Forms | 11 |
Forms can encompass one or more display or action types on a card or set of cards. There are two primary types of forms: forms that allow the user to enter information sequentially (wizard forms) and forms that show all of the fields in one list and allow users to choose what data to enter (elective data forms).
Shared Feature Set: Wizard Forms
■Use a wizard form whenever possible.
User tests show that wizards are always easier to use. Elective data forms require the user to focus on navigation instead of entering data, and mistakes are often made. This is particularly the case for Openwave browsers – the navigation features within the browsers make wizard forms very quick for users to navigate. The different presentation model of the Nokia and Mitsubishi browsers means that presenting all information in one card is sometimes more efficient for the user.
■Link cards in a logical order.
Provide a logical order that suggests what needs to be entered or selected and why.
■Include descriptive text and titles for all <input> or <select> elements.
■Place each <input> or <select> element on a card of its own.
■The primary action should access the next card in the sequence.
Bind the action of <do type="accept"> to the next card with a required field.
■The primary label for all cards in the sequence, except the final card, should be Next.
The label for the last card in the wizard should explain the final action, such as Save, Send, Order, or Buy. Limit the label to five characters.
■Create a final verification card displaying all entered or selected values.
Allow the user to change the values if necessary.
■Return to the first card in the wizard form for backward navigation.
Many devices have shared Clear and Back keys for text input. For this reason, the user must delete the information in the card before returning to the previous card. To prevent this, map the Back key to the first card in the form. In this way, users can revisit the cards without deleting the information they already entered. See “Backward Navigation” on page 39 for more information.
February 2001 | Genie Application Style Guide 59 |
