It depends. ;) This is an issue I constantly run into as web apps become more complex. The same interaction patterns are being used for 2 different purposes: (1) pure navigation or (2) as a card stack / tabbed dialog / (whatever you want to call it).
In the end - it really depends on context and user expectations. Do some ad hoc user testing. If you do maintain state - consider an option to reset the process to it's initial state. Some issues I consider... - If either Process A or Process B are complex - then maintain state. - If Process A and Process B are dependent on each other - then (most probably) yes, maintain states. - If Process A and Process B are not dependent on each other - then it could go either way Regards, Shep McKee On Jan 23, 2008, at 3:38 PM, Connor, Adam wrote: > I feel like the answer to this should be pretty cut-and-dry, but I > can't > help but second guess myself. > > I'm working on a web app with a tabbed interface (what else is new). > Under each tab is a workflow that carries the user through a few > screens > in order to reach a result. > > Consider the following, I have two tabs Tab A and Tab B. Under Tab > A is > Process A and under Tab B is Process B. If a user begins Process A, > and > at any point clicks on Tab B (for any reason) when the user returns to > Tab A, should they be placed at the same point in Process A as they > were > when they left? > > I go back and forth, so I'm hoping getting more opinions will help me > make a final decision. Let me know if I made the question too > confusing. > > -adam > > > --------------------------------------------------------- > This e-mail transmission may contain information that is > proprietary, privileged and/or confidential and is intended > exclusively for the person(s) to whom it is addressed. Any use, > copying, retention or disclosure by any person other than the > intended recipient or the intended recipient's designees is strictly > prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient or their designee, > please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and delete all > copies. > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------- > ________________________________________________________________ > *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* > February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA > Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
