|
|
| (45 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| = 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 ==
| |
| === Access functions ===
| |
| * Apply a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Menu_Bar|menu bar]] to every standard application.
| |
| * Try to omit the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/StatusBar| status bar]] from your application.
| |
| * Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ContextMenu|context menu]] for controls with implicit functions.
| |
| * Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Toolbar|toolbar]] for frequently used functions.
| |
| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Buttons|push button]] to initiate an action when the user clicks it.
| |
| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Toggle_Buttons|toogle button]] to indicate a state, preferably in toolbars only.
| |
| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Command_Link|command link]] to navigate between pages.
| |
| * Support keyboard access by [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Keyboard_Accelerators|accelerators]] and [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Keyboard_Shortcuts|shortcuts]].
| |
| * Follow the guidelines for [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Dialogs|dialogs]] for secondary windows.
| |
| | |
| === Grouping ===
| |
| * Arrange associated controls by using a labeled [[Projects/Usability/HIG/GroupBox| group box]] or an unlabeled [[Projects/Usability/HIG/GroupBox| frame]].
| |
| * Allow users to resize aligned groups by placing a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Splitter| splitter]] between the groups.
| |
| * Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TabControl|tabs]] to show related information on separate pages.
| |
| * Provide an [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Accordion|accordion]] (aka tool box) for different views to content.
| |
| | |
| === 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.
| |
| * If you really need to create your own widget follow the guidelines for [[Projects/Usability/HIG/CustomControls| custom controls]].
| |
| * Double check the guidelines about plotting [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Diagram|diagram/charts]].
| |
| | |
| == Editing and Manipulation ==
| |
| === Selection ===
| |
| * Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Radio Buttons|radio buttons]] for selection of 1 out of a few items.
| |
| * 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.
| |
| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/DropDown| drop-down]] list for selection of 1 out of a small number of items.
| |
| * 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.
| |
| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ListView|list view]] to select 1 singular item out of a potentially big list.
| |
| * Apply the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/DualList| dual list pattern]] for several selections out of a large number of (multiple) items.
| |
| | |
| === 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.
| |
| * Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TableView| table view]] to arrange data in rows and columns with inline editing feature.
| |
| | |
| === 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 inform 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 ==
| |
| * Place controls carefully with proper [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Placement|size and space]] between.
| |
| * 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.
| |
| * Choose icons from the Oxygen icon set and follow guidelines on [[Projects/Usability/HIG/IconDesign| icon design]].
| |
| | |
| == Style ==
| |
| * KDE provides [[Development/Tutorials/Plasma/Theme|full theming]] to users.
| |
| | |
| == Text ==
| |
| * Keep [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Wording|wording]] consistent and easy to understand.
| |
| * Take care about [[Projects/Usability/HIG/localization| localization]] of your project.
| |
| * Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Ellipsis|ellipsis]] to label functions which require user’s input.
| |
| * Do not apply [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Capitalization|capitalization]] except for titles and in case of sentence style.
| |
| * Apply standard [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Labels|control labels]] in your app.
| |
| * Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/StaticText|static text]] for main instruction and supplemental information.
| |
| | |
| =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.
| |
| | |
| = See also =
| |
| * [http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/Tablet/Index| KDE HIG for Plasma Active]
| |
| * [http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/Netbook/Index| KDE HIG for Plasma Netbook]
| |
| * [http://hcibib.org/sam| Guidelines for Designing User Interface Software (Smith & Mosier, 1986)]
| |
| * [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa511258.aspx| Microsoft Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines]
| |
| * [https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/Intro/Intro.html| Mac OS X Human Interface Guidelines]
| |
| * [https://developer.gnome.org/hig-book/stable/| GNOME Human Interface Guidelines (v2.2.3)]
| |
| * [http://elementaryos.org/docs/human-interface-guidelines| elementary OS HIG]
| |
| * [http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/index.html| Android User Interface Guidelines]
| |
| | |
| | |
| [[Category:Usability]]
| |
