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Forms that Work Caroline Jarrett (Effortmark Ltd, Leighton Buzzard, UK)

Forms that Work By Caroline Jarrett (Effortmark Ltd, Leighton Buzzard, UK)

Summary

Explains how to design forms for the web. This work helps readers learn how to define requirements, how to write questions that users will understand and want to answer, and how to deal with instructions, progress indicators and errors. It includes examples - from nitty-gritty details (mandatory fields) to visual designs (creating good grids).

Forms that Work Summary

Forms that Work: Designing Web Forms for Usability by Caroline Jarrett (Effortmark Ltd, Leighton Buzzard, UK)

Forms that Work: Designing Web Forms for Usability clearly explains exactly how to design great forms for the web. The book provides proven and practical advice that will help you avoid pitfalls, and produce forms that are aesthetically pleasing, efficient and cost-effective. It features invaluable design methods, tips, and tricks to help ensure accurate data and satisfied customers. It includes dozens of examples - from nitty-gritty details (label alignment, mandatory fields) to visual designs (creating good grids, use of color). This book isn't just about colons and choosing the right widgets. It's about the whole process of making good forms, which has a lot more to do with making sure you're asking the right questions in a way that your users can answer than it does with whether you use a drop-down list or radio buttons. In an easy-to-read format with lots of examples, the authors present their three-layer model - relationship, conversation, appearance. You need all three for a successful form - a form that looks good, flows well, asks the right questions in the right way, and, most important of all, gets people to fill it out. Liberally illustrated with full-color examples, this book guides readers on how to define requirements, how to write questions that users will understand and want to answer, and how to deal with instructions, progress indicators and errors. This book is essential reading for HCI professionals, web designers, software developers, user interface designers, HCI academics and students, market research professionals, and financial professionals.

Forms that Work Reviews

The humble form: it may seem boring, but most of your website's value passes through forms. Follow Jarrett & Gaffney's guidelines, and you'll probably double your online profits. - Jakob Nielsen, Principal, Nielsen Norman Group This book isn't just about colons and choosing the right widgets. It's about the whole process of making good forms, which has a lot more to do with making sure you're asking the right questions in a way that your users can answer than it does with whether you use a drop-down list or radio buttons. - Steve Krug, Foreword author and author of the best selling Don't Make me Think If your web site includes forms, you need this book. It's that simple. In an easy-to-read format with lots of examples, Caroline and Gerry present their three-layer model -- relationship, conversation, appearance. You need all three for a successful form -- a form that looks good, flows well, asks the right questions in the right way, and, most important of all, gets people to fill it out. - Janice (Ginny) Redish, author of Letting Go of the Words -- Writing Web Content that Works

Table of Contents

Introduction: What is a form? What is a form? 1. Persuading people to answer Pick the right moment to ask a question Think about relationship question by question Follow three rules that that influence response rates Think about who will answer your questions Summary Interlude: Registration forms: rules and suggestions 2. Gathering the right information Find out why you need the information Check if your organization already holds the information Find out what others ask for Summary: only ask for information that you need Case study: conference registration form 3. Making questions easy to answer How questions work Make it easy to understand the question Make it easy to find the answer Judging the answer: avoiding privacy errors Placing the answer: avoiding category errors Summary: writing questions Case study: avoiding choice points 4. Writing instructions Writing instructions Rewriting instructions in plain language Cut the instructions that aren't needed Move the instructions to where they are needed A before- and after- example Summary: Writing instructions Interlude: help for forms 5. Choosing between drop-downs and other controls Picking controls for your forms How users expect controls to work Use these six questions to choose the right control Specialist controls may help Think about the form as a whole Summary: Providing the answer Interlude: names and addresses 6. Making the form flow easily Make the form flow easily Use progress indicators Avoid surprising users with sudden changes Be gentle with errors Say 'thanks' to close the conversation Conversational flow - summary Interlude: why we hate pop-ups 7. Taking care of the details Taking care of the details Where to put the labels compared to the fields Colons at the end of labels? Sentence or title case for labels? How to indicate required fields Choosing legible text: fonts and words Summary Interlude: serif or sans-serif 8. Making the form look easy What makes a form look good Make sure users know who you are: logos and branding Make your form look tidy with grids Make it look organized with grouping Avoid two-column forms Summary Case study: an appearance makeover 9. Testing (the best bit) We're passionate about usability testing How to do really good usability testing of forms Final message from this book Appendices Suggestions for further reading References Acknowledgements

Additional information

GOR012013854
9781558607101
1558607102
Forms that Work: Designing Web Forms for Usability by Caroline Jarrett (Effortmark Ltd, Leighton Buzzard, UK)
Used - Like New
Paperback
Elsevier Science & Technology
20081107
288
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
The book has been read, but looks new. The book cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket is included if applicable. No missing or damaged pages, no tears, possible very minimal creasing, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins

Customer Reviews - Forms that Work