[IxDA Discuss] Should closing a window save changes?

[Darryll DeCoster]

It should depend on the delivery platform. If the forms are to be hosted
within a website or web app, then they should follow the standard function
of the web. Which would discard the unsaved data, possibly with a
confirmation box, although I would build in a warning or confirmation that
they have unsaved data which will be lost if the window is closed.

I recently added a Mac to my mass of computers, and honestly it is very
counter intuitive to not have to click a save or apply button on changes.
That's not say I think it's wrong - but having been a Windows user since the
days of Windows 3.1, I am a little accustomed to some things. If the user
base is primarily a Windows user base, then the function should conform to
what they expect there as well - unless there are very compelling reasons to
make the change.

Darryll

-- 
www.floggingenglish.com
www.delivermyliver.com

On 4/3/07, Paul Schreiber <shrub at mac.com> wrote:
>
> Martin wrote:
>
> > On the Mac at least, save on close if often implied, at least for
> > preferences windows. There is no OK/Cancel button, and closing the
> > window
> > via the red X button will save the changes and close the window. So
> > you
> > could argue that for Mac users the expectation would be that
> > changes are
> > saved automatically, at least if the changes are related to setting
> > preferences. Windows users might expect the opposite though.
> >
> > How about asking for a confirmation on close? If there are unsaved
> > changes,
> > intercept the close and ask if the changes should be saved or
> > discarded.
>
> This is incorrect.
>
> In most Mac OS X applications (Finder, Safari, etc.), preference
> changes happen immediately, as soon as the checkbox/radio button/
> button is clicked. You don't need to close the window.
>
> There are a couple of exceptions/variations:
> - In Mail > Preferences > Accounts, changes must be confirmed with a
> Save/Don't Save/Cancel sheet
> - In DVD Player and iTunes, the preferences dialogs are modal, and
> you must click OK
>
>
> Paul
>
>           shad 96c / uw cs 2001
>         / mac activist / fumbler / eda / headliner / navy-souper
> fan of / sophie b. / steve poltz / habs / bills / 49ers /
>
> "One hundred percent of the shots you don't take don't go in."
>   --Wayne Gretzky
>
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