Programmers user interface design Manual Chapter 1-9 (Author: Joel Spolsky translation: Meipu Hua MSWord character conversion)
Http://chinesetrad.joelonsoftware.com/uibook/chapters/1.html Programmer's User Interface Design Manual Chapter 1: Control your environment makes you happy
Author: Joel Spolsky Joel Jasper children Braschi Translation: Most Meipu Hua April 10, 2000 I know C programming experts are loathe to write software user interface that makes me feel very surprised, because I think the user. The essence of interface programming is easily fun. Say it is easy, because the used algorithm will not be too complicated, up to another rectangle in a certain rectangular center. Say it directly, because there is an error You can see and immediately fix it. Say it interesting, because the results of the work can be seen right away. It feels like a direct sculpture. I think most programmers will be afraid to write the user interface. In fact, it is fear of users. The interface design itself. They think that the user interface is like art design: is the mysterious process of the whole body black and creative guys to create artwork. The programmer has recognized the analytical logic thinking home. : Be good at reasoning, lack of art judgment. So I think I can't do the design of the user interface. In fact, I found that the user interface design is quite easy and reasonable. It is not so mysterious, do not have to get the artistic degree. Bright purple issuance. The user interface is a reasonable way. You can improve the interface of the program with some simple logical criteria. I am not going to write "the user interface design". The user interface is not art, not Buddhism, It is just a set of rules. A way to make reasonable ways. This book is designed for programmers. So I will assume that you don't have to teach you how to build a menu, but you want to think in the menu. What is (or if you need menus). I will tell you that all good user interface design is common, and it is very easy to understand that my first real job is to do things in a large bread factory. This factory has six Bread production line. Every two production line has a dough mixer, which can stir up 180 kilograms of dough and send it to the left or right:
However, this is just the original design. In fact, the mixer C is still not good. So the actual arrangement is as follows: <> Careful readers may feel strange "how to send it from the mixer B to the production line 6 What? "Yes, this is where I am playing in Ancient. You may not believe that my job is to stand on the left side of the mixer B, use the cart to pick up the 180 kg huge dough of the mixer, and take the car Push to the production line 6, then put the dough with the device similar to a winch 6. From 10 in the afternoon, I will repeat this action every ten minutes. The trouble is not only like this. The production line 6 is actually I can't handle 180 kilograms of the dough, so I have to cut the dough into 10 copies. I don't want to describe how hard it is. Of course, I am very painful in the past few days ago. This matter does not look at all. It may be done. I have a pain in my body. The blisters have been can't. There is no place in the whole body. I didn't have a way to send the dough to the production line. When the dough is not sent, the production line is There will be a big gap. When the gap flows to the furnace, the temperature of the furnace (consumes the same energy on less dough) begins to rise and buns the bread. Sometimes the production line 6 will mess with a stop action, but the mixer It is still a manufacturing dough. At this time, the cart may all be filled with dough. At this time, I have to clean the floor and then go to the oil, and then put the dough on the ground, and I will scrape again. This method is actually quite useful. Because when the dough is more than about 30 minutes, it will be fermented. After fermentation, it will not be a good bread. At this time, it can only cut the dough into a small piece of small pieces. When the new dough is mixed, it is mixed. I gradually be familiar with the whole process for more than a week. If I haven't remembered it, I can rest for 2 minutes during each 10-minute dough processing. I have made it very clearly throughout the time, and I also learn to let the mixer when the production line is stopped. Stop once. So I started thinking about why the beer advertising will say some Day Day, I think about this problem, I noticed that there is a bunch of wheels very dirty, no way to turn it very smooth. Sometimes it is fundamentally Walking in the direction of me and then hits things. There is a little hateful. When you take the cart, sometimes it is scratched by the metal piercing on the chain (just slightly injured). There is another one When I pushed the dough of the mixer, I might step on the oil stains on the ground slipped. It's just a little trouble, I can't count on a lot of trouble. Sometimes there are some small victories. I learned precisely The dough produced, so that the new dough is just a few seconds after the old pasta has just been used for a few seconds. This ensures the most fresh dough and makes the best bread. There is also a fine victory: the mixer sometimes Splashing small dough sticks on the wall At this time, I will blow the dough with the paint of the posterior pocket to throw into the trash can. That's right! When I cut the dough into a small piece, sometimes I was very good. When I When controlling the world being surrendered, even if it is controlled in the form of slightly, it can also get a small satisfaction. This is the situation of that day. Many small setbacks have many small success. But these setbacks and Success will be accumulated. Even if there is a slight setback, it will affect your mood. It seems that people 's emotions don't care about the size of the event, but focus on the number of events. So I started to pay attention, I am the happiest time. I have encountered a lot of small success and the number of frustrations. After many years, I got a university. I learned an important psychological theory, which was the acquisition of Dr. Martin EP Seligman (Learned Helplessness). This The theory has many years of research, it is to say that many frustration will accumulate a nonsense (that is, it is impossible to control the environment). You feel that you can control the environment, and what the action is really effective, you will feel The faster. When you find that you are frustrating and angry, it is likely to have some things you can't control. It is even very fine. The space bar on the keyboard is not normal. The result is a few words when typing. This will be frustrated because you press the space bar but nothing. The key of the door is not right. When you turn it, you will be able to play. This is another setback. These things will be added; We have become muffiness. Although these facts are insignificant, it should not be worried in your heart (I said that Africa still is hungry, I can't get a space bore, but I will affect our mood. Let's take a break, then pull the theme back to the computer. We want a typical window high-order users "Pitt"
When you are considering the user interface, imagine a fictional user will be helpful. The fictional users are more real, considering the effect when they use the product, it will be better. Pitt is the accountant who works in a technical book publishing. Six years of experience in the window, mainly in the office, even if you can use it at home. Pitt is very dry and tailbled. He will install software; you will read PC Magazine, and even write some simple Word Macro Assistance Office secretary. Invoice. His family has cable modem. Peter has never used McKin Tower. "Too expensive" He will tell you "How much is the 700 MHz PC of 128MB RAM ..." Ok, this is Pete. We all know. There is a day of friends who have a computer problem with a computer problem. Jenna has a McKin Tower IBOOK because she likes the translucent shell. When Pitt sat down and tried to use Mcjin Tower, very I have encountered setbacks. He said: "I hate these stuffs." To the end, Pitt can help Jenna's busy, but it has become irritated. He said: "How is the user interface of McGinta? So bad. "Rotten? What are he saying? Everyone knows that McKin Tower has an elegant user interface, is wrong? This is the most easy to use? Below is the analysis of this problem. In Mackota When you want to move the window, you can move any side by the mouse. And you must press and hold the title column on Windows. If you press the window frame, you will change the window size. Pitt is helping Jenna The drag window is wnewing in the right box. The result is moving the entire window instead of using his expected change. Windows Displays the message box, you can press the Enter or the space bar to clear the message box. And in McKota Press the space bar to be invalid. You usually have to use the mouse. When Pitt saw the warning, he wanted to clear the message according to the sprint of the potion in the past six years, pressing the first time. Pitt unconsciously A more powerful prescription. Because he believes that the problem must be too light, it is not detected by McKin Tower. In fact, Mackin Tower is detected button - but this button did not Role! The last Pitte is used to change the mouse. This is another small setback. Pitt also knows that the window can be closed according to Alt F4. But this is replacing the disk drive on the McKeta. Pitt wants to click on the Internet Explorer icon on the desktop However, the icon is covered by another window. So he press the Alt F4 to close the window and immediately press two times in the location. Alt F4 does not close the window but call the disc icon on the computer, so he When the combo is pressed to the Help button originally wanted to close the window, then start the help window. He wants to close a window result but there is two windows. It is a small frustration. Fold. But the old brother, you have to know, setbacks will be accumulated. When the end of the day, Pitt has become irritated. When he tried to control things, it was unreasonable. The space bob and the Alt F4 key "did not respond" - It's just like these bonds. If you want to pull the window, the window is not listening, it will only be like a joke, there is no width. It is really a rotten window. Although the whole process is subconscious, uncontrolled It feels that it will become a helpless, which makes people feel very miserable. "I like my computer," Pitt said. "I set it well, I will work according to the way I like. But these Mcjin Tower is rotten It is difficult to use. It is basically in the torture. If Apple concentrates on MacOS instead of chaos, what is the NEWTON PDA, their operating system is not so bad. "
