maarten@fwi.uva.nl (Maarten Carels) (07/11/90)
In writing a deskaccessory I came upon a question about Macintosh user interface that the bible (IM) and the user interface book didn't answer. The DA is supposed to lock up the mac until the correct password has been typed. It displays a large modal dialog, stating that this mac can't be used until the correct password has been typed. A TextEdit field is used to enter the password (with bullets replacing the characters, so no-one can read the password). When no characters have been entered, the OK button is dimmed (greyed out). What I don't know is whether the outline of the OK button should - remain as normal (a black line around the button) - be greyed out as well (so, a gray line around the button) - should be removed from the dialog (so, no line around the button) Perhaps one of the netguru's could enlighten me on this? Please reply by mail, I'll summarize to the net. --maarten -- In real life: Maarten Carels Computer Science Department University of Amsterdam email: maarten@fwi.uva.nl
han@apple.COM (Byron Han, Project Scapegoat) (07/17/90)
In article <1136@carol.fwi.uva.nl> maarten@fwi.uva.nl (Maarten Carels) writes: > When no characters have been entered, the OK button is dimmed (greyed out). > What I don't know is whether the outline of the OK button should > - remain as normal (a black line around the button) > - be greyed out as well (so, a gray line around the button) > - should be removed from the dialog (so, no line around the button) I don't believe that the user interface thought police have come up with an official policy statement. This is simply my own humble opinion (TISMOHO) Removing the outline is very visually distracting and distressing. Having user interface items appear and disappear should be done rarely and only in special situations (like dyanamic dialogs where entire sets of items are appended and removed from a dialog - see CommToolbox tool selection/configuration dialogs for an example) Greying out the outline may seem to be the de jure correct thing to do. Most users, however, are used to the useritem not greying out and therefore this may indeed be the de facto correct thing to do. Another option, which the Advanced Software Concepts' TCPack Connection Tool uses, is to move the outline to reflect the current default button. For example, if there is an OK and Cancel button, and an associated editText item, the Cancel button is outlined if there is no text entered, the OK button is hilighted if there is text entered. I don't know if this made it into the production software but I personally found it rather distracting. Sorry I don't have a definitive answer. The subleties of human interface design often lacks definitive answers. This is not an official Apple policy statement. I have no connection with ASC except as a beta tester of TCPack. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Disclaimer: Apple has no connection with my postings. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Byron Han, CommToolbox Architect "Not Working 100 hrs/wk and loving it!" Apple Computer, Inc. -------------------------------- 20525 Mariani Ave, MS 69L Internet: han@apple.COM Cupertino, CA 95014 UUCP:{sun,voder,nsc,decwrl}!apple!han -------------------------------- GENIE:BYRONHAN CompuServe:72167,1664 ATTnet: 408-974-6450 Applelink:HAN1 HAN1@applelink.apple.COM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------