Projects/Usability/HIG/SearchPattern: Difference between revisions

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{{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG/SearchPattern }}
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Ref's:
* http://www.userfocus.co.uk/resources/searchchecklist.html
* http://www.smileycat.com/miaow/archives/002015.php
* http://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=285&t=120079
 
== Purpose ==
A ''search function'' allows to generate a subset out of a big number of items on ground of a user defined pattern.  The function is essential to find matching items in case of a extended list or if the position of target(s) is unknown, as well as when bulk operations should be executed.
 
More text....
 
== Guidelines ==
* Make the search result persistent. Users must not need to research after selecting or referencing an item.
* Consider to allow iterative search on result lists.
* Do not inherit artificial intelligence from users. Search operations have always be clear and comprehensible to users.
* Follow the guidelines on [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ProgressIndicator|delayed operations]] if the search takes longer.
* Provide paging/scrolling of results.
* Provide auto complete feature to the input based on previous operations.
* Start the search process via button or when the user pressed enter.
* Show the search pattern at the header of the result list (e.g. "Search results for: <Hello World>")
* Show hints on how to use the search effectively.
* Do case insensitive search, unless its important.
* Make the search box large enough to show at least 20 characters (at the moment: KRunner & Kicker = 24, Konqueror = 54, KCM = 33, cf. ).
* Run a combined AND search when two words have been entered unless the term is quoted (e.g. Hello World vs "Hello World")
 
== Appearance ==
* Search input consists of an icon, a line input to enter the search pattern, and a button to start the search. (VDG could make a proposal how it looks nice)
* ''Placement''
** Start search at the upper right area of your dialog (KCM and web style).
** Start search at the lower left area of your dialog (Kicker and Konqueror style).
** Show search centered in the upper area of your dialog (Dolphin and KRunner style).
* ''To show or not to show:''
** Always show search input. Do not hide the availability from users.
** Show input control only when users start the search.
** Hide the control in case the search is not the primary function of the app, but show a small button which indicates clearly the availability of the function.
** Active the control and focus it on Ctrl+F or when user clicks the icon.
** Do not use search icon anywhere else.
* ''How to present results'' (Depends on use case?)
** Highlight search results (KCM mode).
** Hide non-matching results (Kicker mode).
** Generate a new list that matches the search pattern  (KRunner mode).
 
== Best Practice ==
 
[[Category:Usability]][[Category:Structure]][[Category:Organizational_Model]]

Latest revision as of 12:09, 4 August 2016

This page is now on the community wiki.