That's right, Pitt. We can understand. Although Mackin Tower is really easy to use (for Mac users), Pitt still has this feeling. To press what button to close the window is completely casual. Microsoft's programmer (Suppose is a copy of the copy of the Mei Jin Tower) may think that you have added a cool new feature, you can drag any border to change the window size. And MacOS 8.0 programmers may appreciate that they have added a cool The new feature allows you to drag any border mobile window. Most of the views about the user interface have fallen. Because Windows provides more ways to change the size of the window, so how is it? It is not the focus at all. The focus is whether the user interface reacts in the way users expect? If not, the user will feel helpless, just like I want to push the car, but the user's interface is important because it will affect it. Feeling, emotion, and user mood. If the user interface is not good, let users think they can't control your software, they will never be happy, and will blame your software. If the user interface is very smart, let things can be used I want to do it, they will be very happy when they complete a small matter. Hey! I copied a disc! This program can use ye! It's a good software! Good luck !!! You must make people feel that they seem to control the environment In order to make them happiness. To achieve this, you must explain their actions correctly. The interface must work according to the way they expect. Therefore, all user interface design is: if the behavior of the program is exactly the same, It is a well-designed user interface. Hillel, Jewish thoughts, said: "Everything else is commentary" is all noted. The same, all other rules for good user interface are just just Performance of the programmer. Programmer's user interface design manual Chapter 2: Find the expectation of users
Author: Joel Spolsky Joel Jasper children Braschi Translation: Meipu Hua November 4, 2000 Nisshin user when operating a program, never mind a blank they will default to how the program will work if they are. Software used before, it is assumed that the action of this program should be the same as other software. If they have not used any software, they will assume that your software will follow some regular. They may be very smart and will guess. The operation mode of the entire user interface. This is called a user model: it is a cognition of what is doing the program in the user's heart. The program itself has a "mental model", but this model is digitally encoded, and is indeed by the CPU Execution. This is called a program model, and it is fixed. We have said in the first chapter. If the program model is consistent with the user model, we can have a successful user interface. Let's take an example. In Microsoft Word (And most instrument processors), if you put a picture in the file, the image will be stored in the same file of the file. You can create a picture and drag the image into the file, then delete the original picture file, and The picture in the document still exists. However, HTML can't do this. HTML file must put the picture in separate files. If you find a usa paper processor, you don't understand HTML users, please use FrontPage, etc. The HTML editor you have obtained, he almost believes that the picture will exist in the same archive. This is called user model inertia (if you are willing to call it). So user model (picture will embed in the same file) There is an annoying conflict between the program model (the picture must be separated separately) so that the user interface will have a problem. If you are designing a program similar to FrontPage, this is the first user interface you will find. You don't It may change HTML. So you must do something to make the program model in line with the user model. You have two options. You can try to change the user model. But this will be very difficult. You can explain it in the manual, but everyone knows the user I don't see the manual at all, and they may not see it. You can also show a small dialog box that the image file will not be embedded, but there are two questions: skilled users will feel very annoying, and other users may also fundamentally Do not look at the dialog. (We will discuss in the sixth chapter). So, the mountain does not turn the way ... The best choice is usually changing your program model rather than a user model. Maybe you can insert pictures When a picture copy is generated, there is at least the impression that at least in accordance with the user thinks that the image has been replicated (which can be safely deleted). How do I know the user model? This thing is actually It is easy. Just ask them well! Just grab five in your office Individual or find a friend or family, then explain your program with ordinary statement (this is a program for making web pages). Next description situation: "You are compilating a web page, now there is a picture called Picture.jpg. You have to put The figure is inserted into the web page. "Then ask a few questions to guess their user models. For example," Where is it? "," If you delete the Picture.jpg, can this page still display the picture normally? "
I have a friend who is doing a photo album model. When you add a photo, the program will display a pile of small pictures: it is the shortcomings of each picture. Because the small picture is a long time Time (if the photo is longer), he wants to put the small picture there in a hard disk, so that the small picture is just a time. There are many ways to achieve this purpose. You can put all the pictures There is a small picture. During the big file. You can also separate each of the small images, but put it in the subdirectory named a small picture. Variety can also be marked as a hidden file in the operating system without letting the user. My friend is selected. Self-recognized method: Spend a small picture of each picture Picture.jpg is called Picture_t.jpg's new file, put it in the original directory. If your picture has 30, this directory is small There will be 60 files. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various pictures storage mechanisms can be a few weeks, but there is still a more scientific practice. Just ask the user to the small picture deposit. Of course There are many users who are unclear or don't care, but if you ask a lot of people, I will start to see some consistent opinions. The common choice is the best user model, as for the program model to be The user model is your own thing. Next, you have to test your own theory. For your user interface, build a model or prototype, then please use it to complete some work. As you ask them in the process of doing it, ask them expectations What is your goal is to find something they expect. If the work content is "insert a picture", and you see that they try to drag the picture into your program, you know the program is best to support drag and drop Function. If they go to the "Insert" menu, you know the "Insert" menu can have a "picture" option. If they put the "Dictionary" tool column "change to" inserted into the picture ", You know that this is an old antique that did not touch the graphical user interface, trying to use the old antique in the interface interface. So how many people have to test your interface? Your intuition may think more better (for scientific experiments It's completely correct). But your intuitive is wrong. Almost every person who is a useful test seems to think that five or six people are enough. After more than this number, I will see the result has been repeated, so Continue to do other users just waste time. You don't need a formal usability laboratory, you don't have to go to the street casual pick users - you can do a "5-year-old usability test", that is, called I will live a person who is encountered, please help me to make a quick usability test. But pay attention to not saying that the roller will tell him how to do it. Should be "good to clear", then try to use Open problems identify their mental model. If your program model is not simple, it may not be a user model. I bought a world when I was 6 years old. The first batch of pocket calculator (HP-35) is home, and he works to tell me that there is a computer there. I think it is impossible. All the computers in the star ship game are the size of the room and have huge Disc. I think it's just that the button and the LED show that each paragraph has a very clever connection to produce the correct mathematical answer. (Hey, I am 6 years old). There is a very important The experience is that the user model will not be very complicated. When people must guess the operation mode of the program, the answer is usually simple, not complicated. Sitting in Taikinta sitting down. Open two Excel spreadsheet files and a word Document file. Almost all handles will guess the rooms have nothing. They look do nothing: From the user model, point spreadsheet 1 should call the window to the forefront. But actually happened to spreadsheet 2 Run In front, this is almost a frustrated accident for everyone:
The actual situation is as follows. Program model of Microsoft Excel thinks "You have some hidden spreadsheets, each spreads are an application, while the window is connected to these hidden spreadsheets. When you call the Excel When you go to the forefront, all Excel's windows will also be moved to front. "Yes. Hidden spreadsheet. How much does it have a hidden spreadsheet in the user model? Probably it may be zero. So new users always It will be scared by this behavior. There is another example on Microsoft Windows. You have three windows of A, B, C, and the A window is in action. Press Alt Tab to cut to the B window. Press Alt Tab to cut to the C window. In fact, the second Alt Tab Will cut back the A window. To cut to the C window, you must press the two Tab keys. This is not bad when switching two applications, but almost no one understands this method, because more available This model is slightly complicated. To make the program model to follow the simple user model is enough. It is impossible to do when the user model is more complicated. So you have to choose the easiest model as much as possible. programmers user interface design Manual Chapter 3: choose author: Joel Spolsky Joel Jasper children Braschi translation: Meipu Hua April 21, 2000 saw a sign that says when you enter the restaurant "should not be allowed Dog enters ", you may think that this sign is just a simple prohibition: The restaurant owner doesn't like a dog to run, so add the notice when you open a restaurant. If something is just the case, there should be" no snake Into the notice; after all, there is no one likes the snake. In addition, there must be "prohibiting elephants enter" notice, because elephants sit down will take it. There is a real reason for this. It is actually historic: this It is a historic tag that it has tried to bring the dog into this restaurant. Most prohibited notices, because all people can't stand someone, so I have done a sign. Don't do it. If you go to an old restaurant in more than 50 years, you will see a notice that is full of "do not put the backpack in the counter", from anthropology, this means that everyone is very ubiquitous Put it on the counter. You can also know that the local students know the backpack in what year, sometimes it is difficult to find the reason. "Please don't put the glass bottle into the park" must say that someone once barefoot Walking on the grass, the result is stepped on the broken glass to cut, and it is very likely that these people have the government. Software has similar anthropology records: generally called "Options" dialog box. The "Options" dialog box under Tools, you will see the controversy history of the software designer to the product design. Do we have to automatically open the file used by the user? To! Don't! This is noisy two In the week, everyone didn't want to hurt someone else. When the designer is fighting, the programmer will use #ifdef to frame this program in order to self-insurance. Finally, I have to turn this into an option. This doesn't even have to be The dispute between the two people: It is possible to just count the two difficulties in the heart. I just can't decide to optimize the database for the size or speed. No matter which type, I will finally take the "Elf" dialog.. And The Elf dialog is undoubtedly the lowest inventions in the history of Windows operating systems. This dialog is stupid to get a prize, a new type of award. When you try to find information from the auxiliary note, the following dialog box appears:
