCEL button, and when the user clicks the CANCEL button the dialog will be dismissed without any changes being applied 2. Pressing ESCAPE when a dialog box is active will have the same effect as clicking the CANCEL button 3. On Windows based systems, the dialog will have a Close button [X} in the title bar which will duplicate the behaviour of the CANCEL button 4. All dialog boxes will have an OK button and when the user clicks the OK button, the dialog will be dismissed and all changes will be applied 5. Pressing ENTER on a dialog box will have the same effect as clicking on the OK button, except when the focus is on a multi-line edit box 6. The size of the dialog box will be such that it will fit within the screen on the lowest target resolution which by default is fixed as 640 x 480. Depending on the target requirements this default may be raised or lowered. 7. Dialog boxes that accept data entry should be modal. 8. Ideally there should not be more than 10 data entry fields on a dialog box, inclusive of edit boxes, combo boxes, list boxes, check boxes and radio buttons. Text fields are not counted. Under special situations where it is absolutely necessary that there will be more than 10 data entry fields in a dialog, they should be arranged in logical groups using group boxes. 9. The tab order should be sequential and logical. Random jumping of tabs is strictly not allowed. Nish

                    Author of the romantic comedy Summer Love and Some more Cricket [New Win] Review by Shog9 Click here for review[NW]

                    S Offline
                    S Offline
                    Shog9 0
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #54

                    Wow, what a great thread. One of those few threads that makes me sad i don't have the time to spend all day posting to, ranting in outrage at others' opinions. The one guideline i'm going to comment on, as several other people have already, is #6: Nishant S wrote: 6. The size of the dialog box will be such that it will fit within the screen on the lowest target resolution which by default is fixed as 640 x 480. Depending on the target requirements this default may be raised or lowered. Instead, i would say:

                    6. The minimum size of the dialog box will be less than the miniumum target screen resolution. This minimum size will be enforced regardless of font size and border settings - the dialog controls must be adjusted or re-arranged to accomidate such preference changes. If the dialog contains scrollable controls such as list boxes, multi-line edit controls, tree controls, etc. then it MUST be resizeable.

                    And to refine this, i would also add:

                    6a. All resizeable dialogs will display appropriate controls to indicate how they may be resized:

                    • a thick vertical border if the dialog can be resized horizontally
                    • a thick horizontal border if the dialog can be resized vertically
                    • a gripper at lower-right if the dialog can be resized diagonally
                    • a maximize button if the dialog can be resized to fill the screen
                    • a minimize button if the dialog can be iconized.

                    And finally:

                    6b. If a minimize feature is added to a modal dialog, it must minimize the entire application, so users are not presented with a disabled application window.

                    --------

                    PMGRE

                    --Shog9 --

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                    • J James R Twine

                      Michael P Butler wrote: Look, try and use your intelligence, man, even if you are a politician. - The Doctor     :eek: Sweet!  Another _Who_vian (or Apprentice Time Lord)! :-D    Peace! -=- James. "There is nothing worse than being oblivious to the fact that you do not know what you are doing." [Get Check Favorites 1.4 Now!]

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                      Michael P Butler
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #55

                      James R. Twine wrote: Sweet! Another Whovian (or Apprentice Time Lord)! I've been a fan since the 70's. Not one of those hard core continuity nuts but one who enjoys a good adventure story with a touch of sci-fi. Michael :-) Look, try and use your intelligence, man, even if you are a politician. - The Doctor

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