Multiple "Tab-Group" Navigation

Question

I am working on an addition to a page where university students can get an estimate of the work remaining for them to finish their degree. Essentially the page as it exists today allows them to choose their degree from a dropdown, hit run, and a report comes back (below the dropdown/button form) with the work they have completed and the work that is left to do. The page looks something like this:

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What I am trying to add, is a way for them to load reports that they have already run. This interaction is less likely to occur than running a new report, so I am trying to integrate it in a way that is subtle enough to not distract from the main functionality, while also being findable.

My thought is to include the "Previously Run Reports" list as a separate tab along with Undergrad, Graduate, and Professional. However, as it is a means of accessing and loading an already run report rather than a way to run a new report, it seems like it should be treated slightly differently. I am thinking of having the 3 tabs that allow students to run new reports remaining together, and present the "Previously run" tab a little outside of the group.

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To my question. Can anyone point towards an interface that works this way, or know of any research that points towards help in assessing the usability of multiple tab-groups? Alternately, any ideas on alternate ways to enable users to select previously run reports?

Answer 1

You're committing the cardinal sin of school interface design. You're adding unnecessary features. The user has one task "Select a degree". How is a "Previously Run" feature going to help them? Can't I just simply select my degree again and generate another report?

So, my recommendation is don't add it. Your navigation needs to serve a clear and useful purpose. From what you've posted above, it's simply adding another layer of complexity.

Answer 2

You could put a sidebar widget which shows the recent reports viewed by the student (Assuming this as important, according to your notes). This would enable a quick view facility and avoid switching tabs everytime.

Attached an example -

Answer 3

I would recommend to put it as a hyperlink on the right hand side of Run button (something like "View old reports") so that it won't grab as much attention as a new tab.

Just like how most of the banks do it for bank statements (where you can choose your account and see the statement as well as being able to have hyperlinks to different time stamps and view old statements if needed.)

Answer 4

If you really need it (but do user research first, please, see my comment to OP), and without any information about the use case (I really shouldn't do it, but I can't resist :-) ...

I'd expect the previous reports in the categories they were created in (under, grad, prof). (You don't want to compare an under report with a prof report, or do you?) I'd experiment with adding a second level of navigation, containing the creation of a new report plus a selection of the old ones (how many will there be? will they age, be archived, become irrelevant?).

But this little paragraph already contains enough questions for at least one day of research. Once you've done that, think about the design.