Making Forms Usable
I recently came across a problem while in my role as a contractor at the IRS: That of reviewing a form that agency users file to get Section 508 determination on proposed purchases. Don't get me wrong, this item is not about 508. It is about Form layout.
My major problem with this form was in the flow of cells which had questions to be answered or items to be filled out.
They started with a horizontal row: Cell a, cell b, then, unexpectedly, Cell e2.
Cells c and d were ibn the vertical column under a, followed by Cell e1. Then it went across the row to cell f under e2. Finally it went to g under f.
The signature cells went across the bottom in another row.
Not only did this format not follow the eye, it changed it's reading values back and forth from horizontal to vertical at will. There was plenty of white space on the form to rearrange it as either all vertical in 2 columns, or all Horizontal on one big column. The goal of getting the whole form on a single page would have been met either way.
Rule: When you design a form, put yourself in the position of the most confused (or confusable) user.
Usability can be defined as "a measure of the ease with which a system can be learned or used, its safety, effectiveness and efficiency, and attitude of its users towards it" (Preece et al., 1994, p. 722).
My major problem with this form was in the flow of cells which had questions to be answered or items to be filled out.
They started with a horizontal row: Cell a, cell b, then, unexpectedly, Cell e2.
Cells c and d were ibn the vertical column under a, followed by Cell e1. Then it went across the row to cell f under e2. Finally it went to g under f.
The signature cells went across the bottom in another row.
Not only did this format not follow the eye, it changed it's reading values back and forth from horizontal to vertical at will. There was plenty of white space on the form to rearrange it as either all vertical in 2 columns, or all Horizontal on one big column. The goal of getting the whole form on a single page would have been met either way.
Rule: When you design a form, put yourself in the position of the most confused (or confusable) user.
Usability can be defined as "a measure of the ease with which a system can be learned or used, its safety, effectiveness and efficiency, and attitude of its users towards it" (Preece et al., 1994, p. 722).
posted by btchakir at 8:15 AM
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