[IxDA Discuss] Button placement

[Lisa Westbrook]

	From: 	  lisa at lisawestbrook.com
	Subject: 	Button placement
	Date: 	November 7, 2006 2:06:02 PM PST
	To: 	  discuss at ixda.com

Hello:

The tab button question brings up something I had been meaning to  
ask  Is there a standard for button placement in web applications?

In a wizard or guide, I usually go with the forward to the right and  
the cancel or back to the left.  But in an application I have several  
form type pages: running reports, changing settings, etc.  My plan  
had been to follow the way I had previously done it with the submit  
or get report or other positive action on the right and cancel or  
clear form or whatever on the left.

When I watch users though, they seem to pause for a minute on the  
left most button before moving to the right, like they wish it was  
there.  When I ask, they admit to thinking it would be good to have  
it there, but immediately say it's fine with it on the right.  One  
even pointed out that it is farther to go on a web page to click the  
right button and the mouse would be closer to the left button.

So my question is; is there a standard?  I haven't seen enough of  
this behavior to justify changing it around, but I want to make sure  
it is inline with expectations for all the users I can't observe.

Thanks for the assistance:
Lisa