Assessment for Scott's Directories by Fanshawe - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by ahawkins@fansh… 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: There are instructions at the top of the search page that detail how to fill in text fields and add filters.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: No labels apparent for any text fields.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are two ways to search in this tool - by company or by contact. Rather than having separate instructions for each search function, instructions for both are repeated on each 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: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Input fields are reversible, but not checked or confirmed.
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: Even when deliberately creating errors (e.g. entering numbers into the field to search by contact name), the database did not recognize this and simply returned 0 results. There was no function to alert the user to input errors.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Users can return to the input page to correct the error. However, every time they return to this page, it is blank. The input fields do not remember the previous text entered.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, the user can resubmit the form. However, as mentioned above, the input fields do not remember previously entered text so it must be manually retyped every time.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are no error reports.
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:
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There is no alternative text present for any images, buttons, or icons.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Text is slightly altered between actions. For example:

- Search (in menu) / Search Criteria (in button)
- Criteria / Filters
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some confusion / lack of clarity between the text and the function.
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: When using the search functions, the buttons remain the same across the top of the page.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There is only one search page. There is no search field embedded throughout the website.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When in a preferred screen resolution, the demo video and automated chat function appear across each page. However, these disappear/move when in a lower resolution.
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:
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: Headings are skipped (level 1 to level 3). No level 2. Many level 4 between headings 1 and 3, which do not clearly indicate actual headings or text.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Headings are not clearly labelled or hierarchical.
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Only one menu and it is succinct.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Same as above.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: All menus can be accessed with screen readers, but not with keyboard navigation.
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The results page does not open in a new tab or window. However, it is a separate button/option at the top of the page. Once the user inputs their data into the text fields and hits "enter" (there is no submit button), they are not automatically redirected to the results. They must click on the results button separately.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Content is not automatically updated, but there is also no "Update Now" button. When the user returns to the search fields, the text is not remembered and any changes must be reentered manually and then searched again.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There is no one "submit" button, as each text field has an "add" option beside it. When focused over this, however, they do not automatically submit.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Keyboard navigation is minimal. Menus and buttons are not keyboard-friendly, only some text-fields. Input fields with drop-down menus (e.g. provinces, cities, etc.) are not able to focused on.
eResource: Scott's Directories
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Scott's Directories
Institution: Fanshawe
Score: D-

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 There are instructions at the top of the search page that detail how to fill in text fields and add filters.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Never No labels apparent for any text fields.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Sometimes There are two ways to search in this tool - by company or by contact. Rather than having separate instructions for each search function, instructions for both are repeated on each 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? Never
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Never

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always Input fields are reversible, but not checked or confirmed.

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 Even when deliberately creating errors (e.g. entering numbers into the field to search by contact name), the database did not recognize this and simply returned 0 results. There was no function to alert the user to input errors.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Never
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Sometimes Users can return to the input page to correct the error. However, every time they return to this page, it is blank. The input fields do not remember the previous text entered.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Always Yes, the user can resubmit the form. However, as mentioned above, the input fields do not remember previously entered text so it must be manually retyped every time.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Never There are no 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

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Never There is no alternative text present for any images, buttons, or icons.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Sometimes Text is slightly altered between actions. For example: - Search (in menu) / Search Criteria (in button) - Criteria / Filters
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Not Applicable
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Sometimes Some confusion / lack of clarity between the text and the function.

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always When using the search functions, the buttons remain the same across the top of the page.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Not Applicable There is only one search page. There is no search field embedded throughout the website.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Sometimes When in a preferred screen resolution, the demo video and automated chat function appear across each page. However, these disappear/move when in a lower resolution.
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
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 Headings are skipped (level 1 to level 3). No level 2. Many level 4 between headings 1 and 3, which do not clearly indicate actual headings or text.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Never Headings are not clearly labelled or hierarchical.

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Always Only one menu and it is succinct.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always Same as above.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Sometimes All menus can be accessed with screen readers, but not with keyboard navigation.

Change of context

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning? Sometimes The results page does not open in a new tab or window. However, it is a separate button/option at the top of the page. Once the user inputs their data into the text fields and hits "enter" (there is no submit button), they are not automatically redirected to the results. They must click on the results button separately.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never Content is not automatically updated, but there is also no "Update Now" button. When the user returns to the search fields, the text is not remembered and any changes must be reentered manually and then searched again.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Never

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Always There is no one "submit" button, as each text field has an "add" option beside it. When focused over this, however, they do not automatically submit.
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? Sometimes Keyboard navigation is minimal. Menus and buttons are not keyboard-friendly, only some text-fields. Input fields with drop-down menus (e.g. provinces, cities, etc.) are not able to focused on.
Previous1234Next