program installed on user's machine as opposed to a program that runs remotely and is accessed via an internet browser.
2
votes
2answers
67 views
How best to handle a popup gaining focus in the middle of the user typing?
Often I'll set some process off, then change focus to another program and be typing away in a textbox (for example), when the first thing pops up into view, maybe with a Yes / No box which I'd then ...
4
votes
2answers
122 views
Log add to top or bottom
In my WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) application I have a log that display important events in the application.
I'm unsure where to add new events? Or in other words, how should I sort the ...
-1
votes
2answers
136 views
How can I learn to make solid UX design recommendations/solutions? [closed]
I started out in UX as a wireframing monkey, crafting designs dictated by other people. I want to learn how to devise my own design solutions. How can I be sure I'm giving solid recs?
I'm working on ...
6
votes
6answers
367 views
Why does Skype's “x” button minimize the application instead of closing?
I was browsing through the web and I came across this sentiment:
Dear Skype, this (red X) button means close, not minimize
I also found the same question on the Skype website. Why would a ...
1
vote
2answers
91 views
Changing keyboard shortcuts that has been introduced quite a while?
Let's say I have developed a publicly available application which has a keyboard shortcut available. However, after a while of further development, I've decided that the current keyboard shortcut is ...
1
vote
3answers
81 views
Visualizing structure and intermediate results of a computation
I have a financial desktop application and there are many places where different computations are performed and a single number (or a couple numbers) is shown as a result.
Very often users are ...
-1
votes
3answers
115 views
When to use desktop class application on web [closed]
We are developing a third version of Digital Asset Management Software. We are now have problems about selecting platform for next version. We have to select between
Desktop Application: Develop by ...
8
votes
3answers
182 views
Why do menu labels behave differently in desktop applications and websites?
In a desktop application when you click a menu, you see all the options which reside within it, in a drop-down/pop-up list.
In many websites with a navigation menu which has sub-categories, I have ...
5
votes
2answers
110 views
Correct ordering position for 'Yes', 'No' and 'Not now'?
What is the correct position for the 3 buttons:
Yes - No - Not now
(or Yes - No - Later)
is it Yes - No - Not now
or is it Yes - Not now - No
This will be on a windows 7 windows application, on ...
5
votes
3answers
101 views
Reasonable webpage file size
What sort of file size is currently reasonable for a webpage? Considering a responsive design being served to both a desktop with a high-bandwidth connection and a slow connection mobile device.
4
votes
2answers
98 views
Change button for color input modes
I have this SWT widget (color picker) with label:
By pressing the star button, color picker field transforms into code field, where you can write code:
I am not satisfied with this "star ...
-2
votes
1answer
39 views
Auto opening applications on OS load [closed]
Something really irks me about Spotify. When you install their application, they chose to have the application auto open when you first load your operating system. It's an opt out scenario, where ...
10
votes
2answers
184 views
Is Desktop Window Title Necessary?
I'm currently working on a desktop app and wonder if the program name is really necessary in the title bar?
I know that latest versions of App Store and iTunes doesn't have it at all. But if we ...
7
votes
1answer
99 views
Best practice to ask for donation on a windows application?
How to ask for donation on a free windows application, without risking being pushy ?
This old question is only talking about websites: Best UX to ask for donations
I want to remind people to donate, ...
2
votes
4answers
239 views
What's the cleanest option for a loading indicator in a login dialog?
I have a login dialog for a desktop application, something like this:
download bmml source – Wireframes created with Balsamiq Mockups
When the user clicks on Login, the color of the ...
1
vote
2answers
83 views
Should I alter the size of various icons when displayed on different resolution devices?
I know that images look smaller or bigger depending on the screen resolution so an image (say 10x10) would look bigger on a less resolution display and look tiny on a higher resolution display.
I ...
-1
votes
3answers
111 views
Will tablet computing eventually replace desktop computing? [closed]
One of my friends has argued that tablets will one day replace desktop (and laptop) computing. His main argument is that there's a trend away from desktop computing to tablet computing and that sales ...
6
votes
3answers
156 views
How to handle long processing task in UI?
We have a Desktop based WinForms application. Application performs some very complex logic in database and is bound to take long time. By long time i mean it will take anything from 1 min to 20 min ...
3
votes
2answers
66 views
“Important” Items Box versus Pinned Items
I am designing an application which has panel with a list of items. The items in the list can be re-ordered by drag and drop:
The number of items in the list has the potential to be very large.
In ...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
A Linux OS as Single Display Groupware [closed]
I was told on the Linux stack exchange that this was a better place to post this question.
http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/59199/a-linux-os-as-single-display-groupware
For use in extreme ...
8
votes
2answers
180 views
Has user testing ever revealed that you have to change your app's UI colour?
Dark-themed UI colours have been popular for a while on certain desktop applications (Adobe Lightroom as an example), and seem to be popping up on mobile applications as well. I'm referring to the ...
10
votes
3answers
196 views
Can placing dark and light elements or blocks next to each other in a UI lead to problems in visual perception?
A designer on my project has proposed something that uses both light and dark backgrounds within the same context (basic mockups below).
A short background for the app:
It is a platform on which ...
3
votes
3answers
97 views
Saving multiple files on program close
I have a Windows desktop application that can handle multiple files open on one canvas (in one instance of the program). You can modify and save each file individually, or all in one go.
If a user ...
45
votes
18answers
2k views
How can I keep up-to-date with the latest thinking about designing complex, rich applications?
I am designing a very complex eco-system of apps.
I like to make sure I am up-to-date with the latest thinking, research and trends in app and UI/UX design. I find that there are many great articles, ...
0
votes
3answers
80 views
placement of interaction elements on screen?
What is the best place for interaction elements?
Here's the situation: In our software there is an object (in this case a list with several items) that a user wants to work on. A user could perform ...
