> Looking for examples of attractive/functional application > welcome screens - preferably for file centric applications. > In other words, what to put in all that blank open space in > an application when an application starts and there are no > files or forms active. > > Note: By welcome screen I mean the screen or form that is > displayed once an application has been started and a user > needs to pick from a list of actions to actually use the > application. I am not talking about splash screens. > > Example: MS Office 2003 apps show a Welcome task pane on the > right edge of the application. > > I believe Outlook uses the webbrowser control to show an HTML > page as its welcome page. > > Also looking for suggestions on what actions should displayed > in the welcome screen without cluttering it up too much. > > Examples: > > 1. Take a tour (launch help or screencam) > 2. Create a new file > 3. Open an existing file > 4. Check for application updates > 5. Register the software > 6. Exit > > Ideas, links, screenshots appreciated,
Personally I don't like anything that I perceive as slowing down or interfering with the startup of an application I want to use. At the same time, I recognize the need for something that introduces the new user to screens he/she is about to see, so what I've done, at the framework-level, is a call from the INIT of all forms to a class that displays a 'front-end' help form for the system/feature being started that introduces what the operator is about to see, each with a "don't show this form again" checkbox on the form. Also, since I made a lot of use of a pageframe on the main screen, one of the pages in the frame is a 'tip of the day' page that shows a randomly selected usage tip from a table of tips (that the operator can add to). Bill > Thanks, > > Malcolm _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
