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| __NOTOC__
| | {{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG/Messages }} |
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| == Purpose ==
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| If the processing has reached an unexpected condition that needs interaction, a disruptive message alerts the user of a problem. Not any disruptive message concerns a serious problem. Sometimes, the user is just notified that proceeding is dangerous. A typical example is the “Save changes before closing?” alert box that appears when a user tries to close a module with modified content. The adequate presentation method for disruptive information is a ''modal message dialog''.
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| A modal dialog is a secondary window that interrupts user's current activity and blocks interaction until user either simply acknowledge the information by clicking Ok or decides how to proceed (e.g. Yes/No). Effective error messages inform users that a problem occurred, explain why it happened, and provide a solution so users can fix the problem. Users should either perform an action or change their behavior as the result of an error message.
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| Modal dialogs are error-prone. An alert dialog that appears unexpectedly or which is dismissed automatically (because the user has developed a habit) will not protect from the dangerous action.
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| == Examples ==
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| == Guidelines ==
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| === Is this the right control ===
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| * Avoid disruptive messages; workflow maintenance and, therefore, the prevention of errors should be the primary objective.
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| * Use modal dialogs only for critical or infrequent, one-off tasks that require completion before continuing. Don’t use modal error message dialogs at the normal work flow to inform or warn the user.
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| * Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/MessageWidget|message panel]] 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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| * Create specific, actionable, user-centered error messages. Users should either perform an action or change their behavior as the result of the message.
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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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| * Follow the guidelines of [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Dialogs|dialogs]] in general.
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| === Behavior ===
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| Messages should be: | |
| * Informative and constructive:
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| ** Tell the user the reason for a problem and
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| ** help on how to solve the problem.
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| * Understandable:
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| ** Phrase your messages clearly, in non-technical terms and avoid obscure error codes.
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| * Readable:
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| ** User has to be able to read the message in his/her own pace, think about it, understand it.
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| ** It is not acceptable to add countdown timers (visible or not) or to force user to read and understand the message within a few seconds.
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| * Specific instead of general:
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| ** 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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| * Polite, non-terrifying and non-blaming:
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| ** Avoid wording that terrifies the user ("fatal", "illegal"), blames him for his behavior, and be polite.
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| === Appearance ===
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| * Apply confirmation button labels when no further input is required:
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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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| * Apply confirmation button labels when further interaction is required:
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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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| * Apply confirmation button labels when the user must choose between two actions to continue:
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| ** 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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| == Implementation ==
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| * [http://api.kde.org/4.10-api/kdelibs-apidocs/kdeui/html/classKMessageBox.html KMessageBox]
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