SSW Rules to Better Interfaces(ZT)

Post by "Shrek", 2007-07-19, 11:30
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Rules To Better Interfaces

• Do you realize that a good interface shouldn't require instructions?
• Do you realize that when it comes to interface design "less is more"?
• Do you use a Wizard to help a user through a complicated set of steps?
• Does the first form provide the user product information?
• Do you add an introduction screen prior to settings?
• Do you visually indicate to the users the step where they are up to in the wizard?
• Do you visually let the user know when they are finished?
• Do you avoid doing an embedded add?
• Do you avoid using plain textboxes for notes?
• Do you use bold text and indentation, instead of dividing lines?
• Do you make graphs easy to digest?
• Do you remember the user's last settings?
• Do you label your form buttons consistently?
• Do you keep Time Precision format consistent?
• Do you keep Date Precision format consistent?
• Don't use OK button if it does one clear action
• Do you avoid dynamically labelling your form buttons?
• Do you know how to make message boxes user friendly?
• Do you avoid giving an Error" message for validation purposes?
• Do you use messages that are concise and informative?
• Do you follow the control size and spacing standards?
• Do you strike-through completed items?
• Windows Form should have a minimum size to avoid unexpected UI behavior?
• Do you clearly show a pass, fail or warning?
• Does your application's interface fit in the screen under any resolutions?
• Do you indicate when fields are Read Only or calculated?
• Do you avoid capturing incorrect data?
• Do you put the company URL in the title bar?
• Do you know the first word of your Title Bar should be the current document (or selected project)?
• Menu - Do you have a link to your application's user guide?
• Menu - Do you have a standard "Help About" form?
• Menu - Do you know the seven items every Help menu needs?
• Menu - Do you have a standard "Tools" menu that includes a way to validate data?
• Sound - Did you know that a message box automatically plays a beep?
• Sound - Do you realise the importance of sounds to User Interface?
• Do you provide a warning before a program exits?
• What's the difference between Close and Cancel?
• Do you use a UDL when getting database settings?
• Do you use ellipsis (...) to indicate an action requiring more user input?
• Do you use Calendar controls effectively?
• Do you know that popup/modal forms should never have ShowInTaskbar=True
• Do you avoid "Data Junk"?
• Do you include the number of results in combo-boxes?
• Do you have '-All-' option in your combo-boxes?
• Do you extend the size of combo-boxes to show as many results as possible?
• Do you save the last users selections?
• Do your Windows Forms have border protection?
• Do you have a top CheckBox for users to perform a "select all"?
• Long Processes - Do you know how to make long-running processes user-friendly?
• Long Processes - Do you show the status of progress bar on winform's title?
• Sample - Do you supply a sample database?
• Sample - Do your sample databases have good Naming Conventions?
• Sample - Do you avoid dropping a user's database when you attempt to create a database?
• Reports - Do you have a standard Report footer?
• Reports - Do you keep Reporting criteria simple?
• Controls - Do your buttons have a mnemonic?
• Controls - Do you disable buttons that are unavailable?
• Controls - Do you make Option Groups and Check Boxes simple to understand?
• Controls - Do you use a ToolTip to show the full text of hidden ListView data?
• Controls - Do you use Microsoft Recommended Font in your Application?
• Control Choice - Do you use ListView and DataGrid appropriately?
• Control Choice - Do you know when to use CheckBox?
• Control Choice - Do you use Combo Boxes instead of single-select List Boxes?
• Control Choice - Do you use Checked List Boxes instead of multi-select List Boxes?
• Control Choice - Do you have a consistent look on your buttons?
• Control Choice - Do you avoid using "Group Box" and use a line to organize your form?
• Control Choice - Do you use bold on the main options to make them clearer?
• Control Choice - Do you know when to use options group (Radio Buttons) instead of ComboBox?
• Data Entry Forms - The way to develop Data Entry Forms
• Data Entry Forms - Do you provide the user Drill-Downs Drill-Arounds?
• Data Entry Forms - Do you avoid using menus for Combo Box maintenance?
• Data Entry - Do you align your Add/Edit/Delete buttons horizontal and bottom right?
• Data Entry - Do you avoid combining different entities?
• Data Entry - Do you avoid using one form for data entry and find navigation?
• Do you use Text Boxes for displaying data?
• Do you focus to the correct control on validation error?
• Do you use green tick, red cross and spinning icon to show the status?
• Do you create a popup form for editing details?
• Do you use icons in menu?
• Do you make login state clear?
• Do you set row select mode as "FullRowSelect" for DataGridView if it is read only?