I wrote: >> 1. Put an Exchange-specific Search box on every single page. No >> exceptions.
>Sean responded: >Is having the Search link present on every page sufficient? (It's >currently not on the extension detail page) If not, why not. Not sufficient. First of all, a link is not a search box. It's a click and page load that gets me to a search box. And as you noted there is no search box on the detail page. To get to a search box I have to use BACK (assuming I arrived from a search) or a hardwired menu link, and click the link from *there*. Wouldn't a search box ON the same page I'm on (and echoing my last search term) be more usable? However I'd settle for not getting it at all if search was inherently more usable (below). Me: > 2. Either enable New Window functionality in search results or make > all results open a new window. >Sean: >How about letting you click through the details pages one after the >other, instead of requiring you to go back to the search each time? You mean as in a split window? Where I click a half-size top list and a bottom window opens up with the term? Yes, that would work but is still inferior to leaving control for what info I have on my desktop to me. For example if I am comparing multiple tags this would prevent me from opening up two windows at once, or three for that matter. An old behavior I had was to page thru a large result set, new/click on what appeared to be winners, skim-read and either keep them open and move on to the next candidate or close the window. Then I evaluated the two or three or five candidates in detail from there. Also if I opened a new window for an item that looked like a winner, but then moved on to others that stank, my winner would still be in a window available to me. A split window looks cool but forcibly single-tasks me and breaks what is standard search result behavior. At least it is for me, where I do exactly the same thing on Google, Yahoo etc. >Me: > 3. Make Search persistent. See 2. above. >Sean: >So, if search always remembered and showed your last search results, >that would work for you? Hmmm. Put that way no, it wouldn't. What I really meant I suppose is that I want to be able to review results as I page thru them. I need the results to persist -- until I'm done reviewing my alternatives. Apparently someone tried to band-aid this given that now *sometimes* those results persist after a BACK cmd. >Me: > 4. Get rid of the surrounding UI on a search results page. Straight > liquid html grid results, please. We all know users are > results-driven. Bow to this until someone can figure out how to at > least equal the light weight and speed of an html-only result set > that, if necessary, spans the entire screen in a single vertical > column. >Sean: >Actually, most users like the consistency of having the 'quick picks' >links in the right column on every page. I can't see how that's possible given my perception of user behavior during search. Consider this: I want the quick picks when I show up and just want to see a quickee list of Whats New, for example. However, once I move into the behavior of searching for a particular type of item, I have neither use nor interest in a generic quick pick list as my fundamental user focus has changed from a casual browser to a searcher wanting specific information. Quick picks do nothing to help me achieve these results and as such are excess baggage. >Me: > 5. I always felt naughty hacking the url at Allaire.com to get 200 > results on a screen, but boy was it ever useful. If its a strain on > resources, embrace the horror and let us vary the result set size, any > way. >Sean: >Interesting idea. I'll pass that on the Exchange team. Cool. Cheers, -------------------------------------------- Matt Robertson [EMAIL PROTECTED] MSB Designs, Inc. http://mysecretbase.com -------------------------------------------- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=4 FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4
