[IxDA Discuss] Should closing a window save changes?

[Jim Drew]

>From: Al Selvin <alselvin at gmail.com>
>
>We have an application with a dialogue box that allows users to enter
>text. Normally there is an OK and Cancel button, users click OK to
>save and close the window, Cancel to close without saving. In Windows
>(there are also Mac and Linux versions), currently closing the window
>by clicking the X in upper right has the same behaviour as clicking
>Cancel (closes without saving).
>
>Is this proper? We've had a change request that clicking the X should
>save the changes.
>
>I also now wonder if we should prompt the user (e.g. "Close without
>saving your changes?").

In the product I currently work on, there are one or two dialogs where the X box means "proceed forward", while in all the others, it means "Cancel".  I think it is in dialogs without a Cancel button that it doesn't mean Cancel.

If users have any expectation about the X, it is that it means Cancel.  (Many users are just mystified by it.)  Rather than prompting the user, I would say that if there is going to be any divergence from the expectation -- different behavior or no Cancel option -- then don't show it.  Removes the problem completely.

In fact, I would say that it should (generally) not be present in modal dialogs at all.  Why deal with the added questions?

-- Jim