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Standard icons are the error, warning, information, and question mark icons that are part of Windows. The standard icons are notable because they are built into many Windows application programming interfaces APIssuch as task dialogsmessage boxesballoonsand notifications. They are also commonly used on in-place messages and status bars. Guidelines related to icons are presented in a separate article. There are several factors in choosing the appropriate standard icon—which in part explains why they are so often used incorrectly.
The most common mistakes are:. The remainder of this section explains how to think about standard icons in order to avoid these common mistakes. Choose standard icons based the message type, not the severity of the underlying issue.
The message types are:. Consequently, an error message might take an error icon but never a warning icon. Don't use warning icons as a way to "soften" minor errors. So despite their difference in severity, "Incorrect font size" is an error, whereas "Continuing with this operation will set your house on fire" is a warning. Some issues can be presented as an error, warning, or information, depending on the emphasis and phrasing. For example, suppose a Web page cannot load an unsigned ActiveX control based on the current Windows Internet Explorer configuration:.
To determine the appropriate message type, focus on the most important aspect of the issue that users need to know or act upon. Typically, if an issue blocks the user from robot icon-icon microsoft word, it is presented as an error; if the user can proceed, it's a warning. Craft the main instruction or other corresponding text based on that focus, and then choose an icon standard or otherwise that matches the text.
The main instruction text and icons should always robot icon-icon microsoft word. While severity isn't a consideration when choosing among the error, warning, and information icons, severity is a factor in determining if a standard icon should be used at all. Icons work best when used to communicate visually. Note robot icon-icon microsoft word for accessibility reasons, this visual communication must always be redundant with another form, such as text or sound.
Users should be able to tell at a glance the nature of the information and the consequences of their response, so we must differentiate critical errors and warnings from their ordinary counterparts.
Critical errors and warnings have these characteristics:. To distinguish non-critical errors and warnings from critical ones, non-critical messages are usually displayed without an icon. Doing so draws attention to critical messages, makes critical and non-critical messages visually distinct, and is consistent with the Windows tone. The following is a good example of a critical warning because it meets the previously defined characteristics.
However, the next example isn't critical because it is likely to be intentional and its results are easily undone. In robot icon-icon microsoft word example, this confirmation isn't critical because it's likely to be intentional and easily undone.
In a typical UI, most errors relate to user input errors. Most user input errors aren't critical because they are easily corrected, and users must correct them before continuing. Also, drawing too much attention to minor user mistakes is contrary to the Windows tone. Consequently, minor user input errors are usually displayed without an error icon. To reinforce their non-critical nature, we refer to these as user input problems.
In this example, this minor user input problem isn't critical, so it doesn't need an icon when presented in a dialog box. We overwarn in Windows programs. The typical Windows program has warning icons seemingly everywhere, warning about things that have little significance. In some programs, nearly every question is presented as a warning. Overwarning makes using a program feel like a hazardous activity, and it detracts robot icon-icon microsoft word truly significant issues.
The mere potential for data loss alone is insufficient robot icon-icon microsoft word call for a warning robot icon-icon microsoft word. Additionally, any undesirable results should be unexpected or unintended and not easily corrected. Otherwise, just about any incorrectly answered question could be construed to result in data loss of some kind and merit a warning icon.
In this example, are users likely to answer this question differently because of the warning icon? Context is also a consideration in using standard icons because the context itself communicates information. Because context is a significant factor in icon usage, the standard icon guidelines in this article robot icon-icon microsoft word given in terms of their context.
When evaluating your UI text, read any standard icons as well. Read error icons as "error! Then continue to read the remaining context, such robot icon-icon microsoft word the main instruction, content area, and commit buttons.
Make robot icon-icon microsoft word the meaning and the tone of each standard icon matches the meaning and robot icon-icon microsoft word tone of its context. If they don't, you've found a problem. If they don't match, change or remove the icon. For the following guidelines, "in-place" means on any normal window surface, such as within the content area of a wizard, property sheet, or control panel item page. In the incorrect example, the standard warning icon doesn't match the main instruction which gives an error.
Use robot icon-icon microsoft word critical errors only. Balloons shouldn't be used for critical errors, and they don't need error icons for non-critical errors. Use for all warnings. For non-critical system events. Use for special conditions. This site uses cookies for analytics, personalized content and ads. By continuing to browse this site, you agree to this use.
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Don't use standard icons for non-critical errors. Use for all errors. Use to identify the text as a warning. Use to draw attention to the banner.
