Just because a large subset of your users don't use a particular
function on your web browser is not a good justification to disable its use.
If a larger number of your users are skimming the headlines then
clicking to find more details about a particular entry then post a
series of anchor links at the top of the page that jump down to the
required content. This is a: a fairly standard way of doing FAQs on the
web and b: doesn't stop various browser features from working.
WINTER-GILES,Ben wrote:
I'd have to challenge the statement about users normally using the
browsers find feature.
The majority of users that I have (or had rather) to accommodate for,
didn't even know that their browser had a find feature. Instead
preferring to use scroll and skim behaviours to locate information.
Not wanting to debunk what you were saying, of course, but I think it
would be less than complete to band everyone into the group that
actually know that Ctl+F finds things within a page.
The most recent iteration of FAQ's that we implemented had toggles
delivered via css / div. but that said, we also included a find / search
field to help expose what was hidden. Additionally we used a well versed
information architect to review our headings and ensure we were using
appropriate terminology to head up each FAQ.
Feedback on that implementation was generally positive.
That said the target user group was internal, and 40+ female
administrative / data worker from a mainframe background and NOT the
general public.
I have not located detailed ebehavior reports addressing the "find"
option within the more global public. Does anyone have this data?
Ben Winter-Giles
Interface Design Manager
DEWR.gov.au
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of R Walker (RMW Web
Publishing)
Sent: Tuesday, 7 February 2006 12:25
To: wsg@webstandardsgroup.org
Subject: Re: [WSG] "cool" FAQ page [follow up]
A big reason for not using "toggles" for FAQs we found was the inability
to use the browsers "find" ("Find in this page") feature.
Often the reason for using toggles is that the page's content is quite
large. Users would normally us their browsers find feature to jump to a
keyword they are looking for. If that search result is in a hidden
element the browser will not show it - making the page less usable.
Also it is helpful to use anchors on each Q & A (esp. if you have
Customer Service Reps directing users to the page). To make the page
more useful, you could allow for bookmarks and emailed URLs to expand an
answer by checking the URL 'hash' for the related question.
--
Rowan Walker
RMW Web Publishing
http://www.rmwpublishing.net
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