The first question of this dialog is that you will be distracted. You will want to find a salvation from the instructions. It is not to take the database at all, or to fine tune, or apply a layer of chocolate. However, at this time, I ran out this bad dialog in the article, I have to build a list (or database). There are approximately three words, one of whom will make people get hi. There is a very bad piece. Word "Your Help file (s)". Take a look, this means that you may have one or more files. Means that you will care about this time may have more than one file. Some or more gears are very Different differences. In fact, it is obviously the programmer who writes this dialog. I believe that the file may not only one, and the trouble is afraid of writing a single number is wrong. I am not right? I am too lazy to say, don't say most of the case The person does not understand this deeper text, even the advanced users will not understand. The program personnel who have a self-cultivation of the Ph.D. proficient in Computer Science also unclear what is going on here. Lower level is not Just a dialog ... This is a wizard (next page will only say some nonsense, "Thank you for killing time here"). It is clear that the designer has already known which choice is best; after all, they still spend The work is recommended by the work. This allows us to get the second guidelines for user interface design:
Everything you provide an option is to equalize users to make more decisions. Require users to decide itself is not bad. It can be free to choose is very wonderful. People love to Starbucks Point coffee beverage, because they have a lot of choices Come to a cup of low-coffee because of the degreasing card, to Garnssea syrup and plus milk. There is also a special hot! The problem is to do a decision they don't care at all. Take the above instructions as an example, people Because it is difficult, it is unable to complete the thing to complete (such as the production birthday invitation card), will go to the instruction gear. They can't put the ballot pattern to print or have any other situation, have to suspend the production birthday invitation. The card is changed to check. Results A certain engineer responsible for the file index engine in Microsoft has excessively expanded his own troubles, rudely and thick face, and starts to teach users to make a list (or database). This The second interruption is completely independent of the birthday invitation card, and it is guaranteed that only the user even lets users go out. I believe me, in fact, the user is not as much as you want. They use your software to complete someone Work. They carefully work itself. If this is a drawing program, they may want to control each picture in the most subtle level. If this is a tool to establish a website, you can definitely insist on the website to make Their design is exactly the same. However, they don't care about the tools of the program. They don't care about whether the files are useful. Many things they don't care, and the designers have a responsibility to do these choices to make users don't have to More expensive. Adding this trouble option for users is the proud of the software designer, because the designer is not enough to think about which option is better. (There is a worse case, it is like WinHelp members, clearly throwing the problem User choice, turn the option to the wizard type attempt to conceal the past. It is necessary to make a small two lessons (two pages of elves) in this rotten option.) Someone It has been designed to be a choice of art. When you design a trash bucket placed in the street corner, you must make a decision between multiple mutual conflicts. The trash can will not be blown away. But you have to make it The burnman is convenient to clean. It is necessary to make a lot of garbage. But you will not occupy the sidewalk. If you want to escape the responsibility while you want to escape the responsibility, forced users to decide some things, ten eight nine you did not fulfill this. Other people will write a simpler program, do not have to complete the same job, and most users will use this program. When Microsoft Excel 3.0 appears in 1990, it is the first tool column This new feature application. This is a very clever function, everyone likes, and everyone is copying this feature - I have few programs that don't have tool columns. The tool column is very successful, so the Excel group also issues special versions of Excel to a special version of the special version to conduct the client's research; this version will count the most common commands and transmit the results Back to Microsoft. Then they added another column buttons in the next version, including the most common commands. It's really good. The problem is that they have not disbanded the tooltime group, and this group seems to see it. Received. They want you to make your own work column. They want to let you drag the tool column to anywhere on the screen. Next, they have begun to think that the menu column is actually using the text instead of icons. So let you drag and drop the menu column to any location. This kind of customization has been outrageous. Its question is that no one will care! I never read someone will put the menu in the window Location outside the top. Here you have to talk (rotten) jokes: If you want to pull out the file menu, you accidentally pull it to the menu, and drag the entire menu to the place you don't want, then gently Document. How many times have you been in this case? In addition, once you accidentally make mistakes, you don't know what you are doing or how to fix it. So there will be an option (can move the menu column), no one wants ( Perhaps there will be a 0.1% of people will be able to interfere with everyone. One day has a friend call me. She has no way to send an email. She said that half a picture is ash. Half The picture is ash? I spent five minutes on the phone. She accidentally drags the Windows tool column to the right side of the picture, and then accidentally put the tools to the tools:
This is the kind of thing that no one will deliberately do. And there are many computer users don't know how to solve this bird. When you accidentally change the program's option, you don't know how to reset it. Army People are very surprised, many people will remove or reload software when procedure, because this is what they will do. (They have to learn to remove software, otherwise all wrong settings are still reinstalled "But first!" You will say "it is very important to make an option for the advanced users who want to adjust the environment!" This is not what you think so. This reminds me of me I want to change DVORAK. Keyboard. Results I found that I don't only use a computer. I use a computer five flowers everything. I will use other people's computer. Usually I will use three computers at home, I will use three in work. I It also uses a computer in the laboratory. The problem that the environment is unable to transfer, so don't change this trouble. Most advanced users usually use several computers; they will put computers every few years. Upgrade, it will reload the operating system every three weeks. When they first knew that the button of Word can re-set all things in accordance with their own preferences. But when they upgrade to Windows 95 and find previous settings Dingdu is gone, the working environment is different, and finally will give up, no longer reset the environment. This matter I asked a lot of friends "high-order users"; in addition to making the system to work properly Almost no one will make additional adjustments. Whenever you provide an option, it is equal to the user's next decision. This means that they have to consider some things and make decisions. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but in general, it should be Continuing efforts to minimize the number of decisions that users must do. This is not to eliminate all the options. No matter how many choices are available: how the file is in, how to operate, and other and user work content Unparalleled project. You can try as much as possible in these parts: there is a good choice to choose, and it is more better. There is also a kind of choice is very popular: it does not affect behavior only to change things. Everyone likes WINAMP's housing function; everyone will set the tablecloth into pictures. Because these options have changed the visual appearance, but it does not affect any function at all, and because users can completely ignore the selection directly, this is good options for application programmers user interface design Manual Chapter 4: support and metaphor of the situation: Joel Spolsky Joel Jasper children Braschi translation: Meipu Hua April 18, 2000 to develop a process model and user The consistent user interface is not easy. Sometimes the user may have no specific expectations on the procedure. At this time, you have to try the user, tell them how the program works. For the graphical interface, there is a common metaphor method to solve this problem. But metaphor is not the same, and you must first understand why the metaphor is useful, you can know if you have used a good metaphor. The most famous metaphor is Windows And the "desktop" metaphor used by McKin Tower. There are some small profiles on the desktop. There are some small files in the data clip. You can drag the folder and archives. You can put the file by a data folder to another. In the folder. This metaphor is indeed useful in this role, because these small data clip patterns really make people think of real data clips, and let people know that they can put the file inside. By kai's photo soap Take a picture. Can you guess how to zoom?
