[IxDA Discuss] Arrangement of Dialogbuttons

[Todd Zaki Warfel]

We always put the default button at the right and right align the  
buttons:
[ Close ] [ Okay ]

One reason is that in testing we've continually noticed people  
migrate to the bottom right corner. Even though Windows does it the  
other way (default at left). So, they target right, then move along  
the line to the left - not very efficient and doesn't match up to  
their mental model.

The other problem with the model you're proposing is that the target  
of the default button is never going to be in a predictable place  
(something Tog griped about with the Apple OS X Dock). It will always  
depend on the number of buttons there and their size as to where it  
will end up. But placing it at the far right, it's in a (more)  
predictable area and target every time.

Our form submission patter puts the default button to the right,  
followed by other buttons to the left. Buttons are right aligned. The  
default button is visually highlighted (stands out) to help the user  
select the appropriate action and reduce mental processing needed to  
complete the form.

On Apr 25, 2007, at 6:25 AM, sysscore wrote:

> In modal dialogs windows used following combinations [ OK ]  
> [ Cancel ]  or [ Ok ] [ Cancel ] [Apply]
>
> Is it not better, if the "Apply" button is arranged between "OK"  
> and "Cancel"?
>
> Non-modal dialogs
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ------
>
> In non-modal dialogs in mostly applications were used following  
> buttons  [ Apply ] [ Close ]
>
> But i want to insert an additional "OK" button for faster  
> confirmation. On which place i should arrange the "OK" button? I  
> can't find solution about that problem in the big software  
> styleguides of  windows and others.
>
> My proposal is   [ Apply ] [ OK ] [ Close ]  another  proposal   
> [ OK ] [ Apply ] [ Close ]


Cheers!

Todd Zaki Warfel
Partner, Design & Usability Specialist
Messagefirst | Designing Information. Beautifully.
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