RE: Basic web interface question
How about an iframe on the same page? When you search for an item, then click on it, the iframe is populated with the detailed data. Then, you can submit that form, but stay on the search results as well. M!ke -Original Message- From: Dave Merrill [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 4:26 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Basic web interface question It's not like I haven't done this before, in various ways, but I might as well ask as long as I'm rethinking life... Say you have the very normal situation with search screen leading to a list of records, drill in to edit or create one. Where do you take the user when they save an edited record? - Back to the record list, with their previous search criteria still in place? That seems most intuitive, but it means hanging on to those search criteria while editing, which is potentially a multiple-screen wizard-like thing. Not impossible by any means, but an architectural commitment, if you're thinking generically. - Another way to manage a similar net effect would be to open the edit screen in a new window, and have it close and refresh the list window when done. That's what I've often done, but some users find the new window thing confusing, particularly if it comes up maximized and they don't even realize it's a new window. - Back to the search screen? Kind of annoying if it didn't remember their search criteria, so see above. - Back to the record list, but with only that one record showing? Not particularly functional. Other ideas? Dave Merrill ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205686 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Basic web interface question
Other ideas? This is somewhat related, but I usually provide two save buttons: Save and Close and Save and New. Close will take you back to a list. New will submit the form and then present a blank form for the next entry. M!ke ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205687 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Basic web interface question
In my own applications I tend to send the user back to the list page (typically not a search page, just a sortable list that's optionally paginated based on their user preferences -- these pages can become search pages pretty easily because the framework automates filters on their columns, so I can automatically get all the contacts with bob somewhere in their name by typing membername=bob into the url.) [...] s. isaac dealey 954.522.6080 Isaac, you're not suggesting that the *user* type membername=bob into the url to search, are you? Dave ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205715 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Basic web interface question
I work on a lot of sites, such as church sites, where users have very little to no experience manipulating data through a web interface and I always give them confirmation that their action was completed. It's very comforting to them...in the same way that a confirmation that a payment I make online was accepted and processed correctly. With a shopping cart or other system in which money is changing hands during the transaction, I would _absolutely_ provide a confirmation page. Though to me that's a significantly different context than okay I'm updating the phone number for user x. YMMV of course. Then again, I don't _always_ return to a list page. On a profile self-update form I return the user to the view profile page for themselves (which of course has an update my profile link). I also provide a link back to the same page they arrived from to allow for further data changes. Links right in the confirmation text provides easy access to the most likely steps the user will take when using the interface, e.g. Click here to add another announcement. Because most likely, they're adding multiple announcements, and this saves *them* extra steps in using the app. More work for me, but a better more comfortable experience for them, which I've found, when moving people from software-based applications to web applications is critical in their acceptance of the different experience of constantly page-changing web apps. It takes some getting used to... In my own defense, if I were to sell an application with the interfaces set up as I've described, it would be hideously simple for someone to change this behavior with just 3-5 lines of code and they could do this _without_ editing or adding to any of my templates, so upgrading to a new version would require very little testing and likely no special-handling. cfset htlib.childRemove(content) cfset request.tap.cf.onrequestend.goto.href = cfmodule template=#request.tapi.xhtml()# tap:variable name=content xmlns:tap=http://www.fusiontap.com; a href=...Add Another Announcement/a a href=...Return to Home/a ... /tap:variable /cfmodule put this in a new file, drop into the appropriate directory and voila - new interface. ike http://www.fusiontap.com (posting from the web interface -- don't think we have sig's on here) ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205734 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Basic web interface question
In my own applications I tend to send the user back to the list page (typically not a search page, just a sortable list that's optionally paginated based on their user preferences -- these pages can become search pages pretty easily because the framework automates filters on their columns, so I can automatically get all the contacts with bob somewhere in their name by typing membername=bob into the url.) [...] s. isaac dealey 954.522.6080 Isaac, you're not suggesting that the *user* type membername=bob into the url to search, are you? That's not the intended usage scenario, no... but the system would allow that... it's designed to make building actual search forms easier, I just haven't _built_ search forms into the Members onTap plugin for instance -- the pages just display all and then you can sort or optionally page through the results or if you happen to be a programmer and _know_ how it works, then you can type it into the url. I know eventually I'll need to build search forms (for members if not roles and permissions) into the Members onTap plugin, I just haven't gotten around to it. I remember when I mentioned this at the CFUG in Dallas the group manager made the comment that you wouldn't want to use it because it's a security risk. What he didn't understand (I explained of course) is that the page should already include any filtering the security model might require, so if a user can't see bob jones in the list for security reasons and they type bob in the url, they _still_ can't see bob jones because the security doesn't allow it. s. isaac dealey 954.522.6080 new epoch : isn't it time for a change? add features without fixtures with the onTap open source framework http://www.fusiontap.com http://coldfusion.sys-con.com/author/4806Dealey.htm ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205736 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Basic web interface question