This is not very difficult. Magnifying glass is a real world metaphor. Everyone knows how to do it, and it will not worry that the enlargement function will change the size of the image, because the magnifying glass does not change the true size of things. Even if it is not perfect Metaphor is much better than you don't have to have metaphor. Can you find how to zoom in in Microsoft Word?
There are two small magnifying glass in the Word interface, but one is on the "preview print" button (whose reason is unknown), and the other is in the "file boot mode" button (do not know what is 啥). To change the magnification The correct way is to use the "100%" drop-down list. There is no intention to use metaphor here, so users are more difficult to guess how to zoom in. This is not necessarily a shortcoming; there are so many picture spaces that Kai, Enlargement may not be so important. However, it can be determined that the KAI user will use the user's ratio of the user who uses the enlargement function. However, the choice of bad metaphor is more worse than the metaphor. Remember WIDOWS 95 briefcase? This cute small icon accounts for about a square space in everyone's desktop, which is a few years until Microsoft figured out that no one will disappear. And no one is used because it is because It is not well metaphor. This should be a "briefcade" that can put the files back to the "briefcase". But when you want to bring your files back home, you have to copy them into the disk. So, you are to put the files. Plated in the briefcase or placed in a disk? I am uncertain. I don't understand the briefcase, I have never used this thing. Affordances is designed to design a good object to know how to use it. Some doors are The height of the hand is equipped with a large metal piece. The only thing to do for this metal is to push it. In the words of Donald Norman, the metal sheet corresponds to the push. Other doors There will be a big round handle to make you only want to go. They even suggest how to hold the handle. So the handle should have a pull action. It lets you want to pull. Other objects are not so good, so you I don't know how to do it. The CD box is a typical example. You must put the oxygen to pull it in a correct position. You can do it in a box design itself. If you don't know the trick Very depressed, because it is not open. The best way to build context is to cooperate with the shape of human hand in "negative space". We look carefully (superior) Kodak DC-290 digital camera front and rear cover: there is a big The eraser handle, it looks very comfortable to the right hand finger. The design of the lower left corner is smart, there is an ultra-imaginary hole. When you put the left thumb here, the left hand finger will be very comfortable. Bend to the camera in front of the camera and another rubber block. It provides a comfortable feeling, just like sucking thumbs (and bends along the nose). Kodak engineers just try to hold you with both hands The camera can ensure that the camera is more stable, but also avoids the finger to accidentally cover the lens. These rubber do not have other functions, the only role is to encourage you to hold the camera correctly. Good computer The user will also apply context support. It is "3D" to be "3D" about ten years ago. Plus all kinds of grayscale tones, the button looks highlights. This is not just as cool. Its role is very important, because the 3D button corresponds to the action. They look highly, which will make people feel that the way to operate is to go to them. Unfortunately, now many websites (not paying attention to context support Value) Preferences look more cool and not seem to press the button; the result is sometimes it can't be found. Take a look at this web page bar:
"Go" and "log on" buttons have highlighted, it looks like it is like some. "Site Map" and "Help" button look like can be pressed. In fact they and cannot be pressed "quotes" The volume is exceptionally. About four years ago, many windows started in the lower right corner of the three small convexes. It looks like a thing engraved on the slider. It corresponds to the drag action. It Just calling you to drag it to change the window size. Finally, I want to say that a best context support example is a well-known "loose-page dialog box". Remember the old MAC control panel?
