[AccessD] Short Date Input Mask question

Heenan, Lambert Lambert.Heenan at AIG.com
Wed Mar 17 09:52:20 CST 2004


Bryan,

Point taken. This was why I made the comment about mass data input. In point
of fact it is possible, though a bit clunky, to select a date with the
keyboard, and I should perhaps revisit the design on the form to make it
easier to do so.

RSI is a serious problem, and I sympathize with your for having to deal with
it. However it's not confined to mouse use, indeed I remember it first being
reported back in the 80's before mice very prevalent. In those days the
blame was laid at the door of the extreme ease with which computer keyboards
operated vs. manual typewriters. This allowed for very rapid keystrokes,
which was thought to be the root cause of RSI. 

I also see people who have bizarre ideas about how they should position
their keyboards and mice. In short there are lots of factors involved, and
at the end of the day the user has to figure out the best way to use the
d*mned machines. So, to reiterate, I think I'll take the time to redesign my
date picker form to allow for better keyboard use of it.

Lambert

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Bryan Carbonnell [SMTP:Bryan_Carbonnell at cbc.ca]
> Sent:	Wednesday, March 17, 2004 9:52 AM
> To:	accessd at databaseadvisors.com
> Subject:	RE: [AccessD] Short Date Input Mask question
> 
> Lambert,
> 
> It may work fine for you, but does it work for your users? Do you force
> them to use the mouse to select the date, or can they do everything they
> need to from the keyboard?
> 
> The only reason I bring this up is that I have had RSI from moving
> between the mouse and keyboard for data entry too much. It got to the
> point where by 10 AM I could not feel my little finger and half of my
> lower arm becaude of it.
> 
> As soon as I got one application that I used on a regular basis more
> keyboard friendly it helped.
> 
> Just try to keep that in mind. I know I always do. I let users use the
> mouse or enter with the keyboard. Their choice.
> 
> Bryan Carbonnell
> bryan_carbonnell at cbc.ca
> 
> 
> >>> Lambert.Heenan at AIG.com 17-Mar-04 9:21:45 AM >>>
> My solution to date entry is simple - I never let user's type in a
> date.
> They always pick the date from a simple calendar form (though I don't 
> use
> the MS Calendar control). Click on a date field and up pops the date
> picker.
> While this would not be suitable, perhaps, in applications where
> massive
> numbers of dates need to be entered, I find it works just fine for me.
> 
> Lambert
> 
> -- 
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