Web Design Forums

longisland6 · 07-02-2008, 08:59

this seems like to place to post this... i'm working on a project developing wireframes for some windows forms. on 1 screen i have the form elements aligned vertically (top to bottom, with the submit/clear button at the end of the form). i've gotten some feedback that it doesn't look like a windows form because of the way these labels and text boxes are aligned.

from my research, it seems that quite a number of windows forms have these element aligned like this. i designed it like this because it follows the natural flow of a task based scenario, allowing the user to quickly achieve their goal; top to bottom, submit. is this incorrect? should the labels and textboxes be aligned horizontally since it's a windows form instead of a web form?

thanks for your insight...

haku · 07-02-2008, 09:30

If you don't mind my asking, what's a window's form?

pgo · 07-02-2008, 10:16

I'm stumped.

longisland6 · 07-02-2008, 10:55

a "windows form" is basically a top level window, or gui, that is used to work with windows based applications that are built on the .net framework. similar to an html form but with more depth of functionality.

Cborrow · 07-02-2008, 17:25

He's talking about the System.Windows.Forms namespace. Atleast that is what I got out of it. Although he could be talking about XAML and WPF.

longisland6 · 08-02-2008, 10:02

cborrow is correct.

i haven't found much yet on designing windows forms with usability in mind, so i thought someone might have some insight or links to suggested reading.

longisland6 · 08-02-2008, 12:03

okay, i'll be more focused... when i design a web form, my thought on usability is that the form should be read (and filled out) from top to bottom. when you get to the bottom of the form, you have your submit button, or whatever you do at the end of the form.

when i'm designing a windows form (since "scrolling" is not really an option; i've heard it just isn't very well implemented, or whatever) i'm being told that the form should be read (and filled out) from top left to top right, then you start at the next line and do the same thing. across and then down, instead of top down and then finished.

isn't this kind of going against general usability as far as forms go? shouldn't i be trying to design my "windows form" to be read and filled out from top to bottom (1 column)?

now, if i need more form elements, i am putting them in another vertical column just to the right of the first column, so, you would fill out the first column top to bottom, and then move to the next column and do the same thing.

any comments are most appreciated. thanks.

haku · 08-02-2008, 14:06

Thats a tough one. If there is only one column, then of course top to bottom is the way to go. But if there are two or three columns... left to right, top to bottom may be the way to go.

Honestly, I think I would have to see the layout before I could give an honest opinion.

(disclaimer: I have no design sense whatsoever)

longisland6 · 15-02-2008, 10:31

thanks for the info, i think there is a challenge here. perhaps i'll post in another category to see if I can get any more insight.

07-02-2008, 08:59	#1 (permalink)
longisland6 stephen eighmey Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: earth Posts: 148	windows form vs. web form this seems like to place to post this... i'm working on a project developing wireframes for some windows forms. on 1 screen i have the form elements aligned vertically (top to bottom, with the submit/clear button at the end of the form). i've gotten some feedback that it doesn't look like a windows form because of the way these labels and text boxes are aligned. from my research, it seems that quite a number of windows forms have these element aligned like this. i designed it like this because it follows the natural flow of a task based scenario, allowing the user to quickly achieve their goal; top to bottom, submit. is this incorrect? should the labels and textboxes be aligned horizontally since it's a windows form instead of a web form? thanks for your insight...

07-02-2008, 17:25	#5 (permalink)
Cborrow I like code. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 200	He's talking about the System.Windows.Forms namespace. Atleast that is what I got out of it. Although he could be talking about XAML and WPF. __________________ Code { for thought } "My programs never have bugs, they just develop random features."

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

07-02-2008, 09:30	#2 (permalink)
haku shiro Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 1,816	If you don't mind my asking, what's a window's form?

07-02-2008, 10:16	#3 (permalink)
pgo i'm done, son Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,262	I'm stumped.

07-02-2008, 10:55	#4 (permalink)
longisland6 stephen eighmey Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: earth Posts: 148	a "windows form" is basically a top level window, or gui, that is used to work with windows based applications that are built on the .net framework. similar to an html form but with more depth of functionality.

08-02-2008, 10:02	#6 (permalink)
longisland6 stephen eighmey Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: earth Posts: 148	cborrow is correct. i haven't found much yet on designing windows forms with usability in mind, so i thought someone might have some insight or links to suggested reading.

08-02-2008, 12:03	#7 (permalink)
longisland6 stephen eighmey Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: earth Posts: 148	okay, i'll be more focused... when i design a web form, my thought on usability is that the form should be read (and filled out) from top to bottom. when you get to the bottom of the form, you have your submit button, or whatever you do at the end of the form. when i'm designing a windows form (since "scrolling" is not really an option; i've heard it just isn't very well implemented, or whatever) i'm being told that the form should be read (and filled out) from top left to top right, then you start at the next line and do the same thing. across and then down, instead of top down and then finished. isn't this kind of going against general usability as far as forms go? shouldn't i be trying to design my "windows form" to be read and filled out from top to bottom (1 column)? now, if i need more form elements, i am putting them in another vertical column just to the right of the first column, so, you would fill out the first column top to bottom, and then move to the next column and do the same thing. any comments are most appreciated. thanks.

08-02-2008, 14:06	#8 (permalink)
haku shiro Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 1,816	Thats a tough one. If there is only one column, then of course top to bottom is the way to go. But if there are two or three columns... left to right, top to bottom may be the way to go. Honestly, I think I would have to see the layout before I could give an honest opinion. (disclaimer: I have no design sense whatsoever)

15-02-2008, 10:31	#9 (permalink)
longisland6 stephen eighmey Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: earth Posts: 148	thanks for the info, i think there is a challenge here. perhaps i'll post in another category to see if I can get any more insight.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)