Web Developer's Virtual Library: Encyclopedia of Web Design Tutorials, Articles and Discussions


WDVL Newsletter

Active Server Pages
JSP/Java Servlets
Microsoft SQL Server
Daily Backup
Dedicated Servers
Streaming Audio/Video
24-hour Support    

jobs.webdeveloper.com

Hiermenus


e-commerce
Partner With Us















Developer Channel
FlashKit.com
JavaScript.com
JavaScriptSource
Developer Jobs
ScriptSearch
StreamingMediaWorld
Web Developer's Journal
Web Developer's Virtual Library
WebDeveloper.com
Webreference
Web Hosts
XMLfiles.com

internet.com
IT
Developer
Internet News
Small Business
Personal Technology

Search internet.com
Advertise
Corporate Info
Newsletters
Tech Jobs
E-mail Offers


Dropdown Boxes - Page 4

December 10, 2001

A small number of options usually presents few problems. Large numbers are more dangerous territory. A common error is excluding an option that users would like to select. For example does your list of countries include the Caribbean island of Aruba, and the principality of Monaco in Europe? Does your list of US state abbreviations include "not US" for international users, and if you do a lot of international business, is it near the top, so they don't have to do a lot of scrolling?

Dropdown boxes are an area where usability experts and the Web's most popular sites often part company. Some usability experts (and some users) complain about the clumsiness of long dropdown lists — for countries and even for dates. Yet you'll find them on sites that are well known for good usability.

What those top sites have discovered is that users are pretty dumb, or at least not great at filling in country and date text boxes in a way that computers can understand. If they offer text boxes, the error rates go way up, and that's worse than the mere clumsiness of long dropdowns.

But do remember that whenever you use a dropdown box you're taking control away from the user, which is generally a bad idea. You are restricting them and refusing to accept responses they might prefer to give.

Since most people don't know that keyboard arrow keys work on dropdown boxes, you also have to consider whether your layout forces your user to keep switching from keyboard to mouse. Whenever possible, you should avoid these switches. If your overall layout permits it, try to group mouse operations (checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdowns) together and keyboard operations (text fields) together.

Text Fields

Users generally prefer these to dropdowns, assuming the computer at the other end can understand the content and won't come up with an error message.

The displayed size of a text field is important because it give users a clue what size answer is expected. If they run out of space, they'll wonder if they're doing something wrong. This can be used to advantage. If you're using a text box to accept US State abbreviations, you can set the displayed box size to two characters, while at the same time setting a high maximum field size so the box still works if a full State name is typed in.

The issue of dividing up address boxes into separate lines, usually labelled Address Line 1, Address Line 2, and so on, is another tricky one. Some usability experts prefer to see the address lines combined as single text field. The problem here is that you must then disable the Enter key so it can be used as a carriage return without submitting the form, and point out to the user that you've done this, so they have the confidence to press it. Once again, the common practice of splitting address lines, as used on almost all the top sites, creates some apparent clumsiness but is probably the neatest solution when compared to the alternatives.

Do make sure your system can accept spaces between numbers. Users will often add spaces when entering telephone and credit card numbers. If these generate an error, they'll think your computers are pretty dumb, or, if they're a bit more knowledgeable, that your programmers are pretty dumb.

It's this kind of attention to detail, and programming effort, that separates good forms from bad ones, and leaves your visitor with their final impression of whether your HTML forms were a painful battleground, or simply a mildly tedious experience. That final impression, which is their judgement on your usability, could easily determine whether they come back again.

Links:



Up to => Home / Authoring / Design / Basics




Jupiter Online Media: internet.comearthweb.comDevx.commediabistro.comGraphics.com

Search:

Jupitermedia Corporation has two divisions: Jupiterimages and Jupiter Online Media

Jupitermedia Corporate Info


Legal Notices, Licensing, & Permissions, Privacy Policy.

Web Hosting | Newsletters | Tech Jobs | Shopping | E-mail Offers