Its idea is to let you choose an icon from the left list (can be scrolled). After pointing the icon, the picture will change. Although the reasons are unknown, this roundabout method is very reasonable for programmers originally designed. But many users don't understand. Few people know how to roll the list to display other icons. But more serious is that most people don't know that the icons and the right dialog are related. Because Items look only. This interface starts to disappear from approximately 1992, and replaced is a new invention called a mobile-page dialog:
The loose-leaf dialog is a good context support. You can clearly know that you have six loosons from the pattern; it is also clearly presenting which loose page. When Microsoft starts testing the usability of the loose-page dialog, values It turns 100% from about 30% (old Meccint Tower). That is to say that every subject can understand the live page dialog. This metaphor is very successful, and the Windows also contains the support-page dialog box. Program code, and can be used free. It is hard to imagine that it is also available to use this feature. These programs do not want to hurry, but the result produce truly measurable availability issues. Programmer's user interface design manual 5 Chapter: Consistency and other strange things
Author: Joel Spolsky Joel Jasper children Braschi Translation: The main software Word Meipu Hua April 22, 2000 in Microsoft Office and Excel, were developed from scratch within Microsoft, and other software are It is purchased from the outside world, especially FrontPage (bought to Vermeer) and Visio (bought to Visio). What is the common point of these two programs? The answer is that they are in the original design to be like Microsoft Office. Application. Decide to simulate Office's user interface, not just to "please" Microsoft or intend to sell the company to then it is so simple; in fact, develop FrontPage Charles Ferguson will never hesitate to admit his dislike of Microsoft; he repeatedly The Ministry of Justice is requested to do some of the Redmond Mousse (until he sells the company to Microsoft, after his position is more complicated). In fact, Vermeer and Visio plagiarize Office user interface, main reasons seem to be convenient: photo copy Compared to reinvention of wheels. Mike Mathieu business group program manager Mike Mathieu download FrontPage trial from Vermeer's website, discovering this program and Word very like. Because the program is very similar to what he expects, it is easier to use. And this kind of easy-to-use makes him immediately have a very good impression. When a program can immediately let Microsoft have a good impression, they will take a hundreds of millions of dollars. Your goal may Not so big; just hope that customers like to pick up approximately $ 39. But the idea is the same: consistency will feel easy to use, and then produce a good feeling, and finally make more money. Consistency People learn to use a variety of software can not be underestimated. Before the graphical user interface appears, each program will reinvent a very basic user interface. Even the necessary simple operations necessary for each program of "leaving". At that time, everyone would at least leaving the common procedure to leave the command, so that the original program can run the things you want. Emacs fascinating ": Q!" (Only this) to prevent himself in VI Don't go, and the VI users are "CX CC" (Emacs and even a set of control characters). In the DOS era, if there is no set of stupid film on the keyboard to remind the Alt Ctrl F3 how to use, no I only remember to leave by F7. The impact is not only like this, even if it is like preset typing behavior (overwriting or insert), you can't stand it. I am very accustomed to press CTRL Z, which is "restore" in the Windows program. But when using Emacs, it often accidentally presses the window to minimize the window (also press CTRL Z). (Interesting Emacs The reason why Ctrl Z is minimized is in order to match the corridor user interface CSH (UNIX C shell).) This is one of the fine setbacks that add up and unhappy. A more subtle example, Pico and Emacs deletes a line of words with Ctrl K, but the behavior of both is different. This little difference often let me mess with the documents in Pico. I dare to guarantee that you have a bunch of yourself. In Mackota Early Microsoft Windows has not appeared, the fanatic Apple supporter will say to everyone, generally Mac users can do their jobs than DOS users. I don't remember the real number, but I believe probably It is said that MAC users use one or two programs, while Mac users use two programs. The reason is that because Mac's software operation is the same, it is easy to learn new programs on the MAC. Consistency is a good user interface The basic principles of design, but it is just "let the program mode in line with user models"
One of the preconception results of the axioms, because the user model may reflect the behavior of the user to see other programs. If the user learns to select the single word, they will guess the selection of words when they have never seen the new program. The method is to connect to two times. So now the program is best to select a single word when the user holds two times (not do other actions, such as the word to the dictionary), otherwise it will have usability. Question. Since the benefits of consistency are so significant, why should I waste your time to emphasize? The problem is that there is an outermost black power against consistency, and the designer and programmer's nature is innovative. I am very reluctant Tell you "Don't innovate", the problem is to make the user interface easy to use, you have to put your creative in other places. In most use design cases, you must first look at other popular programs before designing Do it and simulate them as much as possible. If you are making some file editing program, it is best to grow like Microsoft Word, and the quick key of the same item in the menu is copied. Some users may habit to press CTRL S storage, Some people may get used to Alt f, s, and others may press Alt, F, S (first release the Alt key). There will be a type of user to find the disk icon to find the disk icon. These four The method is best to use, otherwise the user will encounter the results they don't want. I have seen some company management stratage that they deliberately do things with Microsoft. They will boast "just because Microsoft Don't say this, don't mean this is right, then I will have no basis, and I am used to different user interfaces. In you starting to sing "just because Microsoft does do, do not say this is right" Before the spell, please consider two things first: 1. Assumment Microsoft's practice is really wrong, but they have done this in Word, Excel, Windows, or Internet Explorer, so millions of people will think this Yes (at least it will think so normal), and they will assume that your program will do this. Although you may think (the same as Netscape 6.0 engineers) Alt left button is not suitable as "Previous" Quick key, but there are millions of people who will try to press Alt left button back, so if you don't do this for some beliefs (Bill Gates is a very evil law), then you Just to satisfy your own vanity, there is no reason to destroy your own procedures, and users will not thank you. 2. Also don't make sure they are wrong. Microsoft spends in the usability test You have more, they also have a detailed statistical information that accumulates millions of telephone support services. It is also possible because more people point out that Microsoft's talents will do this. To make a good procedure with user interface, you have to stay at home at home. Microsoft may not copy Object: If you are making a line bookstore, you may have to make sure your site is at least in the same way. Amazon will keep your shopping cart for 90 days. You may think that you will be smart, so 24 hours later I will clear the information. When Amazon's customers temporarily there in your shopping cart, they will think that the information in the shopping cart in two weeks should be. If you are 24 hours, you will clear the information, Lost a customer. If you are making a high-order photo editor for drawing professionals, I am sure that 90% of your users know Adobe Photoshop, so you better allow the program to play a very like functional overlap. Photoshop. If you don't do this, everyone will say that you are very difficult, although you think it is easier than Photoshop, this is because your program is different from the expectations of users. There is also a common tendency, that is, reinvent Windows attached to shared control components. Netscape 6 is not mentioned. There is a while you look at the appearance. You know that a program is written with the Borland's C compiler because there is a huge OK button and a super large-scale vote. But This is not so bad about kai's photo soap:
That's true, this thing is really beautiful, but o is cross-stripline (actually "not" means) will make me think of "ok", and Windows standard is to put OK on the left, so I often press Ball. So in this beautiful symbol, "OK" and "Cancel" have only one benefit, that is, you have more creativity. If people go wrong because Kai's idea, there is no problem, that is just to highlight a certain artist must pay The price. (This "dialog" is another problem, that is, there is no standard title column, which cannot be removed from the dialog. So if the dialog blocks some information you want, it is a cool.) There are many advantages benefiting from the beautiful user interface. It is very judged by Kai, which can be attracted to use your procedure. The middle is not to violate the rules. You can change the visual appearance of the dialog, but don't affect the function. When Juno's first version, there is a standard login dialog prompt you to enter your name and password. After you enter your name, you should press the Tab button to enter the password to enter the password at the time, JUNO has a procedures manager, He uses Unix's experience than using a lot of Windows, so he is used to entering the name (not a TAB button) to jump to the password bar. When you write a program for general Windows users, UNIX programmers may not represent general Users, but this manager is very insisting on pressing the Enter key to jump to the next field instead of the "OK" action of the Windows standard. He screamed: "Just because Microsoft does do, it does not mean this is right." So the programmer spent a lot of time, bypassing the Windows preset behavior wrote a very complex dialog handler. (To do it, it is almost certainly more than the spending more than the rules of the platform). This program has become a great maintenance of the dream; we moved very unlocked by 16-shot to 32 windows. It does not work in the expectation of everyone. And when new programmers join the group, they can't understand why there is such a Strange dialog processing. There are many programmers to try to re-create a variety of commonly used Windows control components, by the buttons, scroll bars, tools to menus (Microsoft Office's favorite thing to do) everything. Netscape 6.0 most Exaggerated, it is heavy, it will be done every shared Windows control component. This usually does not predict the disadvantage. The best example is the edit box. If you rewrite an edit box, there may be a lot of you have not heard it. Things (such as Chinese editing add-in tools, there is also a two-way version of Windows that is supported by right to left text, because they don't recognize the non-standard editing box you wrote. Some reporters are looking at Netscape 6.0 When you first grab a fresh version, you should notice the URL input box (using Netscape Homemade Non-Standard Edit box) does not support standard editing control component functions, you cannot press the right button to call the content menu. And anti-Microsoft's basic profession or creative drawing designer debates When they often use Emerson: "Consistent is a kind of demon ...". The correct sentence is "stupidity is a kind of demon." Good user interface designer will be wisely Using consistency, although this is not allowed to boast their creativity, from the long run, it will make users happier. The programmer's user interface design manual Chapter 6: Designed to save everyone's trouble
Author: Joel Spolsky Joel Jasper children Braschi Translation: Meipu Hua April 26, 2000 When you're designing a user interface, it is best to remember two principles: 1. The user manual is useless, even They have a manual and will not read. 2. In fact, the user will not go to anything, even if there is something that can check them, they don't want to check. It is not the fact that it is not true, but you should assume that this is the fact and Go, because this can make your program easier and more close to users. When designing this idea is called respect, it means not to respect users. Do you understand? Let me explain it. How to explain it. Is it easy to use? One of the metrics methods is to see how much proportion of users in the real world can do work within the specified time. For example, suppose your program is to make photos of digital cameras into networks In the case. You can find some general users, please use your program to complete this work. If your program is used, there will be more users to successfully build a network. In scientific methods It is assumed that there are 100 real-world users. They don't have to be familiar with the computer. They have their own strengths, but some people will not use computer. Some people will distract with your procedure. Phone Will suddenly sound. Hello. What? Child is crying. What? Cat jumped on the table to chase the mouse. I can't understand it! Although I didn't look at this experiment, I have quite grasp, some users are unable to complete the work. Or it takes a long time to complete. I don't say that these users are stupid. On the contrary, they may be very smart, they may also be a very superb athlete, but they are not allowed to exercise their sports. Tips and brain cells are used. You may only grab your 30% attention, so you have to deal with a user who is obviously not engaged in wholehearted.
