General Layout Rules
The following rules apply to all screens. Specific exceptions are noted.
- Orient screen layouts based on a top-to-bottom task sequence.
Blocks, regions, and items are arranged by order of precedence, from left-to-right,
then top-to-bottom.
- Don't waste screen space. Make windows only as large
as is necessary. Use blank space as a way to group information.
- Most widgets are 0.25 inches high, and multiples of 0.1
inches wide. Two-dimensional widgets (multiline text items, TLists) are multiples
of 0.25 inches high. Textual button heights differ depending on the platform.
- In single-record blocks, items should be left aligned
where possible. In multi-record blocks items should be stacked horizontally
and aligned along their top.
- Place titles and prompts toward the top or left of the
element they are describing. Prompts in single-record blocks are always to
the left of the field; prompts in multi-record blocks are above the field,
and aligned similarly to the data within the field they describe. Exceptional
cases exist for matrix-style layouts, fields that do not require prompts,
connecting prompts, and multiline prompts.
- At least a one-character wide space should be left between
the items on a canvas and the window frame. It is also preferable to leave
one row at the top and bottom empty too, but this is not required. Exceptional
cases exist for lines and rectangles used to denote blocks and regions.
- Indicate things that are similar, and things that are
different, when it is meaningful for the user. That is, do not create regions
or use boilerplate lines to group items unless it improves the usability of
the screen.
- Make data stand out, and controls to access that data
intuitive but non-obtrusive.
- Use the same widget for the same attribute in all windows.
Related topic
Using the Layout Wizard to arrange items