Assessment for MIGRA's Canadian Export Guide by Conestoga - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by Kcaporiccio@co… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Many of the input fields use placeholder text in lieu of instructions. Some include prompts/instructions such as the contact form "fill out the form" and "enter the security code and 'submit'. Though the website does have very few input fields; most of the searching is done through lists and charts.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Similar to the above comment; the website utilizes mostly placeholder text. There are few instances beyond "search" where labels are used.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Yes, if you can visually see them. If you are relying on a screen reader this may not be so clear.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Labels are rarely used, but when they are, they are above the user fields (in some cases beside).
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no coloured form control labels on this website.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: What is available is consistent, but the visual indicators are not very helpful.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There are not many opportunities to enter information on this website but I tested all that were applicable (contact form, search bar, subscription page). It did give prompts when information was entered incorrectly ("email is invalid, correct and submit the form"). In terms of the search bar it did underline items that were spelled incorrectly, and in the cases when the search was invalid it also prompted for a new search.
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are error messages however they are to the side of the entry field (Image attached).
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The error report shows up on the side of the submission field. I did try to navigate to it with keyboard navigation and unfortunately I was unable to.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: It does not offer suggestions it only underlines the word to indicate it is spelled incorrectly. If you do not search exact words found in the database you will not get search results.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: The same images are used across the site to indicate these actions but they are not icons; save/download are not an option on this website, but print is.

The print "icon" (image) is next to the a link with text "click here to print" the image does not actually have an action tied to it (Image attached).
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There is no alternate text used for these images, but they are also not clickable.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The search button is labelled as such however the images used to "decorate" the option to print are not.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The images are consistent on each page that has them, however they are not icons. The only icon that can be considered is the search option. The print does not function but the text and link is adjacent. The search icon does not have adjacent text or link.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The labelling is inconsistent on this website; especially for images. Often images are not labeled.
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 on this website.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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:
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: It does not open in a new tab.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There is no ability to update content when searching. This database operates primarily without a search feature, user's browse through existing lists instead.
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: The user must intentionally submit the form in order for it to submit. Simply having focus on the submission option will not submit the form.
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: MIGRA's Canadian Export Guide
eResource Type: Website
Vendor: Other
Institution: Conestoga
Score: A-

Key Findings

Strengths

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is consistent across all pages
  • Page content has appropriate headers and is tagged appropriately

Weaknesses

  • Some user input fields contain labels and clear instructions to help users successfully complete the form

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? Sometimes Many of the input fields use placeholder text in lieu of instructions. Some include prompts/instructions such as the contact form "fill out the form" and "enter the security code and 'submit'. Though the website does have very few input fields; most of the searching is done through lists and charts.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes Similar to the above comment; the website utilizes mostly placeholder text. There are few instances beyond "search" where labels are used.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Sometimes Yes, if you can visually see them. If you are relying on a screen reader this may not be so clear.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Sometimes Labels are rarely used, but when they are, they are above the user fields (in some cases beside).
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable There are no coloured form control labels on this website.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Always What is available is consistent, but the visual indicators are not very helpful.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always There are not many opportunities to enter information on this website but I tested all that were applicable (contact form, search bar, subscription page). It did give prompts when information was entered incorrectly ("email is invalid, correct and submit the form"). In terms of the search bar it did underline items that were spelled incorrectly, and in the cases when the search was invalid it also prompted for a new search.

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? Never There are error messages however they are to the side of the entry field (Image attached).
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Always
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Never The error report shows up on the side of the submission field. I did try to navigate to it with keyboard navigation and unfortunately I was unable to.

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 It does not offer suggestions it only underlines the word to indicate it is spelled incorrectly. If you do not search exact words found in the database you will not get search results.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Not Applicable The same images are used across the site to indicate these actions but they are not icons; save/download are not an option on this website, but print is. The print "icon" (image) is next to the a link with text "click here to print" the image does not actually have an action tied to it (Image attached).
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Not Applicable There is no alternate text used for these images, but they are also not clickable.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Sometimes The search button is labelled as such however the images used to "decorate" the option to print are not.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Sometimes The images are consistent on each page that has them, however they are not icons. The only icon that can be considered is the search option. The print does not function but the text and link is adjacent. The search icon does not have adjacent text or link.
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? Always
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always
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? Sometimes The labelling is inconsistent on this website; especially for images. Often images are not labeled.

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 on this website.
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? Always
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

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 It does not open in a new tab.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Not Applicable There is no ability to update content when searching. This database operates primarily without a search feature, user's browse through existing lists instead.
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 The user must intentionally submit the form in order for it to submit. Simply having focus on the submission option will not submit the form.
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
Previous1234Next