Projects/Usability/HIG/Messages: Difference between revisions

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== Messages ==
{{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG/Messages }}
 
Messages include warnings, error messages, confirmation dialogs, and info messages.
 
===Language===
 
Messages should be:
* ''Understandable''. Phrase your messages clearly, in non-technical terms and avoid obscure error codes.
* ''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.
* ''Informative and constructive''. Tell the user the reason for a problem and help on how to solve the problem.
* ''Polite, non-terrifying and non-blaming''. Avoid wording that terrifies the user ("fatal", "illegal"), blames him for his behavior, and be polite.
 
=== Confirmation Button Labels ===
When no further input is required:
* 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.
 
 
When further interaction is required:
* 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.
 
* 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".
 
=== Details ===
* Provide only a short error message and complement it by a Details button that provides more a detailed explanation in the same error dialog.
 
* 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.
 
=== Dialog vs. Info Panel ===
* Use dialogs for critical error messages, and when you need to make sure that the user sees the message.
 
*  Use info panels for non-critical messages which do not require any further user interaction (typically dialogs with a single "OK" or "Close" button).

Latest revision as of 11:26, 4 August 2016

This page is now on the community wiki.