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 should set up as two forms or one.
Here is the general layout right now:
download bmml source – Wireframes created with Balsamiq Mockups
Basically, you select an item and configure it. The groupbox is currently always visible.
I can see two or three possible options and am not sure which would be better. One thing to note is that most users will only be configuring one item only.
- Split this into two distinct forms. The first being the selection of the item, and the second being the configuration of the item.
- Keep this in one form and just make the groupbox/form collapse/expand as an item is selected
- Keep this in one form and when the user selects an item, expand the listbox so that it has the configuration underneath it (accordian style)
I am leaning toward option 2 if only because most users will not be configuring more than one item. Feel free to ask any questions on details I might have missed.