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= Introduction =
{{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG }}
 
Human interface guidelines (HIG) are software development documents that offer
application developers a set of recommendations. Their aim is to improve the
experience for users by making application interfaces more consistent and
hence more intuitive and learnable.
 
[[/About|Learn more about the philosophy behind the KDE HIG]]
 
= Structure =
<div style="display: none;">
== Conceptual Model ==
* Real World, Vision
== Task Flow ==
* Core usability goals, Use cases / User requirements, Task aggregation
* Personas, Scenarios, Usability criteria, Feature list
== Organizational Model ==
* [[Terminology]]
* Information architecture, Interface management, Window style, Basic arrangement, Screen design, Design Pattern
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/CentralConfiguration|central configuration]] (content tbd.)
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/NotificationMechanism|Notification mechanism]] (content tbd.)
*Minimize to tray (perhaps at behaviour>navigation)
</div>
 
= Behaviour =
== Viewing and Navigation ==
=== General navigation ===
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Dialogs|Dialogs]]
* Accordion
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Tabs_Pages|Tabs and Pages in Dialogs]]
* Toolbar
* Status bar
* Paging
=== Access functions ===
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Menu_Bar|Menu Bar]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Buttons|Buttons]]
** [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Toggle_Buttons|Toggle Buttons]]
* Links
* Keyboard Access
** [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Keyboard_Accelerators|Keyboard Accelerators]]
** [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Keyboard_Shortcuts|Keyboard Shortcuts]]
=== Grouping ===
* Group box, Panel
* Splitter
=== Complex views ===
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ListView| List View]] to show some items out of one category.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TreeView| Tree View]] to show items with a single, natural, hierarchical categorization with more than two levels that's familiar to most users.
* Grids
* If you really need to create your own widget follow the guidelines for  [[Projects/Usability/HIG/CustomControls| custom controls]].
 
== Editing and Manipulation ==
=== Selection ===
* Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Radio Buttons|radio buttons]] for 1 of a few n selections.
* Use one or more [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Check_Box|check boxes]] for clear options or n of a few m selections.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/DropDown| drop-down]] list for 1 of a few n selection.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Combo_Box| combo box]] for 1 of a few n selection where users should be able to add items.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ListView|list view]] for 1 of some m (singular) selections.
* Apply the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/DualList| dual list pattern]] for n of m (multiple) selections.
 
=== Unconstrained input ===
* Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/LineEdit| line edit]] to enter one line of text.
* Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TextEdit| text edit]] to enter multiple lines of texts.
* Consider to provide inline editing with complex views.
<div style="display: none;">http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/inline_editing</div>
=== Constrained input ===
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Spin_Box|Spin Box]] for numerical input within a range and with fix steps.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Slider|Slider]] for arbitrary changes within a defined range.
* Apply the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Slider_and_Spin_Box|slider and spin box pattern]] for numeric input with both large changes and precise control.
* Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Date_Time_Pickers|Date and Time Pickers]] for formatted input of datum, time of day, or periods etc.
 
== User Assistance ==
=== User-driven information ===
* Provide [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Tooltip|tool-tips]] for user driven information.
 
=== System triggered notification ===
* Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/MessageWidget| message panel]] to inform users about non-critical problems.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Notifications|notification]] as system-triggered message to acknowledge about events out of the current context.
* Show a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ProgressIndicator| progress indicator]] for lengthy actions.
 
=== Disruptive messages ===
* Show a modal [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Messages|message dialog]] if the processing has reached an unexpected condition that needs interaction.
 
=== Help system ===
* Support the user by an elaborated interface or per [[Projects/Usability/HIG/HelpSystem|help system]].
 
= Presentation =
== Layout ==
* Resizing
* Default and minimal size
* Spacing
* Carefully place control according the KDE [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Alignment| alignment]] style.
* Do not use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Color| color]]  as primary method of communication.
* Icons
 
== Style ==
== Text ==
* Language localizations
* Static text
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Labels|Control Labels]]
** [[Projects/Usability/HIG/KNS|KNewStuff Button Labels]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Wording|Wording]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Ellipsis|Ellipsis]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Capitalization|Capitalization]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Contractions|Contractions (don't, there's, etc.)]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Exclamation_points|Exclamation Points]]
 
See also:
 
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Tablet/Index|HIG for Plasma Active]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Netbook/Index|HIG for Plasma Netbook]]
 
=Contributing=
 
Didn't find what you were looking for?
 
A guide to the guide can be found at the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/About|about page]].
 
Our Human Interface Guidelines are a work in progress and we need your help. Visit the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Contributing|Contributing page]] to report problems or get involved.
 
=Index=
 
'''B'''
 
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Buttons|Buttons]]
 
'''C'''
 
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Capitalization|Capitalization]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Contractions|Contractions (don't, there's, etc.)]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Check_Box|Check Box]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Combo_Box|Combo Box]]
 
 
'''D'''
 
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Date_Time_Pickers|Date and Time Pickers]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Dialogs|Dialogs]]
 
'''E'''
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Ellipsis|Ellipsis]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Exclamation_points|Exclamation Points]]
 
'''F'''
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Form_Label_Alignment|Forms: Label Alignment]]
 
'''K'''
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/KNS|KNewStuff Button Labels]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Keyboard_Accelerators|Keyboard Accelerators]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Keyboard_Shortcuts|Keyboard Shortcuts]]
 
'''L'''
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Labels|Labels]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ListView|List Views]]
 
'''M'''
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Menu_Bar|Menu Bar]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Messages|Messages]]
 
'''R'''
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Radio Buttons|Radio Buttons]]
 
'''S'''
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Slider|Slider]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Slider_and_Spin_Box|Slider and Spin Box]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Spin_Box|Spin Box]]
 
'''T'''
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Tabs_Pages|Tabs and Pages in Dialogs]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Toggle_Buttons|Toggle Buttons]]
 
'''W'''
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Wording|Wording]]
 
[[Category:Usability]]

Latest revision as of 11:26, 4 August 2016

This page is now on the community wiki.