User:Andrew/HIG/ViewAndNavigation

Viewing and Navigation

Viewing and Navigation encompasses the wide variety of behaviors and operations that allow users to navigate the interface and affect the presentation of application content.

Navigation

• Navigation Patterns - Select navigation patterns appropriate for the application content.

Actions

• Command Patterns - Select command patterns appropriate for the application command structure.
• Push Button - Use a push button to initiate an action when the user clicks it.
• Toggle button - Use a toggle button to indicate a state, preferably in toolbars only.
• Toolbar - Provide a toolbar for frequently used functions.
• Context menu - Use a context menu to provide a list of functions or options available to users for the selected item.
• Menu Bar - Use a menu bar only for applications with a very complex command structure.
• Accelerators and shortcuts - Support keyboard access by accelerators and shortcuts.
• Dialogs - Use dialogs carefully and sparingly to clearly communicate the actions to be performed and to avoid unnecessary interruption.
• Command Link - Use a command link to navigate between pages.
• Status Bar - Try to omit the status bar from your application.

Viewing Content

• Images - Guidelines and patterns for displaying images
• Icons and text - Patterns for consistently showing icons with text
• Viewing vs Editing - Patterns and guidelines for laying out content that is primarily viewed.
• Search and Filter- Patterns for exposing search and filter functions
• Wizard - Patterns for guiding the user through a series of step to accomplish a task
• Tooltips - Patterns for consistent presentation of information in tooltips.

Grouping

• Groupbox - Arrange associated controls by using a labeled group box or an unlabeled frame.
• Splitter - Allow users to resize aligned groups by placing a splitter between the groups.
• Tabs - Use tabs to show related information on separate pages.

Complex views

• List view - Use a list view to show some items out of one category.
• Tree view Use a tree view to show items with a single, natural, hierarchical categorization.
• Custom controls - Always attempt to use the available Qt/KDE controls whenever possible. However follow these guidelines if you really need to create your own widget .