Web Application Design Patterns- P8: This is the type of book you’ll want to read with your entire team and a fl ip chart because every page will produce a list of actionable changes for the applications you’re developing. Pawan Vora has produced an amazing catalogue of the essential patterns for designing today’s web-based applications. | 196 CHAPTER 7 Lists 2S 20 27 2 a Jump to b When users click Calendar Clemson University s web site shows users a monthly events view by default a and allows them to switch to a weekly view or a daily view b . In all views users may navigate to another month or day using the calendar control or previous and next pagination controls. Solution Use a calendar-like format to present items. In addition consider showing items in a list view as well and allow users to switch between them Figure . Why Users generally know how to interact with calendars because of their familiarity with desktop applications such as Outlook Entourage iCal and so forth. In addition using a calendar view makes it easy for users to see scheduled events and helps them with planning because they can clearly see available and busy time slots. How Show users a calendar with an appropriate default view for example calendars for personal or business use typically show a weekly view by default. However allow them to change it to a different view per their preference Figure . Event List 197 a b Google Calendar shows users a weekly view by default a but allows them to change it on the Settings page b . Yahoo Calendar highlights dates with entries by making them bold. When using a calendar control for navigation highlight days with one or more scheduled events to prevent unnecessary navigation Figure . ALLOW USERS TO SWITCH BETWEEN CALENDAR AND LIST VIEWS Although events are typically shown in calendars because users may want to print the events list for reference offer users both a list view and a calendar view Figure . In the list view order events chronologically. 198 CHAPTER 7 Lists a b FIGURE Pepsi Center shows scheduled sporting events in both a calendar view and b list view. If event information includes both location and schedule information consider showing users a location view as well. Although locations are often effective as maps see .
