3.16. Presentation controls.

Presentation controls are purcly informational.

si They provide details about other screen elements or controls (or) assist
ingiving the screen structure.

Common presentation controls are static text ficlds, group boxes,

column headings, Tool tips and progress indicators.
3.16.1. Static Text Fields.

" Description.
A static text field provides read only textual information
It is a standard Microsoft windows control.

"Purpose.
Toidentify a çontrol by displaying a control caption.
To clarify a screen by providing instructional or prompting infomation.
To present descriptive information.
 Windows 3.135

Purpose usage.

J Use static field to create and present read only information, including all
control captions.

Itclarify screen usage by providing prompting or instructional information.

/ Descriptive information can be provided through static text field.

Caption:
HEADING

Thismessage is very important!

Fig 3. 8.4. Static text field.

" Static Text Field guidelines.

V Caption.
" Always include a colon as part of the caption.

Include a keyboard equivalent for all captions to provide,

keyboard access to its associated control.

. When associated control is disabled, display it dimmed.

Instructional or prompting information.
Display it in a unique and consistent' font style for casy
-recognition and differentiation.

VDescriptive information.

. Follow guidelines for required screen (or) control descriptive

information.
 .Column Headings.
3.16.3.
Description.
J Acolumn heading control also known as a header control is used to display a
heading above columns of text or numbers.
J Itcan be divided into 2 or more parts.

" Purp0se.

To identify a column ofinformation contained in a table.

" Proper usage.

To display a heading above a column of infomation contained ina table.

" Guidelines.

Provide a brief heading.

The heading can include text as well as graphic image.

Capitalize the first letter of each significant word.
Donot include an ending colon.
V The width ofthe column should fit the average size of the column entries.
Itdoes not support key board access. + Column heading

Column part
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585KB Document 26/03/09

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Fig 3.86 Column heading control.
3.138 User interfacedesign
3.16.4. Tool Tips.

". Description.
/A Small pop up window containing descriptive text that appears when .
pointer is moved over a control.

It does not poSsess a caption or that possesses only an abbreviated caption.

" Purpose.
Toprovide descriptive information about a control or screen element.

" Advantages.

V It provides an easy way to identify an otherwise unidentifiable control.

Reduces possible screen clutter caused by control captions and

descriptive information.
/ Enables controls size to be reduced.

" Disadvantages.
It is not clear and must be discovered.

Its appearance when the pointer is positioned in correctly or is slowy

-passing over it can be distracting to the screen viewer.
" Tool tipguidelines.
Display after a short time out.

For toolbars, provide a brief word as a label.

ending
V Use mixed case in the headline style of presentation with no
punctuation.
 Windows 3.139

Y For other clements provide a brief phrase presenting descriptive or

status information.

V Use mixed case in the scntence style of presentation.

Prescnt tool tips at the lower right edge of the pointer.

V Display them fully on the screcn.
V For text boxes display tool tips centers under the control.
Display them in the standard system tool tip colors.
V Remove the ToolTip when the control is activated or the pointer is
moved away.
V Don't substitute Tool tips for good design.

Time,
Fig 3.87 Tool Tip.

6.5. Balloon Tips.

" Description.
a
It is a small popup window. that contains information presented in
word balloon.
informational.
Its component can include a title, body text and
warning òr critical icons.
It appear adjacent to the item to which they apply, generally above or
to left.
time.
Only one tip, the last posted, is visible at any

/ Tips are removed after a specified time period.

3.140 User interface design
Purpose.
To provide additional descriptive or status information about a sTe
element.

" Advantages.

V It can provide useful reminder and status information to the user.

Disadvantages.
V Ifover used they lose their attention getting value.
V If overused in situations the user consider, not very important, et
continual appearance can be more serious.

Proper Usage.
For non critical reminder or notification information, specia
conditions or status information that would otherwise requires
message box.

V They are very useful for informing the user of unexpected system
behaviours.
Do not use tips to display critical information.
78

You have entered an invalid

character. Valid chatacter
0-9,*

Fig 3.88 Balloon tip.

Balloon Tip Guidelines.

General.

Use balloon tip for either notification or

reminders.
 Windows 3.141
Use a notification tip to inform the
user about state charnges.
Use a reminder tip for state changes that the user might not
usually notice.
Point the tip of the balloon to the item it
references.
Donot use them to replace Tool Tips.
" Do not overuse balloon Lips.
Content.

The notification balloon tip has a maxímum length of 100

characters including the title and body text.
"Title text automatically appears as bold text.
" Body text uses the text style and size of standardTool Tips.
If the tip refers to an icon or other images representing aspecific
object include the object name, using its normal capitalization
and the object's status, using sentence style presentation without
ending punctuation.
" Body text should include a description of the situation in one or 2
brief sentences and brief suggestion for correcting the situation.

3.16.6. Progress Indicators.

" Description.
YA rectangular bar that fills as a process is being performed, indicating the
percentage of the process that has been completed.
" Purpose.
of a lengthy operation.
V To provide feedback concerning the completion
" Proper Usage.
provide an indication of theproportion of a process completed.
To
 3.142 User interface design
Progress Indicator Guidelines.
arrayed, fill it from
When filling the indicator, If horizontally
bottom to top,
from
right and hotizontally arrayed fill it
V Fill it with a color or shade of gray.
text control
Create necessary descriptive text using a static

V Position the text outside of the control.

RECORDS

Updating "
46% complete.

Stop.

Fig 3.89 Progress Indicator.

3.16.7. Sample box.

Deseription.

Asample box is a box illustrating what will show up on the screen basi
upon the parameter or parameters currently selected.
It may include text, graphics or both.

Purpose.
To provide presentation of actual screen content based upon the parametd
or parameters selected.

" Guide lines.

J Include a brief label using mixed case in the

headline style.
 Windows 3.143

Position the sample box immediatcly adiacent to the

affecting itscontent. control or controls

Sample.

AaBby

Fig 3.90 Sample box.

3.16.8. Scrolling Tickers.
Description.
Ascrolling ticker is a window that contains text scrolling horizontally.
. Advantages.
V It consume less screen space than full text.

" Disadvantages."
Hard to read.

Time consuming to interpret.

Screen elements are visually distracting.

Guidelines.

V Do not use scrolling tickers.