Questions tagged [windows-os]
use this tag for questions related to Microsoft Operating System family.
22
questions
50
votes
6
answers
5k
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Should I provide feedback from a save button?
I'm currently in the process of developing a Windows Application which produces Word Documents.
In the program there is the ability to save your progress (different to the "Save as a Word ...
- 717
19
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Should yes/no dialogs also have a cancel?
I remember once reading an article that said whenever you present a messagebox with a Yes/No choice, you should always also provide a Cancel button, even if it does the same as No.
The rationale was ...
- 293
32
votes
6
answers
15k
views
Delay on keystroke when search as you type
I'm deploying an instant search on my Windows app. At the first implementation, when the user types a key, the search engine makes a query and returns the results. I thought that that wasn't too ...
- 495
26
votes
5
answers
21k
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Is there a Windows 8 desktop UI Guideline or HIG anywhere in the world? [duplicate]
And I don't mean Win 7 / Metro UI guidelines, I have them up the wazoo, but I've changed jobs and need to start looking at the new Windows 8 DESKTOP design. I know it takes a lot of cues from Metro on ...
- 261
19
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Inactive State of buttons, to hide or not to hide...that is the question
On a windows based LOB application for data capturing. Is it better to hide a button completely when it is inactive, or simply show a disabled state for the button.
- 742
4
votes
6
answers
241
views
User Interface Changes for Mac when Porting Windows Application
I have an existing windows application, for which I have decided to create a Mac version. The problem is that the current UI involves a lot of buttons, tabbed panels, multiple windows etc.
This UI ...
- 71
172
votes
14
answers
29k
views
Do people really want to look at multiple windows at once?
I'm referring to Jakob Nielsen's alertbox from November 19, 2012. He complains about the lack of windows in Windows 8:
Lack of Multiple Windows = Memory Overload for Complex Tasks
One of the ...
- 2,986
28
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Why is low contrast between active and inactive window title bars considered a good thing?
It seems like recently, there is a movement toward applications forcing a color scheme on the user as well as using custom-drawn windowing elements, particularly title bars, with very low contrast ...
- 652
23
votes
5
answers
11k
views
Good alternatives for replacing multiple nested modal dialogs?
Having a mature and good-selling Windows desktop application, we are focusing on improving the user experience for the next release.
One thing that I try is to get rid of multiple nested modal dialog ...
- 2,959
16
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Why is the close button in the title bar red in Windows 7?
Perhaps to prevent users from closing the window or application inadvertently?
But is it also a distraction because the color of red stands out? Any insights?
- 263
16
votes
10
answers
1k
views
Are some of Windows 7's UI less intuitive than previous versions? [closed]
One feature I can't understand is the minimize to desktop button. I can't imagine why it is more intuitive to put it as this little tiny transparent strip on the bottom right hand side instead of ...
- 1,241
13
votes
2
answers
17k
views
Windows 8 Metro Design Examples / Guidelines [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where can I find style guide for metro UI for web applications?
Not a technical question about how to build an app (I'm just going to use DevExpress Tiles, mostly because I'm ...
Matt Peddlesden
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Which button should get the focus at delete dialogs?
I thought that most destructive actions should be avoided from default actions. But when a delete dialog comes, I see that most Windows applications (even the OS), by default, set the focus at "...
- 495
6
votes
3
answers
531
views
"File" for name of drop-down menu
In Windows mostly, a lot (most?) applications have a "File" drop-down menu, with things like "Exit", "Import/export settings", "Preferences", ...
Is "File" a blindly accepted standard/default? ...
- 2,163
5
votes
1
answer
811
views
Why would number lock be disabled by default?
There was a time that number lock was enabled by default (at least in a Windows environment). Then, after an update one day, all the sudden the Number Lock is disabled. Why the change? What is it ...
- 167
4
votes
2
answers
761
views
How do Windows users interact with scrolling panes?
Let's say there's a website with a row of gallery thumbnails you can click on. It looks like this:
As a Mac user having always used either some sort of trackpad (built into the MacBook, or a Magic ...
- 210
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is the indeterminate checkbox state a Microsoft UI pattern only?
A quick look through online search results show that the indeterminate checkbox state does not seem to be a very common UI interaction, yet Microsoft has persistently stuck with it and are probably ...
- 26.7k
2
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Close and minimize button behavior for my desktop application
I am developing a desktop application that will run on user's PC in background(system tray). User won't have to start the app as it starts with the system. Basically this app listens to a port and ...
- 121
2
votes
1
answer
168
views
How should a minimize-to-tray application behave?
I am building an application that minimizes to tray on the close-button (cross upper right corner). I found two different behaviours for this kind of application now:
click on the tray icon to bring ...
- 143
2
votes
1
answer
524
views
What is an effective way to present System Update Progress to a user that also lowers frustration?
I am working on an app that starts installing any pending updates when a user logs off the (Windows) workstation. The finished app will look like this (minus 'button1'):
Our branding is in the ...
- 271
1
vote
1
answer
203
views
Why do software developers frequently put the burden onto the user to install software dependencies?
I can't tell you how many times I've downloaded some software, expected to install it in seconds and be using it immediately, only to be harassed during the installation process to install all kinds ...
- 11
0
votes
3
answers
310
views
tab order of help button in dialogs
When I place the help button in dialogs like here:
What tab order should I use? It's obvious that the content panel uses tabindex values that correspond to the reading order which is supported by the ...
- 141