CHAPTER 10 — Designing Forms and Reports

1. What is a form?

A business document used to capture and display predefined data, often representing one database record.

What is a report?

A business document used for reading/viewing information only, typically combining data from many records.

What is the process for designing forms and reports?

User-centered, prototyping approach: understand users, gather requirements, build prototype, evaluate, refine.

What is a paper prototype?

A hand-drawn mockup of a screen or form used early for layout and flow testing.

What is a wireframe?

A simple layout design showing element placement and spacing without final colors/fonts.

What are the three design specification components?

Narrative overview, sample design, testing/usability assessment.

What makes a title meaningful?

Clear, specific, includes revision date and generation date.

What is meaningful information?

Only essential data displayed in an easy-to-use, unmodified format.

What does a balanced layout mean?

Even spacing, clear labels, good margins, visually organized.

What does easy navigation require?

Forward/back options, clear indicators, and page numbers.

When is highlighting used?

To warn users, show errors, or emphasize important info.

What are examples of highlighting techniques?

Color, bold text, size changes, boxing, underlining, blinking.

What are benefits of using color?

Emphasizes organization, draws attention, improves discrimination, evokes emotion.

Problems with color?

Color blindness issues, print problems, screen resolution issues.

Guidelines for textual display?

Use simple fonts, left-aligned text, short lines, no fancy fonts

Guidelines for tables and lists?

Meaningful labels, blank line every 5 rows, consistent spacing, right-align numbers.

What is usability?

How well the system supports user performance: speed, accuracy, satisfaction.

What are usability measures?

Learnability, efficiency, error rate, memorability, satisfaction.

What are common web design problems?

Limited browser interactivity, lack of standards, poor feedback for clicks.

What are cookie crumbs?

Navigation aids showing where the user is and where they’ve been.

What are lightweight graphics?

Small, simple images used to speed up webpages.

What is stylesheet-based HTML?

Separates content from presentation using CSS to maintain consistency.

Why is labeling fields important?

Ensures clarity, helps reduce entry mistakes, shows required/optional fields.

What should reports indicate?

When the data was generated and what the information represents.

Why are prototypes important?

They let users test and refine designs before implementation.