Hi, Mike... I've tinkered with iFrames some, and see a lot of potential, but one thing I never found out...is it possible to make an iFrame expand with content or does it always have to just scroll if content becomes larger than the pre-defined area of the iFrame? Rick From: Dawson, Michael [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:55 AM To: CF-Talk cf-talk@houseoffusion.com Subject: RE: Basic web interface question How about an iframe on the same page? When you search for an item, then click on it, the iframe is populated with the detailed data. Then, you can submit that form, but stay on the search results as well. M!ke -Original Message- From: Dave Merrill [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 4:26 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Basic web interface question It's not like I haven't done this before, in various ways, but I might as well ask as long as I'm rethinking life... Say you have the very normal situation with search screen leading to a list of records, drill in to edit or create one. Where do you take the user when they save an edited record? - Back to the record list, with their previous search criteria still in place? That seems most intuitive, but it means hanging on to those search criteria while editing, which is potentially a multiple-screen wizard-like thing. Not impossible by any means, but an architectural commitment, if you're thinking generically. - Another way to manage a similar net effect would be to open the edit screen in a new window, and have it close and refresh the list window when done. That's what I've often done, but some users find the new window thing confusing, particularly if it comes up maximized and they don't even realize it's a new window. - Back to the search screen? Kind of annoying if it didn't remember their search criteria, so see above. - Back to the record list, but with only that one record showing? Not particularly functional. Other ideas? Dave Merrill ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205752 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Basic web interface question
You mean dynamic resizing of the iframe? I assume you could do some sort of javascript to check the width of the page contained within the iframe and then set the iframe width to that number. Not sure how cross-browser it will be but it should work. iFrames are cool for certain situations, but I've definitely seen people overuse them and make it way too complicated. John Burns Certified Advanced ColdFusion MX Developer Wyle Laboratories, Inc. | Web Developer -Original Message- From: Rick Faircloth [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 4:42 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: RE: Basic web interface question Hi, Mike... I've tinkered with iFrames some, and see a lot of potential, but one thing I never found out...is it possible to make an iFrame expand with content or does it always have to just scroll if content becomes larger than the pre-defined area of the iFrame? Rick From: Dawson, Michael [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:55 AM To: CF-Talk cf-talk@houseoffusion.com Subject: RE: Basic web interface question How about an iframe on the same page? When you search for an item, then click on it, the iframe is populated with the detailed data. Then, you can submit that form, but stay on the search results as well. M!ke -Original Message- From: Dave Merrill [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 4:26 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Basic web interface question It's not like I haven't done this before, in various ways, but I might as well ask as long as I'm rethinking life... Say you have the very normal situation with search screen leading to a list of records, drill in to edit or create one. Where do you take the user when they save an edited record? - Back to the record list, with their previous search criteria still in place? That seems most intuitive, but it means hanging on to those search criteria while editing, which is potentially a multiple-screen wizard-like thing. Not impossible by any means, but an architectural commitment, if you're thinking generically. - Another way to manage a similar net effect would be to open the edit screen in a new window, and have it close and refresh the list window when done. That's what I've often done, but some users find the new window thing confusing, particularly if it comes up maximized and they don't even realize it's a new window. - Back to the search screen? Kind of annoying if it didn't remember their search criteria, so see above. - Back to the record list, but with only that one record showing? Not particularly functional. Other ideas? Dave Merrill ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205755 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Basic web interface question
It's been a while since I toyed with iframes, but I somehow remember that I could never get rid of a scroll bar in IE. Even if my content was smaller than the iframe, the scroll bar was always there. Iframes aside, what if you use full-blown frames to do this? If this is a widely-used public page, I may reconsider frames, but if this is limited to a few administrator-type users, frames may be the way to go. To answer your question, like John Burns said, Javascript may be to able to do what you need. However, I would not particularly care for my browser resizing an area on my screen. I, personally, would code for 800x600 and try to get it to fit as best as possible. M!ke -Original Message- From: Rick Faircloth [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 3:42 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: RE: Basic web interface question Hi, Mike... I've tinkered with iFrames some, and see a lot of potential, but one thing I never found out...is it possible to make an iFrame expand with content or does it always have to just scroll if content becomes larger than the pre-defined area of the iFrame? Rick ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205776 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Basic web interface question