The user is not reading manual. First of all users are really no manual. It may be no manual at all. Even if there is a manual, the user may not get it: people are on the plane; people are using the trial version of the website; At home, it is a manual in the company; their information department never provides a manual. To be honest, even if you can get a manual, unless they have no choice, otherwise it will not read. Only a very few exceptions will have users. After reading it, you can use the software after reading it. Usually your users want to complete a job, and they think that the reading manual is a waste of time, even if it is not a waste of time, at least will make them distracted and hinder them to complete the work. You can Reading this book, said you are elite in higher intellectuals. Of course, I know that people who can use a computer can usually read, but I dare to ensure that many of them will feel very annoying. Languages may not be their native language, and they may not be proficient enough. They may be just a child! If they really need, they can still understand the content of the manual, but there is no need to see it. The user is only absolute It will be temporarily to see the manual. So the conclusion is that you may have no choice, you can only get the software, you can do it without the manual. The only thing I can think of is the user's lack of field expertise - they don't understand this at all The function of the program, but it is best to go to learn. The Intuit is very popular small business accounting software QuickBooks is a good example. This set of software has many users who have no concept of accounting. And QuickBooks manuals assume that it teaches you the principle of accounting. This is something. However, if you have already understood the accounting, even if there is no manual QuickBooks, it is easy to use. In fact, users will not read anything. This sounds a little harsh But you will understand it soon. When you are taking availability test, there will be a significant number of applications don't look at the words on the screen. No matter what kind of error message you display on the screen, they don't Look. This may make your programmer, you are horrified, because you imagine yourself is talking to the user. Hey, users! You can't open this file, we don't support this file format! But experience, dialog box The more words, more people will actually read. The user is not reading the manual, so that many software designers think that the procedure should be described at the time to describe the user. So you will see the instructions in all the procedures. This is theoretical, but actually because people hate reading, this trick is still very unblocked. Experienced user interface designers will try to minimize the number of words in the dialogue to increase user viewing. When I was still in Juno, the person responsible for the user interface learned this truth, so trying to write It is a pity that the general manager of the company has previously maintained English in Changchun League; he has not been trained in any user interface design or software engineering, but it is convinced that he is a good text editor. So he rejected user interface design Experts' a sentence, but added a lot of his own long-standing big interlass. The typical dialog of Juno is as follows: Compared with the WINDOWS:
You will do it intuvice, you will think that 80 words of Juno version will be more "excellent" than only 5 words of Windows version (that is, more easy to use). But wait for you to do availability for this type, you know the correct answer It is. * Advanced users will skip the description. They assume that they know how to use, there is no time to read complex instructions * Most players will skip the description. They don't like watching too many words and want the default value to use * Other serious generos will try to read the instructions (some of which are just because they should be able to see), but often being disturbed by the horrible words and concepts. So even if the user is very mastered for the first time With this dialog, these instructions will still make them more confused. No matter what, Juno's boss is obviously too thin. Lecture, if you are mainly written in Columbia, then your reading and writing skills and ordinary people It is completely different, and you should be very careful to write the contents of the dialog that seems to be very helpful. Try to shorten the sentences, take the complex clause in parentheses, and perform usability test. But don't Like the teaching memorandum of the Changchun Union. In the dialog, even add "please" this seemingly polite and useful word, or will still slow down the user: adding the number of words to reduce the number of people reading text, and affecting It can be measured. Another focus is a lot of people are afraid of computers. This point you probably know, right? But you may not understand the implied. I have looked at a friend to jump out Juno. I don't know Why have she always encountered a problem. I noticed that the following dialog box appears when you want to jump out Juno:
My friend will go to NO, and then a little surprised JUNO did not end. This dialog is inquiring the user choice, but let her immediately think that he is doing something wrong. Usually the program will give you a command because you Some of the actions you may regret. So my friend thinks that since the computer is questioning her decision, then the computer must be right, because the computer is a computer after all, she is just a personal, so I press "NO" . Requires people to read 11 boring words will not be too headed? Obviously it will be. First, Juno does not need to be prompted to confirm, just like existing graphical user interfaces Just. But even if you are convinced that people must be confirmed before the end, you can use two words rather than 11 words: less unnecessary "thank you" and encourage regret "Are you sure?", This The dialog will not have a problem. Users will see these two words, press "Yes" after saying "Yes?", You will say that Juno's Leaving Confirmation dialog will only harary a few people. But is there such a serious? Everyone is in the end, there is a magazine to jump out of the program. However, a difference is that it is still easy to use. Even if you are an experienced and smart high-level user, you will thank you for panic. Simplified. The bathtub in the hotel has a lot of armrests. Their use only want to help the disabled, but everyone will use these armrests to leave the bathtub. Even for those who are healthy, these armrests can make life easier. Let's discuss some things about the mouse. Just like users don't want to read, some people are not good at using the mouse, so you have to cooperate with them. Programmer's user interface design manual Chapter 7: The design, the second part of saving everyone
