Microsoft® Windows® User Experience

Author Microsoft Corporation Pages 624 Disk N/A Level Int/Adv Published 09/08/1999 ISBN 9780735605664 ISBN-10 0-7356-0566-1 Price(USD) $49.99 To see this book's discounted price, select a reseller below.	More Information About the Book Table of Contents Sample Chapter Index Related Series Related Books About the Author Support: Book & CD Rate this book

Table of Contents

Introduction
How to Use This Book	xvii
How to Apply These Guidelines	xviii
Conventions Used in This Book	xix
PART 1 FUNDAMENTALS OF DESIGNING USER INTERACTION
CHAPTER 1 Getting Started	3
What. s New	3
The Importance of a Well-Designed Interface	4
The Need for Improved Simplicity	5
Key Areas for Improvement	5
Confusing or Awkward Setup and Uninstall Design	5
Improper Use of the File System	8
GUI Overload	11
Missed Opportunities	17
Checklist for a Good Interface	22
CHAPTER 2 Design Principles and Methodology	25
User-Centered Design Principles	25
User in Control	25
Directness	26
Consistency	27
Forgiveness	28
Feedback	29
Aesthetics	29
Simplicity	30
Design Methodology	31
A Balanced Design Team	31
The Design Cycle	31
Usability Assessment in the Design Process	34
Understanding Users	37
Design Tradeoffs	38
CHAPTER 3 Basic Concepts	41
Data-Centered Design	41
Objects as Metaphor	42
Object Characteristics	42
Relationships	43
Composition	43
Persistence	44
Putting Theory into Practice	44
CHAPTER 4 The Windows Environment	47
The Desktop	47
The Taskbar	48
The Start Button	49
The Quick Launch Bar	49
Window Buttons	50
The Status Notification Area	50
Icons	51
Windows	52
CHAPTER 5 Input Basics	55
Mouse Input	55
Mouse Pointers	55
Mouse Actions	57
Keyboard Input	59
Text Keys	59
Access Keys	60
Mode Keys	61
Shortcut Keys	62
CHAPTER 6 General Interaction Techniques	65
Navigation	65
Mouse Navigation	66
Keyboard Navigation	66
Selection	67
Selection Feedback	68
Scope of Selection	69
Hierarchical Selection	69
Mouse Selection	70
Auto-Selection	78
Keyboard Selection	78
Selection Shortcuts	80
Common Conventions for Supporting Operations	80
Operations for a Multiple Selection	81
Default Operations and Shortcut Techniques	81
Viewing Operations	82
Editing Operations	90
Editing Text	91
Transactions	93
Properties	94
Transfer Operations	95
Command Method	97
Direct Manipulation Method	100
Transfer Feedback	106
Specialized Transfer Commands	109
Shortcut Keys for Transfer Operations	110
Creation Operations	110
Copy Command	110
New Command	111
Insert Command	111
Using Controls	111
Using Templates	111
Operations on Linked Objects	112
Record Processing	114
PART 2 WINDOWS INTERFACE COMPONENTS
CHAPTER 7 Windows	117
Common Types of Windows	117
Primary Window Components	117
Window Frames	118
Title Bars	118
Title Bar Icons	119
Title Text	120
Title Bar Buttons	122
Basic Window Operations	123
Activating and Deactivating Windows	123
Opening and Closing Windows	124
Moving Windows	126
Resizing Windows	126
Scrolling Windows	129
Splitting Windows	135
CHAPTER 8 Menus, Controls, and Toolbars	139
Menus	139
The Menu Bar and Drop-Down Menus	139
Common Drop-Down Menus	142
Shortcut Menus	144
Shortcut Menu Interaction	146
Common Shortcut Menus	147
Cascading Menus	151
Menu Titles	152
Menu Items	152
Menu Text	156
Controls	158
Buttons	160
List Boxes	170
Text Fields	180
Other General Controls	187
Toolbars and Status Bars	199
Interaction with Controls in Toolbars and Status Bars	200
Support for User Options	201
Toolbar Control	202
Toolbar Frame Control	202
Toolbar Buttons	204
Status Bar Control	205
CHAPTER 9 Secondary Windows	207
Characteristics of Secondary Windows	207
Appearance and Behavior	207
Window Placement	213
Default Buttons	213
Navigation in Secondary Windows	214
Hyperlinks in Secondary Windows	216
Validation of Input	216
Property Sheets and Inspectors	217
Property Sheet Interface	217
Property Inspectors	222
Other Alternatives	223
Properties of a Multiple Selection	224
Properties of a Heterogeneous Selection	224
Properties of Grouped Items	224
Dialog Boxes	225
Title Bar Text	225
Dialog Box Commands	225
Layout	226
Common Dialog Box Interfaces	226
Palette Windows	240
Title Bar Text	241
Window Design	241
Message Boxes	242
Title Bar Text	242
Message Box Types	243
Command Buttons in Message Boxes	245
Message Box Text	246
Pop-up Windows	250
PART 3 DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND GUIDELINES
CHAPTER 10 Window Management	253
Selecting a Window Management Model	253
Presentation of Object or Task	253
Display Layout	254
Single-Document Window Interface	255
Workbooks	256
Workbook Design	257
Design Trade-offs	257
Web-Application Interface	258
Web-Style Design	258
Design Trade-offs	261
Projects	262
