[IxDA Discuss] Stuffing focus to textbox controls

[jackbellis.com]

I just used a great web2.0 app that wisely contravenes the Windows behavior
cited in the IE Lan Settings dialog. At www.wufoo.com (free account) I
created a form and when I check the Email New Entries option, the focus
shifts to the sub box. I'm all in favor of using Windows as guidance when it
improves the user experience. In this situation I see no compelling reason
that it would.

www.jackbellis.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "adamya ashk" <adamya at gmail.com>
To: "Jim Drew" <cfmdesigns at earthlink.net>
Cc: <discuss at ixda.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Stuffing focus to textbox controls


> [Please voluntarily trim replies to include only relevant quoted
material.]
>
> In this case the dev team is quoting 'Windows behavior' correctly. You
> can see an example in Internet Explorer. Go to Tools>Internet
> Options>Connections>Lan Settings.
>
> However, This is only right in a 'Windows' context because the OS is
> also customized to be accessible through keyboard shortcuts only and
> being able to function in the environment without a mouse.
>
> Try pressing 'Alt' on the window above and the reason for this
> hierarchy will become immediately clear (Keyboard shortcuts will
> appear and the the focus will be on the first option; if you select
> the third option down by pressing tab twice and then the space bar the
> fields below will activate but the focus stays on the third check box
> so that you can easily un-select it)
>
> The inactive sub-fields in windows are a clunky solution in my
> opinion. In tests I have seen many new users click on these fields and
> then wonder aloud why they can't fill them in.
>
> The correct solution would depend on your context, you could try
> visually emphasizing the options separately along with selection or
> even breaking ;) with the Windows way and auto selecting the option
> when a sub is clicked. I am sure your dev team would see the error of
> their ways during simple usability test with users.
>
> HTH and is not too late.
>
> -Adamya
>
> On 6/30/06, Jim Drew <cfmdesigns at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > [Please voluntarily trim replies to include only relevant quoted
material.]
> >
> > This may relate to the recent auto-tabbing thread...
> >
> > For using a proxy server to establish an internet connection, we have
one checkbox for enabling the proxy, which makes active a textbox for the
server and port plus another checkbox for authorization.  Turning on the
second checkbox enables username/password fields.
> >
> > What should happen with the input focus when the checkboxes are turned
on?  Should it stay where the user last clicked, or should it move to the
newly enabled textbox, or go somewhere else.  (The first textbox has default
cue text in it of "server:port"; the other textboes have no default
content.)
> >
> > I'm of the opinion that the user's next action is always going to be to
fill in the textbox, so moving the focus helps the user.  ("Always": well,
unless he is just playing around, seeing that the controls work.  If he is
*using* them, then pretty close to "always".)
> >
> > The response from the Dev team has been "Maybe that's how who you used
to work for did it, but that's not how Windows does it, so we won't either."
> >
> > Is that true?  I couldn't find any examples of enabling sub-controls in
Windows Explorer (or Internet Explorer or Word) with a little poking around,
so I can't be sure that the claim is true.  (And if it is true, does that
just mean Microsoft needs to improve their behaviors?)  Can anyone point me
to a handful of examples, be they from Microsoft products or otherwise?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > -- Jim Drew
> >    Seattle, WA
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________
> > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)!
> > To post to this list ....... discuss at ixda.org
> > List Guidelines ............ http://listguide.ixda.org/
> > List Help .................. http://listhelp.ixda.org/
> > (Un)Subscription Options ... http://subscription-options.ixda.org/
> > Announcements List ......... http://subscribe-announce.ixda.org/
> > Questions .................. lists at ixda.org
> > Home ....................... http://ixda.org/
> > Resource Library ........... http://resources.ixda.org
> >
> ________________________________________________________________
> Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)!
> To post to this list ....... discuss at ixda.org
> List Guidelines ............ http://listguide.ixda.org/
> List Help .................. http://listhelp.ixda.org/
> (Un)Subscription Options ... http://subscription-options.ixda.org/
> Announcements List ......... http://subscribe-announce.ixda.org/
> Questions .................. lists at ixda.org
> Home ....................... http://ixda.org/
> Resource Library ........... http://resources.ixda.org
>