Author:. Joel Spolsky Joel Jasper children Braschi translation: Meipu Hua April 27, 2000 when the Macintosh first came out, Bruce "Tog" Tognazzini in Apple's Developer magazine wrote a column about the user interface Everyone wrote a lot of interesting user interface design issues to this column to answer him. These columns have been continued until they are placed on his website. At the same time, it is also included in many good books after being constructed, like TOG. On Software Design, this book is very interesting and has a good introduction to the user interface design (Tog On Interface is more great, but it has been out of print.) Tog creates the concept of the height menu to explain, why Wheat Tower menu (total Is it in the top of the screen) More than the Windows menu (in each application window), it is much better. When you want to use the file menu in Windows, you must point to a width of about 1/4 吋. Area. You must exact the mouse to position in both horizontal and vertical directions. However, on the Mackinta to push up the mouse to the top of the screen, do not have to be more high, the mouse will naturally be on the top of the screen (also That is to stop using the correct vertical position of the menu. So actually, although the width of the target area is only half in, but the height is 1. Now you have to pay attention to the horizontal position of the cursor, do not need the vertical direction, so click the menu The action becomes much easier. Based on this principle, TOG has a question of the test: Where is the five points of the most easy to use the mouse on the screen? Answer: The four corners of the screen (basically Push the mouse to the past, completely no need to position), plus the current position of the mouse, because it is already in place. The principle of the high menu is quite famous, but it must not be easily understood, because the Windows 95 team design "Start" button Make an error. The "Start" button is almost on the lower left corner of the screen, but it is not allowed to be just right. In fact, put the position of the two pixels by the left by the left by the left. So just because these Pixel, Microsoft turns into a confusing shape (TOG is described), the result is made up of the "start" button. The originality is one mile, it can be pressed casually with the mouse. But because I don't know the reason I become like this Son. My God. We said in the previous chapter, how hate users, unless you can't complete your job, otherwise you should avoid reading. Similarly:
The user can't control the mouse very well. I don't say it. I really mean that you should design it to design it. It is not necessary to flexibly manipulate the mouse normally. Six major reasons : 1. Sometimes people don't use the best pointing devices, they might use the trajectory ball or track panel, or the red little things on ThinkPad, these devices are more difficult than the real mouse. 2. Sometimes people use The mouse environment is not well: crowded desktop; the ball is torped, so the mouse will be jumped; it is also possible to use only 5 dollars of imitation products, and the action is not normal. 3. Some people just contact the computer, yet It has developed the skills that correctly use the mouse. 4. Some people have no precise use of the mouse, and they will never have. They may have the symptoms of inflammation, hand shake, wrist; they may be small or old; Or there have been other disability. 5. Many people find that even if they are not moving to the mouse in two times, it is very difficult to move to the mouse to turn the application to drag and drop the object. This kind of person is easy to recognize, their The desktop will become a group, because they want to activate the program to become a mobile icon. 6. Even in the best situation, people will still feel slow when people use the mouse. If you force people to use the mouse to make multiple steps, They will feel that they are called, and the result will make the user interface feel slow, then they will make them unhappy (this should know). When I was in the Excel group, the laptop did not advertise the device, so Microsoft created a clip trackball next to the keyboard. To know the mouse is manipulated by wrists and multiple fingers. It is very similar to writing, and you may have developed very accurate writing skills in elementary school. But the trajectory The ball is completely controlled. So use the trajectory ball as it is the same as the mouse. Most people can control the mouse to only one or two pixels, but the trackball will become 3 or 4 pixels. I always advocate everyone to test their new user interface in the Excel community. You can't use the mouse so that you can't move your mouse to your way. The drop-down combination list is What is the most deepest user interface component. It is the following components: When you point to the down arrow, the list will begin:
Think about whether you want to choose a project (hypothesis Times New Roman is good) how many precise mouse points will be made. First, you have to press the down arrow. Then you have to carefully use the scroll bar until you see TIMES NEW. Roman. This drop-down list often does not carefully designs only two or three projects at the same time, so this rolling operation is not easy. If the font is much more difficult. You must be careful to drag the scroll bar ( Moving range is so small, it is impossible to do it), or repeat the second down arrow, or the area of the dotted mark and the down arrow (if the roll mark is very low, it will only let You are more annoying. Finally, after you see Times New Roman, you must also point it. If you don't miss it, you have to come from the beginning. If you want to put the first letter in each chapter in the work Set into a beautiful font, you will really be very uncomfortable. Because there is a very simple solution, I think this damn drop-down control component is more annoying: Just let the drop column to accommodate all items. . However, the outer 90% combo frame does not use all possible space to display the list of content, which is really unlike. If the primary edit box does not have enough space in the bottom floor, the drop-down list should go up to Have all options, there is no relationship to the top of the top to the screen. If this still can't put all the projects, when the mouse is close to the edge, the list will be automatically rolled, not the poor user to use the little poor scroll bar. What is important is that when you display a list, don't click on the pocket arrow on the right side, you should follow any one of the combo box. This should be changed about ten times in the area, and you should be easy to use to go to the target with a mouse. Let's take a look at another problem: edit box. You may have noticed that almost all edit boxes on Macintota are used in obese bold characters called Chicago, which looks some Ugly, it will make the drawing designer painful. Drawing designers (different from the user interface designer) are taught, and the words that are thin and unfixed are more beautiful and happy. This is of course right. But The skill of the drawing designer is on the paper instead of learning on the screen. When you want to edit the text, the equal distance word has a big advantage compared to the words that are not fixed, it is like "L" and "I" This very fine word is easier to read or select. I saw a 60-year-old man tried to edit the street name in the usability test (as if it was a Fillmore Street, I learned this. Things. We use an 8-point Arial font, so the length of the edit box is as follows: Note that the letters I and L have only one pixel width. Small write I and lower-write L are only a pixel. (Another similar situation is hard May tell the difference between lowercase "RN" and "M" Also, the content of the edit box is actually fillrnore). Only very few people will notice yourself to write Fillmore words FLMORE or FIILMORE or FILLRNORE, even if it is noted, use the mouse to select the wrong letter and fix it. Many time. In fact, it is also very difficult to select a flash cursor (two pixels wide) to select a single letter. See if you use the obese font (here Courier Bold) will be simple:
This is good. Yes, it will take up more space for the drawing designer. It looks not enough. I recognize it! This is much better; when the user typed, the sharp clear text, feel It will be better, and it is easy to edit.
