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| = Introduction =
| | {{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG }} |
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| Human interface guidelines (HIG) are software development documents that offer
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| application developers a set of recommendations. Their aim is to improve the
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| experience for users by making application interfaces more consistent and
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| hence more intuitive and learnable.
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| [[/About|Learn more about the philosophy behind the KDE HIG]]
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| = Structure =
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| <div style="display: none;">
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| == Conceptual Model ==
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| * Real World, Vision
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| == Task Flow ==
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| * Core usability goals, Use cases / User requirements, Task aggregation
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| * Personas, Scenarios, Usability criteria, Feature list
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| == Organizational Model ==
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| * [[Terminology]]
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| * Information architecture, Interface management, Window style, Basic arrangement, Screen design, Design Pattern
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| * [[Projects/Usability/HIG/CentralConfiguration|central configuration]] (content tbd.)
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| * [[Projects/Usability/HIG/NotificationMechanism|Notification mechanism]] (content tbd.)
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| *Minimize to tray (perhaps at behaviour>navigation)
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| </div>
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| = Behaviour =
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| == Viewing and Navigation ==
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| === Access functions ===
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| * Apply a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Menu_Bar|menu bar]] to every standard application.
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| * Try to omit the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/StatusBar| status bar]] from your application.
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| * Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ContextMenu|context menu]] for controls with implicit functions.
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| * Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Toolbar|toolbar]] for frequently used functions.
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Buttons|push button]] to initiate an action when the user clicks it.
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Toggle_Buttons|toogle button]] to indicate a state, preferably in toolbars only.
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Command_Link|command link]] to navigate between pages.
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| * Support keyboard access by [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Keyboard_Accelerators|accelerators]] and [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Keyboard_Shortcuts|shortcuts]].
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| * Follow the guidelines for [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Dialogs|dialogs]] for secondary windows.
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| === Grouping ===
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| * Arrange associated controls by using a labeled [[Projects/Usability/HIG/GroupBox| group box]] or an unlabeled [[Projects/Usability/HIG/GroupBox| frame]].
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| * Allow users to resize aligned groups by placing a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Splitter| splitter]] between the groups.
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| * Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TabControl|tabs]] to show related information on separate pages.
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| * Provide an [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Accordion|accordion]] (aka tool box) for different views to content.
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| === Complex views ===
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ListView| list view]] to show some items out of one category.
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TreeView| tree view]] to show items with a single, natural, hierarchical categorization.
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| * If you really need to create your own widget follow the guidelines for [[Projects/Usability/HIG/CustomControls| custom controls]].
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| * Double check the guidelines about plotting [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Diagram|diagram/charts]].
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| == Editing and Manipulation ==
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| === Selection ===
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| * Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Radio Buttons|radio buttons]] for selection of 1 out of a few items.
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| * Use one or more [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Check_Box|check boxes]] for clear options or to select items out of a small number of options.
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/DropDown| drop-down]] list for selection of 1 out of a small number of items.
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Combo_Box| combo box]] to select 1 out of a small number of items where users should be able to add items.
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ListView|list view]] to select 1 singular item out of a potentially big list.
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| * Apply the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/DualList| dual list pattern]] for several selections out of a large number of (multiple) items.
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| === Unconstrained input ===
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| * Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/LineEdit| line edit]] to enter one line of text.
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| * Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TextEdit| text edit]] to enter multiple lines of texts.
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TableView| table view]] to arrange data in rows and columns with inline editing feature.
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| === Constrained input ===
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Spin_Box|spin box]] for numerical input within a range and with fix steps.
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Slider|slider]] for arbitrary changes within a defined range.
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| * Apply the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Slider_and_Spin_Box|slider and spin box pattern]] for numeric input with both large changes and precise control.
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| * Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Date_Time_Pickers|date and time pickers]] for formatted input of datum, time of day, or periods etc.
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| == User Assistance ==
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| === User-driven information ===
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| * Provide [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Tooltip|tool-tips]] for user driven information.
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| === System triggered notification ===
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| * Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/MessageWidget| message panel]] to inform users about non-critical problems.
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| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Notifications|notification]] as system-triggered message to inform about events out of the current context.
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| * Show a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ProgressIndicator| progress indicator]] for lengthy actions.
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| === Disruptive messages ===
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| * Show a modal [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Messages|message dialog]] if the processing has reached an unexpected condition that needs interaction.
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| === Help system ===
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| * Support the user by an elaborated interface or per [[Projects/Usability/HIG/HelpSystem|help system]].
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| = Presentation =
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| == Layout ==
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| * Place controls carefully with proper [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Placement|size and space]] between.
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| * Carefully place control according the KDE [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Alignment| alignment]] style.
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| * Do not use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Color| color]] as primary method of communication.
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| * Choose icons from the Oxygen icon set and follow guidelines on [[Projects/Usability/HIG/IconDesign| icon design]].
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| == Style ==
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| * KDE provides [[Development/Tutorials/Plasma/Theme|full theming]] to users.
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| == Text ==
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| * Keep [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Wording|wording]] consistent and easy to understand.
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| * Take care about [[Projects/Usability/HIG/localization| localization]] of your project.
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| * Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Ellipsis|ellipsis]] to label functions which require user’s input.
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| * Do not apply [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Capitalization|capitalization]] except for titles and in case of sentence style.
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| * Apply standard [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Labels|control labels]] in your app.
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| * Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/StaticText|static text]] for main instruction and supplemental information.
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| =Contributing=
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| Didn't find what you were looking for?
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| A guide to the guide can be found at the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/About|about page]].
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| 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.
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| = See also =
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| * [http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/Tablet/Index| KDE HIG for Plasma Active]
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| * [http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/Netbook/Index| KDE HIG for Plasma Netbook]
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| * [http://hcibib.org/sam| Guidelines for Designing User Interface Software (Smith & Mosier, 1986)]
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| * [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa511258.aspx| Microsoft Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines]
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| * [https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/Intro/Intro.html| Mac OS X Human Interface Guidelines]
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| * [https://developer.gnome.org/hig-book/stable/| GNOME Human Interface Guidelines (v2.2.3)]
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| * [http://elementaryos.org/docs/human-interface-guidelines| elementary OS HIG]
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| * [http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/index.html| Android User Interface Guidelines]
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| = Legacy stuff =
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| ** [[Projects/Usability/HIG/KNS|KNewStuff Button Labels]]
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| * [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Exclamation_points|Exclamation Points]]
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| [[Category:Usability]]
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