User Interface

[stormin_norm]

How 'bout top preferences on User Interface design books?
or windows tricks for the UI?

 

[a.sinatra]

user interface comes natual, cause its more or less how YOU want it
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Volcano vaporizer

 

[stormin_norm]

I don't agree about natural. I took over an access DB which clearly did not align fields in a natural thought process. In other words...related fields were not next to each other or underneath one another.
The developer probably plopped them on the screen because they were defined in the DB that way.

Plus I like to reduce the use of the mouse if I can. So tricks on faster data entry are key.

Also it would be interesting what researchers have found on the use of colors and contrasts in user interfaces. But this may be too much detail work (no money) for custom db's vs. out-of-the box Access.

 

[Lister]

I have to agree with you Storm'. I would love to see a few more UI's.
I mean I build them the way that I think that my users may like them but its just like building a car (ok so maybe not just like building a car) you think you have a really good UI until you see something else. Something flashy, with fins perhaps, then the UI that you have look old and dowdy, with crap links and a disjointed way of navigating.

A book or site of some of the best UI's and how they were done would be very inspirational.

Anyway my 2c

 

[Mile-O]

I agree with a.sinatra. I think it does come to the designer - maybe not naturally, but with experience - about the best way to layout something out.

My personal method is to select a few colours and stick to them. Currently I use white, black, green, and purple throughout my databases. White for the form's background, green for headers, purple for text, and balck for values. I also use a light blue for any images, and a peach colour for informing the user which control has the focus.

My first databases came with awful colours, numerous fonts, and had too much information on the screen at one time. Controls overlapped and were uneven. As I made more I started to come up with a design and decided to start using corporate colours to achieve a better look. And reducing the amount of controls (improves loading time) on a form; keeping only the pertinent details. Hiding absolute tat that the user doesn't need to know such as the Autonumber and secretly stored dates, etc.

Here's a screenshot from a simple first aid monitor I'm doing just now - just in case you were wondering how green, purple, blue and peach can coexist on one form without clashing.

 

[stormin_norm]

I was a bit worried on those color combos
But it does look sharp. Nice Mile-o-phile!

I agree with keep it simple. And not use too many different controls or cluster like controls - otherwise you drive the user crazy with jumping back & forth between the keyboard and mouse.

 

[Lister]

Currently I use white, black, green, and purple throughout my databases.

This is exactly what I mean. Who would have thought that a sack full of ugly sounding colours whould look so good.

And just looking at how someone else sets out their UI makes you see things just that bit different.

So here is one of my forms. No where near as slick as Mile's, but the user loves it.

 

[Parker]

Currently I use white, black, green, and purple throughout my databases.

Neat

The db I'm working on takes the whole screen from the user ie no taskbar or other windows type thingamyjigs but our whole opperation is controlled by this one screen

I have got around having too many controlls by grouping them and using tabsheets etc -- so, while the front screen is bussy it is easy to use --- at least my staff think so

I'd post a screen shot but --- How do u do that?

 

[Mile-O]

I'd post a screen shot but --- How do u do that?

Save it as a .bmp .jpg. or .gif and upload it as you would a .zip

 

[a.sinatra]

I'd post a screen shot but --- How do u do that?

"Print Screen"

or if you have a modal

"Alt+Print Screen" it will capture only that window

Then you would open paint or imageing software, paste, then save (ms paint works)
________
Easy vape vaporizer

 

[Parker]

Thanks guys

never thought of using PrtSc --- only prob is file to big I'll sort it later when I have a bit more time --- gota earn me crust right now

Cheers

Pete

 

[Mile-O]

Save it as .jpg rather than .bmp - the file size will drop dramatically.

 

[Parker]

Yep

done that file on disk 147,456 -- over your upload restriction

Pete

 

[Parker]

Save it as .jpg rather than .bmp - the file size will drop dramatically

Sorry took long time but was busy

For what it's worth heres my front screen --- all processes are done from here.

Users don't have my menubar and the machines running this don't need any other apps except routing software.

Anyone know how to interface MS Autoroute with Access? I know I can call it as an app but it would be really handy to be able to capture information from it like distance, est. time etc.

oppinions would be nice

Cheers

Pete

 

[Mile-O]

Parker, I'd hide the OrderID (subform) and the ContactID if these are just AutoNumbers.

What's the need for the clock in the top left?

 

[Parker]

Thanks

Yep point taken no reason for either of those two ID's. I'll hide them now.

Clock? only reason is an onscreen time piece -- there is no other on the opps desktop and its handy.

Info on screen has been de-sensitised for picy ---- orders subform normaly shows ongoning jobs for the day but a larger screen viewable by all office staff shows all jobs, there status, last whereabouts of the chauffeur etc. A bit like the flight report screens at an airport.

The dark blue area at the top left is a list box that is used in a search for locating contacts records.

CLID (top right) is a screen poper activated by a modem event for poping a clients record etc,

There are other screens that are hidden unless a pasword control is used

Thanks

 

[Mile-O]

Clock? only reason is an onscreen time piece -- there is no other on the opps desktop and its handy.

You don't have a clock in your Windows System Tray?

 

[Parker]

I have but the office staff don't

System tray is hidden from them as is the task bar ---- they could get it back easy enough but they don't know how and I'm not going to tell them.

The whole idea is, on the computers running this system, they don't need anything else.

there are other machines in the office that are not dedicated as these are, for use for other things. This app is more like a call center ----- it is only used for talking to clients, chauffeurs, suppliers and the like and the people opperating them have no other concerns unless they are away from this screen for some reason.

Cheers

Pete

 

[Rich]

Like your buttons, where did you get them?

 

[Parker]

Hi Rich

Thanks

Buttons and a couple of other thigs the amazing Candance Trip

But I've learnt from the examples and now can design my own (I think)

www.candance-tripp.com


Lots of other goodies here too. Great for examples


Cheers

Pete