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| Warning and error messages appear when a problem or error has occurred.
| | {{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG/Messages }} |
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| Warning and error messages should be:
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| * ''Understandable''. Phrase your messages clearly, in non-technical terms and avoid obscure error codes.
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| * ''Specific instead of general''. If the message is reporting a problem concerning a specific object or application, use the object or application name when referring to it.
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| * ''Informative and constructive''. Tell the user the reason for a problem and help on how to solve the problem.
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| * ''Polite, non-terrifying and non-blaming''. Avoid wording that terrifies the user ("fatal", "illegal"), blames him for his behavior, and be polite.
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| '''Confirmation Button Labels'''
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| * To close a warning or error message that does not require further user interaction, provide a Close button. '''Do not use an OK button.''' Users may get confused if they are asked to confirm an error.
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| * Use buttons which match the type of statement or question made in the warning or error message. For example, do no ask a Yes/No question but then provide OK/Cancel buttons.
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| * When the user must choose between two actions to continue, use descriptive button labels instead of standard Yes/No or OK/Cancel buttons. For example, if the user must choose to continue or stop an action, provide the buttons "Continue" and "Cancel".
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| '''Error Details'''
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| * Provide only a short error message and complement it by a Details button that provides more a detailed explanation in the same error dialog.
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| * If it makes sense for this kind of error, link from the error dialog to the corresponding page in the help system. Provide a Help button then.
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| '''Dialog vs. Info Panel'''
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| * Use dialogs for critical error messages, and when you need to make sure that the user sees the message.
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| * Use info panels for non-critical messages which do not require any further user interaction (typically dialogs with a single "OK" or "Close" button).
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