Assessment for Mitchell1 ProDemand, TruckSeries by Centennial - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by bkahn@centenni… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: On some forms, the labels are placed in front of the user input fields, but still clearly associated with them.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: One form has required fields marked with a red asterisk with no explanation. The other has no indication whatsoever which fields are required - that assumption is that all fields are required?
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: One form has required fields marked with a red asterisk with no explanation. The other has no indication whatsoever which fields are required - that assumption is that all fields are required?
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: When you enter a search term, the system automatically offers you a choice of search terms (see attached file).
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: The database doesn't really use icons. Instead, the word print or download is used.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: The database doesn't really use icons. Instead, the word print or download is used.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There is really only one screen that offers a Search button. All repeating elements
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: The database doesn't really use icons.
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: Only one page really has a search field.
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: There are not a lot of recurring elements on this website. Not a lot of components on any page.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are pop-ups that occur in screen. There is no way to suppress or postpone these.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some pages from the home page open in a new browser window. Also, some pdf documents do the same.
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some pages have no heading errors. There seem to be consistent header 4 errors on pages with a greater degree of content. I have also received a heading error on some pages that states "no accessible name."
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: A big component of this website is the Select Vehicle search - you have to select the year, make and model of a car, plus other options. This is all done through a series of dropdown menus. The keyboard navigation skips over this field, which is a huge drawback.
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: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: No "Update Now" button.
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: The keyboard focus is very hard to determine. You can tab through the browser controls, but once you get to the actual page content, you can't see where your focus is. All you can see is the link at the bottom of the page as it changes, but nothing on the actual page to suggest where the focus is (see focus file).
eResource: Mitchell1 ProDemand, TruckSeries
eResource Type: Website
Vendor: Mitchell1
Institution: Centennial
Score: A-

Key Findings

Strengths

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is consistent across all pages

Weaknesses

  • Some user input fields 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? Always
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Sometimes On some forms, the labels are placed in front of the user input fields, but still clearly associated with them.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Never One form has required fields marked with a red asterisk with no explanation. The other has no indication whatsoever which fields are required - that assumption is that all fields are required?
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Sometimes One form has required fields marked with a red asterisk with no explanation. The other has no indication whatsoever which fields are required - that assumption is that all fields are required?

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? Always
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? Always

Search function spell-check

Question Answer Notes Images
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms? Always When you enter a search term, the system automatically offers you a choice of search terms (see attached file).

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Not Applicable The database doesn't really use icons. Instead, the word print or download is used.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Not Applicable The database doesn't really use icons. Instead, the word print or download is used.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always There is really only one screen that offers a Search button. All repeating elements
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Not Applicable The database doesn't really use icons.
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 Only one page really has a search field.
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 There are not a lot of recurring elements on this website. Not a lot of components on any page.

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? Never There are pop-ups that occur in screen. There is no way to suppress or postpone these.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Sometimes Some pages from the home page open in a new browser window. Also, some pdf documents do the same.

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Sometimes Some pages have no heading errors. There seem to be consistent header 4 errors on pages with a greater degree of content. I have also received a heading error on some pages that states "no accessible name."
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? Sometimes A big component of this website is the Select Vehicle search - you have to select the year, make and model of a car, plus other options. This is all done through a series of dropdown menus. The keyboard navigation skips over this field, which is a huge drawback.

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? Not Applicable No "Update Now" button.
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 The keyboard focus is very hard to determine. You can tab through the browser controls, but once you get to the actual page content, you can't see where your focus is. All you can see is the link at the bottom of the page as it changes, but nothing on the actual page to suggest where the focus is (see focus file).
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