Projects/Usability/HIG/SearchPattern: Difference between revisions
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== Purpose == | == Purpose == | ||
A ''search function'' allows to generate a subset out of a big number of items on ground of a user defined pattern. The function is essential to find matching items in case of a extended list or if the position of target(s) is unknown, as well as when bulk operations should be executed. | A ''search function'' allows to generate a subset out of a big number of items on ground of a user defined pattern. The function is essential to find matching items in case of a extended list or if the position of target(s) is unknown, as well as when bulk operations should be executed to a subset. A search operation interrupts the 'predefined workflow' and bypass core functions to a user-defined data set. | ||
Supplemental to search is the ''filter function'' which rather reduces a given number of items than generating an output. | |||
== Guidelines == | == Guidelines == | ||
Revision as of 09:53, 26 March 2014
| Under Construction |
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| This is a new page, currently under construction! |
Ref's:
- http://www.userfocus.co.uk/resources/searchchecklist.html
- http://www.smileycat.com/miaow/archives/002015.php
- http://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=285&t=120079
Purpose
A search function allows to generate a subset out of a big number of items on ground of a user defined pattern. The function is essential to find matching items in case of a extended list or if the position of target(s) is unknown, as well as when bulk operations should be executed to a subset. A search operation interrupts the 'predefined workflow' and bypass core functions to a user-defined data set.
Supplemental to search is the filter function which rather reduces a given number of items than generating an output.
Guidelines
- Make the search result persistent. Users must not need to research after selecting or referencing an item.
- Consider to allow iterative search on result lists.
- Do not inherit artificial intelligence from users. Search operations have always be clear and comprehensible to users.
- Follow the guidelines on delayed operations if the search takes longer.
- Provide paging/scrolling of results.
- Provide auto complete feature to the input based on previous operations.
- Start the search process via button or when the user pressed enter.
- Show the search pattern at the header of the result list (e.g. "Search results for: <Hello World>")
- Show hints on how to use the search effectively.
- Do case insensitive search, unless its important.
- Make the search box large enough to show at least 20 characters (at the moment: KRunner & Kicker = 24, Konqueror = 54, KCM = 33, cf. ).
- Run a combined AND search when two words have been entered unless the term is quoted (e.g. Hello World vs "Hello World")
Appearance
- Search input consists of an icon, a line input to enter the search pattern, and a button to start the search. (VDG could make a proposal how it looks nice)
- Placement
- Start search at the upper right area of your dialog (KCM and web style).
- Start search at the lower left area of your dialog (Kicker and Konqueror style).
- Show search centered in the upper area of your dialog (Dolphin and KRunner style).
- To show or not to show:
- Always show search input. Do not hide the availability from users.
- Show input control only when users start the search.
- Hide the control in case the search is not the primary function of the app, but show a small button which indicates clearly the availability of the function.
- Active the control and focus it on Ctrl+F or when user clicks the icon.
- Do not use search icon anywhere else.
- How to present results (Depends on use case?)
- Highlight search results (KCM mode).
- Hide non-matching results (Kicker mode).
- Generate a new list that matches the search pattern (KRunner mode).