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Designing a radio button interface for selecting how many sub-levels you would want to display for a website main menu dropdown.

The options are:

  • OFF
  • 1 level
  • 2 levels

Considering that the default will be "2 levels" and the options will be vertically listed in one column.

Should the 2 come first as it is the default option, for example:

  • 2
  • 1
  • OFF

OR

the reverse of this as it would display as a dropdown, for example:

  • OFF
  • 1
  • 2

Current display is default option first:

enter image description here

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  • Are you forced to do it with radio buttons or is a dropdown also possible? – Michael Jun 20 '12 at 15:10
  • Could you please upload an image or wireframe/mockup. – JeffH Jun 20 '12 at 15:12
  • @iboothcreate is there a reason they need to be vertically listed? – GotDibbs Jun 20 '12 at 15:16
  • @Michael - It is standard across our system to display these options as radio buttons. – iboothcreate Jun 20 '12 at 15:22
  • @JeffH - unfortunately as a new user I can't upload images yet – iboothcreate Jun 20 '12 at 15:23
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I would begin by having the default selection set to "OFF" and then use the:

  • OFF
  • 1
  • 2

This is pretty standard to have the more "beginner" options at the top and then as the list descends, give the user more "advanced" options.

Something I can foresee being a problem is the user actually knowing what this section does. A description or demo of what each selection does would be helpful.

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  • This is for deciding how many levels they would like the dropdown to appear on the front end of their website, not for account navigation. – iboothcreate Jun 20 '12 at 15:44
  • edited it now... – PL3X Jun 20 '12 at 16:33
  • Using this way would you then consider having the default as "off"? To add a bit more context here for you. This option will only show when choosing a "Drop-down" template from the list, which is how we are trying to counteract users being unsure what the buttons are for, the text could be changed though as more of a CTA e.g "How many levels would you like to display?". – iboothcreate Jun 20 '12 at 17:20
  • Yes, I would set the default as "Off". As far as the wording is concerned, would it be possible for you to show the user a demo of what "off" or "2 levels" would look like? I really believe that would be the most user friendly way to approach it without having to write a paragraph explaining what it means. – PL3X Jun 20 '12 at 18:47
  • not currently unfortunately, working on it though – iboothcreate Jun 21 '12 at 15:45
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If I'm understanding your question correctly. The order should be Off > 1 > 2. As the number of level of navigation increase; the discover-ability and the usability of your navigation contents can greatly decrease. Accessibility can also become increasingly harder as the number of option levels and options increase as well.

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  • Yeah I am kind of in the same mindset but when you consider 1 & 2 as "ON" options, I wouldn't expect to list the "OFF" option first in a vertical list. Also with the default being "2" would you expect this first? – iboothcreate Jun 20 '12 at 16:13

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