CHI-WEB Archives

ACM SIGCHI WWW Human Factors (Open Discussion)

CHI-WEB@LISTSERV.ACM.ORG

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Susan Paulsen <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Susan Paulsen <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 26 Oct 1999 22:14:27 EDT
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (59 lines)
Dianne,

One of Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics is user control and freedom:
support undo and redo.  A Reset button would allow the user to undo the
form, but not redo.  Another of the heuristics states that an interface
should allow users the ability to recover from errors.  If a form is
particularly lengthy, a user may accidently hit the "Reset" button and
render the info unretrievable.

Because many of the web based applications I've created have been forms
intensive and the forms ask for critical data, I do not supply the Reset
function.  The user is able to (and explicity instructed to) edit
information at any time, which includes clearing out of individual field.

As with any user interface, testing may identify which way the users of your
particular interface may need.  I find that technical people (programmers,
etc) tend to want the Reset function on web forms, whereas a more general
audience, as users of the web are becoming today, may be more prone to
accidently hitting it and losing data or may simply not need it.

(Of course, a related issue is in what order you put the Submit & Reset
buttons.)

Susan Paulsen
Senior Information Architect
79-5th Avenue, 4th fl.
New York, NY 10003
[log in to unmask]




>From: Dianne Starzyk <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Submit and Reset Buttons
>Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 11:30:06 -0500
>
>I was wondering if anyone knows of any documentation with regards to always
>displaying a reset button with a submit button on a web form.  Is this
>something that should be standard on any form?  I am currently involved in
>a
>debate over whether or not you should always display a reset button with a
>submit button.   My thoughts are that you should, others disagree.
>
>I would appreciate any feedback you may have towards this issue.
>
>Thanks
>----------------------------------------------
>Dianne Starzyk
>Associate Project Engineer,  Organic Inc
>[log in to unmask]
>ph: 312.577.7855
>--------------------------------------------
>

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

ATOM RSS1 RSS2