Questions tagged [instructions]
Text that explains or clarifies the steps users need to take in order to accomplish a task or progress through the interface. Includes microcopy & manuals.
45 questions
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Best way to indicate required vs optional fields
I'm having some issues deciding how to indicate to users the some fields are required and some are optional. I've encountered these three scenarios, and the following solutions:
All fields are ...
- 149
2
votes
1
answer
162
views
Multiple screens vs single screen
I am designing an online assessment tool where candidates need to be authenticated before they start taking the assessment. The flow is like:
Start assessment -> proctoring guidelines, system check,...
2
votes
0
answers
132
views
Multilingual sign boards for public and private structures in USA [closed]
As there are many languages spoken in the USA, do you recommend to have multilingual sign boards created for parks, zoos, museums, restaurants, stores, libraries, offices etc?
Multilingual sign boards ...
4
votes
1
answer
68
views
Technical terms linking vertical lists to Instructions
I once read a study where it described that displaying information vertically hints/implies to the user that it is instructions. I tried searching for proof of this concept again and couldn't find it ...
- 41
2
votes
1
answer
248
views
What kind of message should I display for processes that are queued because other users are currently running the process?
Let's say user number 1 goes in and starts running a big process that can only have one instance running at a time. In the meantime 2 more users attempt to run the same process while it is still ...
- 563
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
User instruction wording - refresh browser / reload page?
In the event of an API error in our web app, we display some informational text as follows:
[error icon]
Something went wrong
<Instructions here>
For the instructions, we are ...
- 263
0
votes
1
answer
124
views
How to ensure user has lifted up the phone to eye-level?
We are creating an app wherein we need to detect that the person has lifted the phone up to eye-level. Something like this photo below:
We were thinking to use the camera to detect the face (as in a ...
- 4,388
1
vote
1
answer
159
views
How to design configurable scripts for non-programmers [closed]
I have a python script that allows users to parse addresses when batch-editing a table.
The script allows the user to choose whether to return the house number or the street name to the field (by ...
- 243
2
votes
3
answers
953
views
How should I demonstrate a choice between two options in step-by-step instructions?
I'm writing a step-by-step employee guide for logging into a course management program. I need to demonstrate that one of the steps will differ depending on where the employee is logging in from.
To ...
- 142
10
votes
5
answers
2k
views
'turn over' on a leaflet
Not too sure if this question should be here or not, but regardless.
Should a leaflet have 'turn over' written at the bottom centre to let the viewer know there is another side, or will they ...
- 203
88
votes
21
answers
18k
views
How do we ensure our staff read instructions aloud?
As Jakob Nielsen demonstrated:
On the average Web page, users have time to read at most 28% of the words during an average visit; 20% is more likely.
We have a business application used by call ...
- 6,639
2
votes
1
answer
235
views
Is there a need to explain how to use standard web elements (i.e. this textarea is resizable)
We have an application where users can update a "description" portion of their personal page. For the description, we are using a plain textarea. The textarea we are using is unmodified except for CSS ...
- 213
0
votes
1
answer
111
views
Give directions or let users leave site?
I am updating an instructions page which relies on some information that is in an online book of laws (which is hosted elsewhere).
Currently, users are instructed to find a specific section in the ...
- 1
0
votes
3
answers
168
views
How to make the user understand a web form
How can I make a user understand a form?
I have a form which is quite complicated I am afraid. But I need to make the user understand what each field is for. Sure, there is a user guide for this ...
- 3,533
2
votes
3
answers
295
views
Modern approach to turn by turn instructions
We're working on a turn by turn navigation system. Most of our users are parcel delivery drivers. They use the software 6-8 hours a day for navigation.
So the driver can easily hear 1000 times a day (...
- 185