Assessment for FP Advisor by St. Clair - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by kdaigneau@stcl… 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: The instructions above the input fields explaining what type of information users will receive from their search and tips on how to use the search fields.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Labels are found to the left of the input fields.
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: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: Labels are found to the left of the input fields and easily understandable.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are no colour form control labels. Though, the input field is outlined in blue when selected.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Blue highlight and outline of the input fields is the consistent visual indicator.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Input fields are reversible. Users are able to hit the back button and return to the search page to revise the information.
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 no alert messages that appear if an error is made.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are no alert messages to indicate errors. Though, if no search results appear, some sections do offer tips to better a user’s search.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The user can easily correct errors by hitting the back button.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are no offered spelling suggestions for incorrect names or words.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The print icon is the most consistent icon across the database and it appears in the same area when search results are retrieved. In the Industry Report section, the PDF icon is also present in the same area.
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: These buttons are consistent in colour and where they are placed in the varying sections in the database. The buttons are search, reset and clear.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The adjacent links to the right of the icon.
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: All the sections remain consistently in the left side column. ‘Home’, ‘About Us’, ‘Corporate Data’, Ordering FP Products’ and ‘Help’ appear in the top banner on every page. Copyright date, publisher information, copyright statement, terms and privacy links all appear in the footer of each page. The logo for FP Advisor always appear at the top of the pages.
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: There are no popups
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There are no popups
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: There is one consistent heading across all pages, and it is tagged as a top level heading <h1/h1>.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There is one heading that appears on each page which are all clear, concise and reflect the content.
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There are many drop-down menus and items within the database. However, due to the purpose and nature of the database these options and items are necessary the user to gather their research.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: This database contains many menu items. Though, because this a product/industry/financial database which provides the user with industry related information, the drop-down menu items and options are necessary to help users get the information they require for analysis and comparison.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Menus and sub-menus are accessible via screen readers and keyboard navigation.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There are no update now buttons.
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: Users are able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the focus moving away for the control.
eResource: FP Advisor
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Post Media
Institution: St. Clair
Score: A

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 The instructions above the input fields explaining what type of information users will receive from their search and tips on how to use the search fields.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always Labels are found to the left of the input fields.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Not Applicable Labels are found to the left of the input fields and easily understandable.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Never There are no colour form control labels. Though, the input field is outlined in blue when selected.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Always Blue highlight and outline of the input fields is the consistent visual indicator.

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. Users are able to hit the back button and return to the search page to revise the information.

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 no alert messages that appear if an error is made.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Sometimes There are no alert messages to indicate errors. Though, if no search results appear, some sections do offer tips to better a user’s search.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always The user can easily correct errors by hitting the back button.
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? Never There are no offered spelling suggestions for incorrect names or words.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always The print icon is the most consistent icon across the database and it appears in the same area when search results are retrieved. In the Industry Report section, the PDF icon is also present in the same area.
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 These buttons are consistent in colour and where they are placed in the varying sections in the database. The buttons are search, reset and clear.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always The adjacent links to the right of the icon.
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 All the sections remain consistently in the left side column. ‘Home’, ‘About Us’, ‘Corporate Data’, Ordering FP Products’ and ‘Help’ appear in the top banner on every page. Copyright date, publisher information, copyright statement, terms and privacy links all appear in the footer of each page. The logo for FP Advisor always appear at the top of the pages.
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 There are no popups
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? Always There are no popups
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 There is one consistent heading across all pages, and it is tagged as a top level heading <h1/h1>.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always There is one heading that appears on each page which are all clear, concise and reflect the content.

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Always There are many drop-down menus and items within the database. However, due to the purpose and nature of the database these options and items are necessary the user to gather their research.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always This database contains many menu items. Though, because this a product/industry/financial database which provides the user with industry related information, the drop-down menu items and options are necessary to help users get the information they require for analysis and comparison.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Always Menus and sub-menus are accessible via screen readers and 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? Always
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Always There are no update now buttons.
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 Users are able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the focus moving away for the control.
Previous1234Next