Improving User Interface

[j0se]

making access beautiful

This is really more of a desing issue... and some may find it downright bizarre...

MS Access is a clever tool, but making a db look sleek would be a great bonus to finish off some hard work. Anybody here have some tips to share on this issue (or maybe a link with some nice screenshots?)

 

[a.sinatra]

I personally design websites, and i use the same things i do in my db's small fonts, and thin lines. You train your eye and brain to mix colors, normally a warm, neutral and cool flow better.
________
Vermont Dispensaries

 

[Mile-O]

There are some screenshot examples on this thread.

And a few more on this thread.

 

[j0se]

cheers

Thanks people - that's the bit of inspiration I was after

Appreciated

 

[The_Doc_Man]

When designing an interface, follow these guidelines

1. Be consistent
2. Be informative
3. Easy to Read = Easy to Use
4. Show, Don't Tell
5. Do, Don't Ask (unless asking is necessary)
6. Dialog, not Monolog
7. Let the Driver Drive

 

[Mile-O]

Also, if you feel you have to have colourful forms then choose, at most, two colours (and the basic greyscales) and work with them. I've seen some nightmares when vbRed sits foolishly alongside vbGreen. A couple of bold colours (or corporate, if need be) are usually the best to aim for. Pastel colours look silly in Access - good for Excel cells, though.

 

[j0se]

ah, worry not...

I know what you mean - those fluorescent yellow and green forms with electric blue buttons.. I've seen those too

I'll stick to Acces's default colour schema, apart from the logo I'll use for the db

I find this resource (link below) invaluabe anything colour-related

http://www.easyrgb.com/harmonies.php

 

[Mile-O]

I could go through other stupidities that end up on forms:

• big graphics (heavily impact on database size);
• clocks (eats into system resource and there's already one in the system tray);
• scroll text...everywhere (just not necessary, eats system resource);
• too many controls (impacts on loading time, may be unnormalised representation);

 

[Parker]

There are lots of things you can do to make your db look slick without hammering system resources to much.

I have used my corporate colors throughout but I agree you do need to be careful -- My colors are a soft cream and a deep blue that not only work well together but are easy on the eye as well. Harsh colors are hard work and especially white (which seems over popular to me) -- how about designing your own command buttons? You can even reshape forms if you want ---

who says that an app has to be boring to be good --- the best apps don't just do the job efficiently but are easy and intuative for the end user and make the end user want to use them.

I had my staff in stitches the other day when one of them did something that wasn't allowed and a figure emulating Rincewind (Terry Pratchets failled Wizzard) poped up and said " that dosn't work"

Ok so it's silly point is have fun and, within reason, Sod the expense it dosn't cost that much in resources and the end result is sometimes worth it

 

[j0se]

ah Rincewind, the cheater of Death...

Maybe Death might have been more appropriate?

I like that idea (the fun element)
Cheers for that

 

[Parker]

Tee hee

Hadn't thought of I'm maybee I'll use that one in the next mod. Or how about some classic quotes from Monty Python (oops showing my grey a bit there!)

Have fun

 

[j0se]

sorry everybody - off the record again

It would have to be a quote from the cheese shop

PS Can you use 2-tone colours in access?

 

[Parker]

Oh dear

Have I started somat 'ere? maybee we ought to have a thread for silly quotes from help buttons or msgboxs. It could get a bit daft though.

If your stuck on Diskworld How about "do that again and I'll take it off you" another Rincewind qoute from the first DW Game.

Hmm the cheese shop huh ----- I'd have to think about that one

Two tone colors --- I'm not quite sure what you mean do you mean fading from one to the other or do you mean 2 solid colors in the same comtrol or do you just mean 2 colors on the same form?

The first and last opptions are possible and there are plenty of examples. Don't know about the other one.

Have fun

Pete