Project Design	262
Design Trade-offs	263
Multiple-Document Interface	264
MDI Design	264
Design Trade-offs	269
CHAPTER 11 Integrating with the System	271
Using the File System	271
Location of Files	272
File Naming Conventions	274
Shared User Data Files	276
Disk Cleaners	276
Using the Registry	277
Registering New File Types	277
Registering Icons	281
Registering Commands	281
Supporting the New Command	283
Enabling Printing	285
Supporting InfoTips	285
Setting Other File Type Values	286
Taking Over a File Type	286
Registering NoOpenWith	286
Registering Application State Information	287
Registering Application Path Information	289
Adding Features to File Types	290
Installation	291
Copying Files	292
Providing Access to Your Application	294
Designing Your Installation Program	295
Installing Fonts	297
Installing Your Application on a Network	297
Uninstalling Your Application	298
Supporting AutoPlay	299
Using System Settings and Notifications	300
Integrating with the Shell	300
Taskbar Integration	300
Control Panel Integration	303
Recycle Bin Integration	305
Creating Active Desktop Items	305
Creating Folder Web Views	306
Creating Themes	307
Creating System Sounds	309
Registering Sound Events	312
Creating Application Desktop Toolbars	313
Supporting Full-Screen Display	314
Using the Folder Metaphor	315
Supporting Network Computing	315
Supporting Hardware Devices	316
Supporting Multiple-Monitor Configuration Devices	317
Supporting Plug and Play	317
CHAPTER 12 Working with OLE Embedded and Linked Objects	319
The Interaction Model	319
Creating Embedded and Linked Objects	321
Transferring Objects	321
Inserting New Objects	328
Displaying Objects	332
Selecting Objects	334
Accessing Commands for Selected Objects	336
Activating Objects	338
Outside-in Activation	338
Inside-out Activation	339
Container Control of Activation	339
Visual Editing of Embedded Objects	340
The Active Hatched Border	344
Menu Integration	345
Keyboard Interface Integration	347
Toolbars, Frame Adornments, and Palette Windows	349
Opening Embedded Objects	352
Editing a Linked Object	355
Automatic and Manual Updating	357
Operations and Links	357
Types and Links	358
Accessing Properties of Objects	359
The Properties Command	359
The Links Command	362
Converting Types	364
Using Handles	366
Displaying Messages	367
Object Application Messages	367
Status-Line Messages	368
CHAPTER 13 User Assistance	371
User Assistance Road Map	371
Contextual Help	373
Context-Sensitive Help	373
ToolTips	378
Status Bar Messages	378
The Help Command Button	380
Procedural Help	381
Reference Help	382
Conceptual Help	383
HTML Help	384
The HTML Help Viewer	385
The Toolbar	386
The Navigation Pane	387
The Topics Pane	395
Help Topic Features	395
Wizards	399
Guidelines for Designing Wizards	399
Guidelines for Writing Text for Wizard Pages	408
CHAPTER 14 Visual Design	409
Visual Communication	409
Color	413
Fonts	415
Dimensionality	416
Design of Visual Elements	417
Basic Border Styles	417
Window Border Style	419
Button Border Style	419
Field Border Style	421
Status Field Border Style	422
Grouping Border Style	422
Visual States for Controls	423
User Interface Text	430
Font and Size	430
The Basics of Writing Interface Text	432
Title Bars	446
Layout	448
Size	448
Spacing and Positioning	451
Grouping	454
Alignment	455
Required and Optional Input	456
Preview and Sample Boxes	457
Design of Graphic Images	458
Icon Design	459
Toolbar Button Image Design	463
Common Toolbar Buttons	465
Pointer Design	468
Selection Appearance	469
Highlighting	470
Handles	471
Transfer Appearance	472
Open Appearance	473
Link Appearance	474
Animation	475
CHAPTER 15 Special Design Considerations	477
Sound	477
Accessibility	479
Types of Disabilities	480
Types of Accessibility Aids	482
Compatibility with Screen-Review Utilities	484
The User. s Point of Focus	487
Timing and Navigational Interfaces	488
Color	489
Scalability	489
Keyboard and Mouse Interface	490
Accessible HTML Pages	491
Documentation, Packaging, and Support	492
Usability Testing	493
Localization	494
Text	495
Layout	498
Graphics	505
Keyboards	506
Character Sets	507
Formats	507
Access Key Definition	508
References to Unsupported Features	508
Other Issues	509
PART 4 APPENDIXES AND REFERENCES
APPENDIX A Mouse Interface Summary	513
Interaction Guidelines for Common Unmodified Mouse Actions	513
Interaction Guidelines for Using the shift Key to Modify Mouse Actions	515
Interaction Guidelines for Using the ctrl Key to Modify Mouse Actions	518
APPENDIX B Keyboard Interface Summary	521
Common Navigation Keys	521
Common Shortcut Keys	522
Windows Keys	523
Accessibility Keys	524
Access Key Assignments	525
Glossary	527
Bibliography	539
Index	543