Susan Harkins
ssharkins at gmail.com
Mon Jul 21 11:20:30 CDT 2008
While we're on this subject, I thought I'd mention a great timesaver that some of you might not know about -- you can great your own template forms and reports using the color scheme, etc. of your choice. Then, when you generate a new form or report, it automatically defaults to your color scheme instead of Access' defaults -- sure beats the blazes out of resetting each form. If you don't know how to do this, let me know, I'll post some simple instructions. Susan H. > Gustav: > > Thanks for the SAP link. Very instructive. Although they seem to use a > lot > of gray. > > My current color choices are 12028002 for header/footer/detail section > background, 16765875 for boxes - I use them to group controls, and 8388608 > for the forecolor for labels and text boxes. > > > Rocky Smolin > Beach Access Software > 858-259-4334 > www.e-z-mrp.com > www.bchacc.com > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Gustav Brock > Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 9:03 AM > To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com > Subject: Re: [AccessD] Facelift for my App > > Hi Rocky > > First, this is very difficult. If in doubt, study the Access samples > available around. 95% look terrible as if no efforts in design and layout > have been done. > > Second, a good design is extremely important. We as developers don't like > it, but the fact is, that to the new user the appearance of your app is > the > first impression. In ten seconds he/she will decide if this looks > trustworthy (professional) or not. If yes, your first battle is won; if > no, > you have to fight hard to convince the user. > > An excellent example I can find for you is SAP Business One, the baby of > the > SAP product line. This is what to expect for an app in the $ 1000-2000 per > seat price range. > Select "View the demo" here and study _all_ the small sessions. Notice the > highlighting of the focused control: > > http://www.sap.com/asia/smallbusiness/solutions/demos/index.epx > > It follows all the guide lines I have collected through the years (no, SAP > didn't call me) and most books on the topic list these too. > > Here are 10 major points: > > - Use a calm and absolutely consistent form layout. Stay away from any > "smart" twists; chances are that the user can't see anything smart about > it. > - Don't ever use grey (except for decoration or the like). > - Use pale colours of a limited palette except for text and icons. > This palette and the guide lines for its use are so difficult to build > that > most people either can't or won't use the time needed for experiments and > will be better off hiring a professional graphics artist. I'm not > kidding - > I spent two weeks for this alone for the app I'm currently developing > moving > between Windows XP and Vista. > The final result will probably look "female". Don't be afraid of that. I > always ask my female coworkers if they like what I have created. To me > this > test is a go or no-go. > > - Don't use 3D layout not to say shadows. For some reason this looks old > fashioned and antique. > - Use the features of Windows. There's no reason to put a Close button on > a > form as every user knows how to close a window the native way. > - Don't use multi-level switch board forms with buttons. The user quickly > gets lost. Use a treeview style or Outlook style menu system as even the > novice user understands this right away and feel in control from the first > minute. > - Be very careful with fonts. There must be _very_ good reasons for using > anything else than the standard Microsoft fonts sans serif. The new Segoe > UI > is very good as are the classic "Secure web fonts". > - Be careful with background pictures. They often distract more than they > add, colours may be hard to control, and they often "disturb" by drawing > the > attention of the user for no reason. > - Don't be afraid of using screen estate. It's better to use a larger form > where proportions can be held nice than cram too much controls on a > cluttered and tiny form. > - Don't use too much screen estate. A terrible example is the Microsoft > "ERP" package for the very small business (can't recall the name right > now). > > /gustav > >>>> rockysmolin at bchacc.com 21-07-2008 16:29 >>> > Dear List: > > This must be my day to ask for help. I want to give one of my apps a > facelift - change the colors, fonts, controls - stuff like that - to look > more moderne. > > So I guess I'm looking for some web sties that might have some screen > shots > of forms from which I could get some ideas. > > The current app forms can be seen at > http://www.e-z-mrp.com/ss_mainmenu.htm. > So you can see what I mean - functional but not beautiful. > > What colors do you all favor for backcolors and forcolors? Fonts? > > Any suggestions welcome. > > > MTIA, > > Rocky Smolin > > Beach Access Software > > 858-259-4334 > > www.e-z-mrp.com <http://www.e-z-mrp.com/> > > www.bchacc.com <http://www.bchacc.com/> > > > > -- > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > -- > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com