Projects/Usability/HIG

From KDE TechBase

Structure

Conceptual Model

  • Real World, Vision

Task Flow

  • Core usability goals, Use cases / User requirements, Task aggregation
  • Personas, Scenarios, Usability criteria, Feature list

Organizational Model

Behaviour

Viewing and Navigation

General navigation

Access functions

Grouping

  • Group box, Panel
  • Splitter

Complex views

  • Use a List View to show some items out of one category.
  • Tree view
  • Grids
  • If you really need to create your own widget follow the guidelines for custom controls.

Editing and Manipulation

Selection

  • Use a radio button for 1 of a few n selections.
  • Use one or more check boxes for clear options or n of a few m selections.
  • Use a list view for one or a few n of some m selections.
  • Use a drop-down list for 1 of some n selection and a combo box if users should be able to add items.
  • Use the dual list pattern for n of m selections.

Unconstrained input

  • To enter one line of text use a line edit and for multiple lines of texts a text edit.
  • Consider to provide inline editing with complex views.

Constrained input

  • Use a Spin Box for numerical input within a range and with fix steps.
  • Use a Slider for arbitrary changes within a defined range.
  • (Under construction): Numeric input with both large changes and precise control: Slider and Spin Box
  • Use Date and Time Pickers for formatted input of datum, time of day, or periods etc.

User Assistance

User-driven information

  • Provide tool-tips for user driven information.

System triggered notification

Disruptive messages

  • Show a modal message dialog if the processing has reached an unexpected condition that needs interaction.

Help system

  • Support the user by an elaborated interface or per help system.

Presentation

Layout

  • Resizing
  • Default and minimal size
  • Spacing
  • Alignment & Placement
  • Do not use color as primary method of communication.
  • Icons

Style

Text

See also:

Contributing

Didn't find what you were looking for?

A guide to the guide can be found at the about page.

Our Human Interface Guidelines are a work in progress and we need your help. Visit the Contributing page to report problems or get involved.

Index

B

C


D

E

F

K

L

M

R

S

T

W



Legacy Stuff

List Views

Please add any guidelines questions or requests to the HIG Questions page.

Also see the Season of Usability HIG & Design Patterns Workspace.