Projects/Usability/HIG

From KDE TechBase

Structure

Conceptual Model

  • Real World, Vision

Task Flow

  • Core usability goals, Use cases / User requirements, Task aggregation
  • Personas, Scenarios, Usability criteria, Feature list

Organizational Model

Behaviour

Viewing and Navigation

General navigation

Access functions

Grouping

  • Group box, Panel
  • Splitter

Complex views

  • Use a List View to show some items out of one category.
  • Tree view
  • Grids
  • If you really need to create your own widget follow the guidelines for custom controls.

Editing and Manipulation

Selection

  • Use radio buttons for 1 of a few n selections.
  • Use one or more check boxes for clear options or n of a few m selections.
  • Use a drop-down list for 1 of a few n selection.
  • Use a combo box for 1 of a few n selection where users should be able to add items.
  • Use a list view for 1 of some m (singular) selections.
  • Apply the dual list pattern for n of m (multiple) selections.

Unconstrained input

  • Provide a line edit to enter one line of text.
  • Provide a text edit to enter multiple lines of texts.
  • Consider to provide inline editing with complex views.

Constrained input

  • Use a Spin Box for numerical input within a range and with fix steps.
  • Use a Slider for arbitrary changes within a defined range.
  • Apply the slider and spin box pattern for numeric input with both large changes and precise control.
  • Use Date and Time Pickers for formatted input of datum, time of day, or periods etc.

User Assistance

User-driven information

  • Provide tool-tips for user driven information.

System triggered notification

Disruptive messages

  • Show a modal message dialog if the processing has reached an unexpected condition that needs interaction.

Help system

  • Support the user by an elaborated interface or per help system.

Presentation

Layout

  • Resizing
  • Default and minimal size
  • Spacing
  • Carefully place control according the KDE alignment style.
  • Do not use color as primary method of communication.
  • Icons

Style

Text

See also:

Contributing

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Our Human Interface Guidelines are a work in progress and we need your help. Visit the Contributing page to report problems or get involved.

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