Assessment for ASME Standards 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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Instructions in the main search box on the home page say Search over the box, but rely on placeholder text within the box. On the search screen on subsequent pages, the search box has the label Search over the box, and then when you hover over the box, an orange text box appears from the bottom of the screen with detailed search instructions.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: With the exception of placeholder text in the search box on the home page.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There is only one form on this website, the search box.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Because the only form is the search box, the user can always re-enter their search terms.
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:
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:
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Very few icons, but those that exist are consistent.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: No alt text
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The only exception is the page-to-page link, and that is adjacent to an explanatory link that goes to the same spot.
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: 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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The only pop-up is the instructions for the search box that appear in the lower half of the screen when the user hovers over/clicks in the search box and that only appears at the bottom portion of the screen.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: When looking through the WAVE results, the result is consistently "This page has no heading structure!"
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: See above.
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:
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
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: ASME Standards
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Institution: Centennial
Score: B

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 Instructions in the main search box on the home page say Search over the box, but rely on placeholder text within the box. On the search screen on subsequent pages, the search box has the label Search over the box, and then when you hover over the box, an orange text box appears from the bottom of the screen with detailed search instructions.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Never
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Sometimes With the exception of placeholder text in the search box on the home page.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Not Applicable There is only one form on this website, the search box.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always Because the only form is the search box, the user can always re-enter their search terms.

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
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Not Applicable
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Not Applicable
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Not Applicable
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Not Applicable

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

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always Very few icons, but those that exist are consistent.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Never No alt text
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? Sometimes The only exception is the page-to-page link, and that is adjacent to an explanatory link that goes to the same spot.

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? 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? Never The only pop-up is the instructions for the search box that appear in the lower half of the screen when the user hovers over/clicks in the search box and that only appears at the bottom portion of the screen.
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? Never When looking through the WAVE results, the result is consistently "This page has no heading structure!"
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Not Applicable See above.

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
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never
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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