The programmer has a common thinking mode: only three of the numbers: 0, 1, and n. If there is n, all N is probably the same. There will be this thinking mode, possibly It is because there should be no value constant outside of 0 and 1 in the conviction program code. (0 and 1 constants are considered "magic numbers". I don't want to be so paranoid.) For example, programmers believe that If the program allows multiple files to turn on, you must allow unlimited multiple files (as soon as memory is enough), otherwise there must be 2 ^ 32 (the only magic number of the programmer is accustomed to see the visual " Can only turn on 20 files. 20 What does it mean? Why is it 20? 20 or even the power of 2! All N probably the same idea has another evidence, that is, the programmer can think that if the user can Move the window and change the window size, you should be completely free to control, you can move to or use the right side of the screen. So put the window on the top of the screen 2 pixels, and just put on the top of the screen "seems to be the same" This is not the fact. The result shows that there are many good reasons to explain why the window should put the window on the top end of the screen (the screen can be placed in the largest), but there is no reason to stay on the window and the top of the window. 2 The gap of a pixel. So actually 0 to 2 reasonably. The programmer of Nullsoft (Winamp's creator) finally avoided this for ten years of thinking model. Winamp has a great feature. When you Drag the window to the edge of the screen (within a few pixels), the window will automatically attach the edge of the screen. This may be the situation you want, because 0 is more reasonable than 2. (Juno's main window has a Similar features: It is I have seen the only "Limit in the box", which cannot move the application that exceeds the edge of the screen.) You have less elasticity, but thus get a user interface that can be accurately confirmed to control the priority. Why not do? This innovation (each program can be used) simplifies the burden on window management in a smart way. Carefully check your user interface, let everyone stop. Pretending us being gorilla or smart gibbon ., but did not really use the mouse programmer user interface design Manual Chapter 8: designed to save you the trouble made by the third part author:. Joel Spolsky Joel Jasper children Braschi translation: Meipu Hua On May 8, 2000, there is an old principle, that is, there should be something that people can remember. The most typical example is to open the file dialog, which will display the list of files, not requested by the user. And enter the correct file name. People can remember things when there are wraps, so I always like to pick it up from the list without relying on memory. Another example is the menu itself. Look Looking at it, the full menu for providing the available command has replaced the old command column interface that must be remembered. No matter how your UNIX friend said, this basically means that the command column interface is not as good as the graphical user interface. Using the command line interface is like Go to learn Korean in Korea's McDonald's dinner. The menu interface is like pointers to the food that is poisoned: no need to pass the same information, consider the file selection process in a typical plot program:
Fortunately, Windows 98 imports small icon support, so you can use the following way:
This way to open the files you want; you don't need to spend the text into a picture at all. You can also see the minimum memory principle in the function of automatic completion. Even if you have to typing, some programs still will Test what you want to play:
In this example, as long as you play "M", Excel will guess you may want to play Male, because you have entered Male in this column, so it is proposed to use this from the power. But "ale" will be specified Select the status, so if you don't want to enter Male, you can continue typing (perhaps "YStery"), caught the Excel's guess. Microsoft Word is a bit over, every time you guess you, each is in a happy five People who have used Word will find:
In order to save everyone's trouble, summarize that I have brought three principles in these chapters: * Users do not read things (Chapter 6) * users will not use mouse (Chapter 7) * users can not remember anything you may I will start thinking that I am idiot. This is not a fact. If you despise users, you will make Microsoft Bob this arrogant software (and then throwing into the trash can), no one will be very happy. In fact, in software design There is also a more arrogant situation: "My software is cool, cool to everyone to come to a brain and grow." This thick face is quite common in the free world. Hey, Linux is free If you don't understand this thing, you don't understand this. It's not worth it! The qualification of people is a clock curve. Your customers may have 98% smart enough to use TV. About 70% can use Windows. 15% You can use Linux. Only 1% can write a program. But only 0.1% can write a program with C , and only 0.01% can notify the Microsoft ATL program design (and they are all bearded with glasses, no exception.) There is a result of a rapid falling trend, that is, as long as you "reduce the threshold" a little bit (for example, it is easy to use 10%), the number of people can use will dramatically (such as 50%). So, I am not true Everyone thinks everyone is stupid, but thinks if you continue to work hard, even idiot can use, you can make a program that is easy to use and people love. In addition, you will be surprised It is found that the availability of small amplitudes can improve many customers. To evaluate a good way to assess the availability of programs or dialogs, there is a good way to install a bit stupid. Do not read the text in the dialog box Do not add to the way to assume the way the program is operational. Try only with a finger to operate the mouse. Many mistakes and messages everywhere. Look at whether the program is performed by your thoughts, or at least gently guides you. Will be chaotic. Don't be so patient. If you don't have a magazine, you will give up. If the user interface can't accept your clumsy action, you need to improve. Programmer's user interface design manual Chapter 9: A product the design of the program: Joel Spolsky Joel Jasper children Braschi translation: Meipu Hua May 9, 2000 we have already talked about the principles of good design, but the principle is only to provide a method to evaluate and improve existing designs however. ... How do I find out the correct design at the beginning? Many people will write a large outline, cover all the features you want. Then design each function and connect the function to the menu item (or web page). Wait After they are complete, the program (or website) will have all the functions of all, but it is not smooth. People will look at The preface does not know what it can do, and I don't know how to do what they have to do. Microsoft's solution to this problem is a method called "Activity Planning". (I know This concept is invented by the Mike Conte of the Excel group. He later made it to change the racer. The key is to find out the activities of the user, and then strive to make these activities easy. Use the following The example is to explain the most appropriate. You decide that you can make a website to make a greeting card. If you choose a simpler method, you may list the following function list:
1. Add the text to the card 2. Add the image to the card 3. A pre-designed card is obtained by the card library 4. Transfer card: a. Transfer this problem, if it is printed It will make a typical user interface of approximately 1984 McKin Tower: a program with a blank card, there are several menu options to join the text, the picture, load cards in the card library, and send a card. Sit down and browse each menu, try to find all available commands, and then find out how to make a card with these basic commands. Active planning requires that you must find a list of events that users may do. So you will find Possible user talk, resulting in this "first three" list: 1. Birthday card 2. Banquet invitation card 3. Wedding commemorative card now not to use programmers to think about the program (that is, think about making a card What functions can be considered like a user (which is the user will do). The main activities are: 1. Send a birthday card 2. Plan a banquet, then invite everyone to participate in 3. Send a marriage The commemorative card suddenly appeared in your mind. So at the beginning, you can display the following menu without having to use a blank card:
What do you want to do? * Send a birthday card * Send a wedding commemorative card * Send a banquet invitation card * Beginning by the blank card This user will suddenly discover your program very easy to get up, they no longer need first Browse the menu. Because basic programs will guide them to gradually complete all activities. (There will be a risk here. If you don't choose the activity, you will alienate or confuse those users who originally used your programs, such as The year card can't find the option. So you should carefully choose the activities that can cover most target markets.) Light will have a lot of good features that can be added. For example, if you are sending one Zhang Shengqi or Married Memorial Card, may wish to remind you to send cards next year ... So you may check the option to write "next year remind me". In addition, the banquet invitation card will need to reply if it can participate, so You can add a function to make you back to the electronic way. These ideas are almost light to see the activities they will do, but they will not be thinking about the function of the application. This example is nothing; but it is official Application, the benefits of active planning are more considerable. When you design a program from head, you have an idea to make this idea. It is not difficult to figure out this idea, almost no need for anything Work, as long as you do some brain storms with colleagues, write possible activities, then decide which projects are placed. Forced yourself to write these activities on paper, and help your overall design. When you are making When there is a second edition of the product, the active plan will become more important. At this time, the customer samples use your program to do something, it may be a very important thing. From Excel 1.0 to 4.0, Microsoft Most people think that the most common user activity is to do financial simulation analysis, such as changing inflation rates to see the influence of profitability). When we design Excel 5.0, we have officially used activity planning, probably After five customers use the product, I learned that there are many people just use Excel to log list. They don't enter any formula or do any calculations! We used to have no consideration at all. Since the results are saved in Excel Other activities are generally much more, and this also allows us to invent a lot of functions that can be more easily saved: easier sort, automatic data input, help you see a list of automatic filtering features for a single part, and multi-user features (You can edit the same list at the same time, Excel will automatically handle all conflicts). When Excel 5 is designing, Lotus launched a "new model" spreadsheet IMPROV. According to press release, IMPROV is a new generation The spreadsheet can be done away from all the products. It is first launched by all kinds of strange reasons. NEXT version, this sales for the product is of course no help, but there are many smart people think IMPROVs in NEXT is like the previous Visicalc on Apple II: it will be a killer application, which will let people go with a program. Buy a new hardware. Of course, IMPROV is now a historical footnote. Search for this name on the Internet, the only found is a Tai-provisioned warehouse manager I don't know why the website built, listed them can not go out Put the dust in stock. Why? Because it is almost impossible to create a list in Improv. The Improv designer believes that everyone is using a spreadsheet to build a complex multidimensional financial model. But if they go to investigate, they will find production. The list is much more common than the multidimensional financial model, but it is also very troublesome in Improv. Therefore, the active planning is not only able to help the application first version (you must guess what everyone wants to do), Programs for planning to upgrade are more useful because you can understand what customers are doing. There is another example from the network, it is the eviction of deja.com, which is just a huge Usenet called dejanews to search for indexing services. Initial There is only one edit box in the interface, and "Search UseNet for Blah" is only this. In 1999, a small number of active planning shows that the activities of general users are research products or services, such as research "I should sell the car"
