For questions regarding when or whether to disable certain functions or controls in an interface or how to communicate the disabled state to the user.
29
votes
4answers
2k views
Don't hide or disable menu items?
In 2008, Joel Spolsky wrote:
A long time ago, it became fashionable, even recommended, to disable
menu items when they could not be used.
Don't do this. Users see the disabled menu item ...
21
votes
13answers
1k views
Is it better to prevent a forbidden action or display an error/explanation message?
There are multiple examples, so I'll pick a specific one to focus the question.
Let's say a user can have specific characteristics (or permissions):
Admin, Virtual, External, Financial, etc.
To ...
12
votes
6answers
904 views
Should disabled options ever be hidden?
Comments from this question prompted me with this other usability proposal. In my opinion, tt's a bad idea to hide disabled options.
I like to see all the available options regardless whether some ...
10
votes
6answers
2k views
Hide or disable form options? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Don't hide or disable menu items?
On a create/edit form, where the options available to the end user will depend on their previous input, in order to give the user ...
13
votes
7answers
1k views
Disable the save button until changes are made?
We have a list of complicated things, which the user can click on to get a new view in which they can edit all the details stored for that thing.
The edit view already has a Cancel exit mechanism ...
3
votes
6answers
233 views
Why do some webmasters INSIST on having auto-playing music elements on their webpages? [closed]
Is there any positive reason why someone might implement an auto-playing audio feature onto a webpage? I seem to see it all the time, especially on band pages and so on. The frustrating thing is ...