Yes...dynamic resizing of the iframe...like a table... Not to fill a screen, but to do something like expand to show headlines... If you had 3 headlines, it would be 3 lines long...if you had 14 headlines, it would expand to 14 lines long. That sort of thing... Rick From: Burns, John D [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 4:48 PM To: CF-Talk cf-talk@houseoffusion.com Subject: RE: Basic web interface question You mean dynamic resizing of the iframe? I assume you could do some sort of javascript to check the width of the page contained within the iframe and then set the iframe width to that number. Not sure how cross-browser it will be but it should work. iFrames are cool for certain situations, but I've definitely seen people overuse them and make it way too complicated. John Burns Certified Advanced ColdFusion MX Developer Wyle Laboratories, Inc. | Web Developer -Original Message- From: Rick Faircloth [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 4:42 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: RE: Basic web interface question Hi, Mike... I've tinkered with iFrames some, and see a lot of potential, but one thing I never found out...is it possible to make an iFrame expand with content or does it always have to just scroll if content becomes larger than the pre-defined area of the iFrame? Rick From: Dawson, Michael Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:55 AM To: CF-Talk Subject: RE: Basic web interface question How about an iframe on the same page? When you search for an item, then click on it, the iframe is populated with the detailed data. Then, you can submit that form, but stay on the search results as well. M!ke -Original Message- From: Dave Merrill [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 4:26 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Basic web interface question It's not like I haven't done this before, in various ways, but I might as well ask as long as I'm rethinking life... Say you have the very normal situation with search screen leading to a list of records, drill in to edit or create one. Where do you take the user when they save an edited record? - Back to the record list, with their previous search criteria still in place? That seems most intuitive, but it means hanging on to those search criteria while editing, which is potentially a multiple-screen wizard-like thing. Not impossible by any means, but an architectural commitment, if you're thinking generically. - Another way to manage a similar net effect would be to open the edit screen in a new window, and have it close and refresh the list window when done. That's what I've often done, but some users find the new window thing confusing, particularly if it comes up maximized and they don't even realize it's a new window. - Back to the search screen? Kind of annoying if it didn't remember their search criteria, so see above. - Back to the record list, but with only that one record showing? Not particularly functional. Other ideas? Dave Merrill ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205780 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Basic web interface question
You can use percentages for iFrames as well as pixel dimensions. -Original Message- From: Dawson, Michael [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 3:06 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: RE: Basic web interface question It's been a while since I toyed with iframes, but I somehow remember that I could never get rid of a scroll bar in IE. Even if my content was smaller than the iframe, the scroll bar was always there. Iframes aside, what if you use full-blown frames to do this? If this is a widely-used public page, I may reconsider frames, but if this is limited to a few administrator-type users, frames may be the way to go. To answer your question, like John Burns said, Javascript may be to able to do what you need. However, I would not particularly care for my browser resizing an area on my screen. I, personally, would code for 800x600 and try to get it to fit as best as possible. M!ke ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205792 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Basic web interface question
It's not like I haven't done this before, in various ways, but I might as well ask as long as I'm rethinking life... Say you have the very normal situation with search screen leading to a list of records, drill in to edit or create one. Where do you take the user when they save an edited record? - Back to the record list, with their previous search criteria still in place? That seems most intuitive, but it means hanging on to those search criteria while editing, which is potentially a multiple-screen wizard-like thing. Not impossible by any means, but an architectural commitment, if you're thinking generically. - Another way to manage a similar net effect would be to open the edit screen in a new window, and have it close and refresh the list window when done. That's what I've often done, but some users find the new window thing confusing, particularly if it comes up maximized and they don't even realize it's a new window. - Back to the search screen? Kind of annoying if it didn't remember their search criteria, so see above. - Back to the record list, but with only that one record showing? Not particularly functional. Other ideas? Dave Merrill ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205611 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Basic web interface question
