Assessment for Building Types Online by Conestoga - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by Agousseva@cone… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are no visual instructions around form fields, like the search bars on each page, except in placeholder text.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: On the search results page, there is an empty form label for the search bar in the top left corner.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Descriptions are vague, e.g. "Start Exploring the Database" in the placeholder text for the main search bar.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are no visual labels above user input fields. In this database, the input fields are limited to the search bars.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no coloured form control labels.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no form fields where visual indicators like asterisks are necessary.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no user input forms that would require error reports.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no user input forms that would require error reports.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no user input forms that would require error reports.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no user input forms that would require error reports.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no user input forms that would require error reports.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are no spelling suggestions either in drop-down options or on the results page.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There is a magnifying glass icon for the search bar, but it is not consistent across pages.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: E.g., the search bar is found in different places on the homepage, search results page, and item record pages.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The search bar is found in different places throughout the website.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no pop-ups.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There is a skipped heading and an empty heading on the search results page.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The "About" menu can be accessed using keyboard navigation, but it does not visually expand like it does when you hover your mouse over it.
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: When applying filters, the page refreshes automatically.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
eResource: Building Types Online
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Other
Institution: Conestoga
Score: B

Key Findings

Weaknesses

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is somewhat consistent across all pages
  • User input fields do not contain labels and clear instructions to help users successfully complete the form
  • Page content sometimes has appropriate headers and is tagged appropriately

Labels and Instructions for Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form? Never There are no visual instructions around form fields, like the search bars on each page, except in placeholder text.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes On the search results page, there is an empty form label for the search bar in the top left corner.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Never Descriptions are vague, e.g. "Start Exploring the Database" in the placeholder text for the main search bar.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Never There are no visual labels above user input fields. In this database, the input fields are limited to the search bars.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable There are no coloured form control labels.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Not Applicable There are no form fields where visual indicators like asterisks are necessary.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always

Error Reports

Question Answer Notes Images
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box? Not Applicable There are no user input forms that would require error reports.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Not Applicable There are no user input forms that would require error reports.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Not Applicable There are no user input forms that would require error reports.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Not Applicable There are no user input forms that would require error reports.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Not Applicable There are no user input forms that would require error reports.

Search function spell-check

Question Answer Notes Images
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms? Never There are no spelling suggestions either in drop-down options or on the results page.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Sometimes There is a magnifying glass icon for the search bar, but it is not consistent across pages.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Always

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Sometimes E.g., the search bar is found in different places on the homepage, search results page, and item record pages.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Never The search bar is found in different places throughout the website.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always

Pop-up windows/Interruptions

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button? Always
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Not Applicable There are no pop-ups.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Sometimes There is a skipped heading and an empty heading on the search results page.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Always
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Always The "About" menu can be accessed using keyboard navigation, but it does not visually expand like it does when you hover your mouse over it.

Change of context

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning? Always
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never When applying filters, the page refreshes automatically.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Always
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus? Always
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus? Always
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control? Always
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