fast data entry UI patterns

Question

I am working on a web app that helps people manage their finances.

the app requires users to manually enter key financial transactions on a weekly basis, and there is a strong requirement to make the process as short and friendly to users.

which would be a better approach to this problem -

1. display a data grid, where the user enters the data and uses the keyboard to switch from one data field to the next
2. display a modal window with a form to take in user data
3. another solution?

Answer 1

I think your problem should be rethought at a deeper level. It sounds like you hare asking users to do quite a bit of management an application that is supposed to be helping them with management. Requiring users to perform a weekly chore, negates the value of your app.

In other words, there is not proper UX for making users do chores. Don't make users do chores. You will have to find another source for your data, or your app is likely to fall into an existential crisis that could be fatal.

Cheers!