Other ideas? I've seen a number of applications which take the user back to the form page for the item being edited with a status message at the top. I've never much cared for this approach either... In my own applications I tend to send the user back to the list page (typically not a search page, just a sortable list that's optionally paginated based on their user preferences -- these pages can become search pages pretty easily because the framework automates filters on their columns, so I can automatically get all the contacts with bob somewhere in their name by typing membername=bob into the url.) I don't like the idea of the popup for the editor either, but then I don't consider it a big loss that the list page isn't filtered to display their item. When I'm working (and this may be a bit bigoted of me because my habbits are based on my own work habbits), I'm not generally interested in keeping tabs on the application after entering or updating a record. I hit the save/update/submit button and then _immediately_ go do something else. If the update operation didn't work or didn't work properly, I'll find that out later on. That is of course unless I happen to be testing a form update feature. s. isaac dealey 954.522.6080 new epoch : isn't it time for a change? add features without fixtures with the onTap open source framework http://www.fusiontap.com http://www.sys-con.com/author/?id=4806 ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205617 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Basic web interface question
Either option 1 or a confirmation page... Your updates have been saved with a redirect to the original list page. I generally try to use something that keeps the architecture to a minimum and the user's experience very straightforward. If that means some extra work for me, that's fine because it generally results in a more optimal experience for the user. Something I've been thinking a lot about lately is the fact that too often we try to save work for ourselves... what's the point? It's great to keep development time down (and especially on-budget) but if the net effect reduces the pleasantness of the user's experience, I see myself as having failed miserably. It goes back to the ideas presented in a post on Hal Helms's blog about his frustrations with phone support at a hotel chain. If the user ends up frustrated or confused the time spent on development is a total waste. Laterz, J On 5/4/05, Dave Merrill [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It's not like I haven't done this before, in various ways, but I might as well ask as long as I'm rethinking life... Say you have the very normal situation with search screen leading to a list of records, drill in to edit or create one. Where do you take the user when they save an edited record? - Back to the record list, with their previous search criteria still in place? That seems most intuitive, but it means hanging on to those search criteria while editing, which is potentially a multiple-screen wizard-like thing. Not impossible by any means, but an architectural commitment, if you're thinking generically. -- --- - Buy SQLSurveyor! http://www.web-relevant.com/sqlsurveyor Never make your developers open Enterprise Manager again. ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205631 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Basic web interface question
I work on a lot of sites, such as church sites, where users have very little to no experience manipulating data through a web interface and I always give them confirmation that their action was completed. It's very comforting to them...in the same way that a confirmation that a payment I make online was accepted and processed correctly. I also provide a link back to the same page they arrived from to allow for further data changes. Links right in the confirmation text provides easy access to the most likely steps the user will take when using the interface, e.g. Click here to add another announcement. Because most likely, they're adding multiple announcements, and this saves *them* extra steps in using the app. More work for me, but a better more comfortable experience for them, which I've found, when moving people from software-based applications to web applications is critical in their acceptance of the different experience of constantly page-changing web apps. It takes some getting used to... (Personally, I can't wait until a more intuitive way to build RIA's comes into being...Flash Interface...Blech...and I do timeline editing and animation for video production all the time...) My design patterns simply cater to the users of the app...that's what brings more business...happy users who relate their experience to other potential clients... Rick From: Jared Rypka-Hauer - CMG, LLC [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 11:23 PM To: CF-Talk cf-talk@houseoffusion.com Subject: Re: Basic web interface question Either option 1 or a confirmation page... Your updates have been saved with a redirect to the original list page. I generally try to use something that keeps the architecture to a minimum and the user's experience very straightforward. If that means some extra work for me, that's fine because it generally results in a more optimal experience for the user. Something I've been thinking a lot about lately is the fact that too often we try to save work for ourselves... what's the point? It's great to keep development time down (and especially on-budget) but if the net effect reduces the pleasantness of the user's experience, I see myself as having failed miserably. It goes back to the ideas presented in a post on Hal Helms's blog about his frustrations with phone support at a hotel chain. If the user ends up frustrated or confused the time spent on development is a total waste. Laterz, J On 5/4/05, Dave Merrill wrote: It's not like I haven't done this before, in various ways, but I might as well ask as long as I'm rethinking life... Say you have the very normal situation with search screen leading to a list of records, drill in to edit or create one. Where do you take the user when they save an edited record? - Back to the record list, with their previous search criteria still in place? That seems most intuitive, but it means hanging on to those search criteria while editing, which is potentially a multiple-screen wizard-like thing. Not impossible by any means, but an architectural commitment, if you're thinking generically. -- --- - Buy SQLSurveyor! http://www.web-relevant.com/sqlsurveyor Never make your developers open Enterprise Manager again. ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205632 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