1
vote
0answers
172 views
Suggestion for Desktop Application Design [closed]
I am working on wireframes for desktop application, its collaboration system for paramedical staff like chatting and communication stuff.
Now i need to create GUI, Can anyone suggest me that if i ...
5
votes
4answers
388 views
The logic behind having an OK button and Apply button
Moving back to desktop land after being drunk with mobile interfaces, desktop dialogs almost always have these three buttons:
OK
Apply
Cancel
A close button.
This pattern seems to occur on both ...
3
votes
1answer
71 views
Settings dialog with multiple tabs: same options on two different tabs?
I am designing a settings dialog with multiple tabs for our desktop application. There is a particular (small) group of options that is applicable to two separate tabs in the settings dialog. I ...
2
votes
1answer
150 views
Disabled input fields vs plain text
in this question (How do I choose between disabled input fields and plain text for a read only view?) the problem has been discussed for web.
Do these answers also apply for desktop apps? I have this ...
4
votes
4answers
151 views
Other solution than Wizard to set up complex object?
I'm prototyping an application that manipulate complex object (4 tabs of settings, with a total of 30 different parameters). The software can suggest (by default value) almost all of theses parameter ...
10
votes
2answers
246 views
Choosing appropriate words for error levels
I develop an open-source, system monitoring tool, ServiceMon, and I'd really appreciate some help choosing the right words to use for a feature.
The state of the system that is being monitored is ...
12
votes
3answers
251 views
What are the reasons why the mobile apps market is more developed and active than the desktop one?
What are the reasons why the mobile apps market is more developed and active than the desktop one?
1
vote
1answer
93 views
Time-consuming “Request - response” steps in desktop application
I prototype OLAP-analytics desktop application, that contains a lot of screens, that generate reports. Common process of such generation is:
Users sets up analytics parameters (period, data segment ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Desktop application problem: how to present a new option without confusing existing users
Background:
Our user runs an internet shop, based on a SoS platform we provide. In particular we provide a desktop app (Windows), which basically stacks up the shelves of this store by uploading ...
0
votes
1answer
119 views
Mouse heatmaps in desktop applications [closed]
Do you any good software that can create mouse move/click/right click heatmaps in a desktop application like a game, office suite etc.? Preferably including key detection, heatmap image saving etc. I ...
10
votes
5answers
265 views
Should a special slider value be implemented with a checkbox or not?
Coming up with a title for this question was difficult, but hopefully my detailed explanation will explain exactly what I'm trying to figure out.
I am creating a dialog box for a GIMP plugin that ...
3
votes
2answers
118 views
Displaying multiple large images at a time
I'm developing a desktop application which will show details of various types of aircraft. Previously, the application looked like this:
When the user mouses over the image in the top right, arrows ...
3
votes
1answer
324 views
How can the Copy and Replace message box be improved?
I have a program (running on Windows) that I am developing that has a file and folder page as part of it that is effectively copying the Windows format. I allow users to copy, cut, paste, delete and ...
2
votes
3answers
306 views
Configuration form with multiple steps
I am working on converting a winforms application to WPF. So, we are also trying to make sure this is good from a UX point of view in the process.
I have a configuration form that I am not sure if I ...
4
votes
3answers
269 views
Modal popup position
Being a Mac OS X user, I've implemented a popup engine which slides from top (transition is about 300 ms, see video) and stays hooked to the top.
Most people (all developers at the moment) say ...
3
votes
5answers
218 views
Can text area be used as error/warning/notification output?
Problem.
While developing an enterprise application I faced a problem of communicating various error/warning/notification messages to the user while they are filling out some form or performing other ...
3
votes
3answers
310 views
Using a ribbon as navigation
Every use of the ribbon I have seen so far single panel 'canvas' programs, where grouped functionality is in the ribbon.
I have been doing some analysis on some back end software which my company ...
5
votes
5answers
231 views
Scaling an Address Form on Resize
My application has a form for filling in the names and addresses of a donor. Each donor gets a closable tab and each tab has an address form.
The problem is that the application runs in a regular ...
3
votes
4answers
380 views
Keyboard shortcut design methodology (for keyboard and touch screen)
What sort of methodologies should I employ to choose which letters and shifting keys to assign to different functions?
Is underlining the accelerator letter the best practice, or should I spell out ...
1
vote
2answers
123 views
How Do I Save Screen Real Estate While Still Giving My Application The Power It Needs?
I've developed an application that throughout the stages has evolved twice. The purpose of the application itself is display meaningful information in the smallest amount of space possible. The ...
0
votes
3answers
143 views
good reason/guideline/heuristic/principle, according to GUI design pattern, to align maximise, minimise and close button on the left side in Ubuntu
Since Ubuntu 10.04 (and maybe some other Linux versions), we sometimes see the maximize, minimize and close buttons on the:
left side:
and sometimes on the right side: .
So, can someone explain ...
4
votes
2answers
106 views
confusing software-install flow for web-app
I am working on a web-app that has an application to listen to audio. The problem is the playback software requires another piece of software just for the items to be placed on the playback software. ...
10
votes
2answers
415 views
Icon-only navigation bar for a desktop application?
I am working on a groupware application running as a desktop application (not in the browser). I wanted to keep the interface really simple and minimalistic so my users will not get distracted by a ...
8
votes
1answer
310 views
Prominent Notification Areas in a Desktop Application
I am working on ux for a desktop application for users. I am looking to find out more information, answers, best practices when it comes to handling notifications of actions and other alerts within a ...
5
votes
3answers
181 views
Accessibility for non-web desktop applications
For web-applications I'm used to using WCAG 2.0 as a specification to provide to developers and 3rd parties who are developing websites to use as a guide.
I now have a 3rd party supplying a Windows ...
