Navigation Changes Anyone? – Design Discussion
One of the items in the top 5 after user voting was “Previous/Next Buttons when locating an order number”. The idea behind this enhancement request was that after a search the user could use a previous/next button to move through the search results in the order information module to locate the order needed.
We immediately saw this as a place to implement a design idea we’ve had in the archives for a while. We have long wanted to do away with the current Contents screen and give the user a left navigation that included functionality like a quick search, search results, recent orders, order watch list and navigation buttons to the modules available to the user.
The quick search would only search on order number and company/last name. From observations it seems that many times users have an order number in mind when they click on the Find button. With the quick search the user can just click into the field, type in the order number (or company/lastname) and return a quick search result. If the result is a single order that order would be opened. If there are multiple orders the user can click on one in the list and then use the up and down arrows keys to quick move through the orders looking for the one they want to use.
The Search Results grid would work with the quick search functionality as well as the Find dialog. If the last search was done with the find dialog the search results would be shown in the area.
The Recent Orders grid would be based on the last (x) number of orders that the user has edited. Having this would help users to quickly return to orders they have been working on.
The Watch List concept is about giving users a way to add their orders to a list for easy navigation between them. The user can add an order and it will remain on the list until it is removed. This could be very useful to move coordinators who can add a move they are managing to their list and remove it once the move has been completed.
Below that is where we have our module buttons. The modules in this concept are still grouped, but those groups are easily opened and closed by a simple click. One thought is that if a group is closed, by hovering over the group it might temporarily open allowing the user to click on a module and then the group returns to it’s closed state. To see a screen mock up with the groups all expanded click here.
What do you think? I’d love to hear your feedback on this concept.
This design covers everything that we’ve wanted and then some. The only other than great design is that we would like to be able to use the keyboard to access these options instead of being dependent on using the mouse.
I am impressed!
This sounds like it will be very useful when it is completed. I like the small “search” list so you will be able to just click on the next order if that is not the one you want. The “Recent order” is a good thing too, because how often to we get interupted and have to go to a different order only to have to go back and find the first order we were working on. I also like the watch list. Even being in accounting there are some orders that I would like to “watch”. Is there a limit to the number of orders in each list? Are you able to resize the windows? Will we be able to make the search menu smaller or disappear if we don’t want to see it? We still use a smaller screen so I would like to make sure that this new look will be user friendly. Hot keys would be useful too. Anything to speed things up.
My initial thought is that the watch list and recent orders list would have limits; maybe adjustable by users. Each of the areas would be seperated by a splitter that would allow you to re-size them. There are also thoughts about giving you the ability to turn the sections off…just in case you don’t want to use the watch list or any of the other areas. This is still just a concept so everything is open to discussion.
Joe,
i don’t recall if I got back to you with our thoughts. We are excited about the changes that you suggested and are hoping that it will also include a “back” button function similar to a web page back button.