Microsoft Corporation
Compiled by the Windows User Experience team

March 2001

(3 printed pages)

FAQs

What do you mean by "user experience"?
Why is the taskbar at the bottom of the screen?
Should I use SDI or MDI for my application?
Should I use vertical (sideways) text?
How can I indicate whether text in controls can be edited?
Where can I find out more about the icons used in Windows 2000?

What do you mean by "user experience"?

The user experience encompasses all the tasks users perform with a computer. This includes taking the computer out of the box and hooking up the cables, booting up the computer, and installing and using hardware and software.

Many parts of the user experience include things users see on the screen, including words, dialog boxes, icons, images, and animations. Other important parts of the user experience are not visible or even tangible. These include how long the user has to wait for a program to start up, how the computer handles errors, and which tasks happen automatically without the user starting them.

It's useful to compare the terms "user interface" and "user experience." A user interface requires action by users to accomplish a task, while a great user experience can be achieved with no user interface.

Why is the taskbar at the bottom of the screen?

Users are focused on the current task, represented by the active window, which is managed by its menu bar. The importance of the active window's menu bar justifies its location at the top of the window, usually near the top of the screen. Research shows that most users don't like to run more than one application at a time. In fact, many users are confused by multiple applications. Because the taskbar is mainly for managing multiple running applications, a relatively infrequent task for most users, the Microsoft® Windows® operating system places it at the bottom of the screen by default.

Note: Users can move the task bar to any edge of the screen, including the top, by clicking any inactive task bar area and dragging to the desired edge.

Should I use SDI or MDI for my application?

SDI (single-document interface) is appropriate for most productivity applications. MDI (multiple-document interface) is still in use, but does not fit as well with today's users and operating systems. Users are demanding simpler and easier-to-use software; SDI presents a simpler interface that is better understood by most users, especially consumers and home users. Many users are frustrated when child windows are locked into the parent window in an MDI interface. Also, the taskbar does not provide a way to switch between windows in an MDI application.

If your application is more specialized and you are considering an MDI interface, you should investigate alternative, MDI-like designs, such as workbooks and projects.

For a thorough discussion of SDI, MDI, and other window management models and their trade-offs, see Chapter 10 of Microsoft Windows User Experience, available from Microsoft Press or online at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?URL=/library/books/winguide/ch10a.htm

Should I use vertical (sideways) text?

Readers of letter-based languages read by recognizing groups of letter shapes. When text is written sideways, users must read each letter and combine them into words, which is slower and less comfortable. In addition, usability tests show that many users do not even notice sideways text when it appears in the user interface. For these reasons, you should avoid using vertical text in your software.

How can I indicate whether text in controls can be edited?

Windows applications use color values in controls to indicate whether text can be edited by the user. Use the following colors:

• Black text on the background color means the text is informational only and can't be modified.
• White areas indicate the text can be modified.
• Gray or "engraved" text (for example, disabled menu items) means the text is temporarily unable to be modified, but might be modifiable when it appears in a different context.

For more information on controls, see Chapter 8 of Microsoft Windows User Experience, available from Microsoft Press or online at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?URL=/library/books/winguide/ch08a.htm

You can get more information on visual appearance in Chapter 14 — especially the Visual States for Controls section — online at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?URL=/library/books/winguide/ch14c.htm

Where can I find out more about the icons used in Windows 2000?

The primary icons used in Windows 2000 are illustrated and described in Chapter 14 of Microsoft Windows User Experience, available online at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?URL=/library/books/winguide/ch14f.htm

For information on licensing toolbar images, see the Microsoft Copyright Permissions site at: http://www.microsoft.com/permission/