EPSS Examples > EPSS Design Ideas >The Option List

The "Option List" widget has become a common and ubiquitous component of database applications. The option list enables a user to quickly select a value from a list of specified values. An option list can be very useful because it

  1. ensures that the value added to a database field is always consistent and can therefore be used to filter or group records, and
  2. reduces the need for the user to memorize or lookup codes that represent a specified value.

While the option list is a significant improvement over the mainframe field codes, it still has one major user performance impediment – namely a readily available definition of the values in the list. The meaning of the values in some option lists may be obvious, but in many instances, the user needs training to understand the meaning of the values and under what conditions a value should be selected. The lack of readily available information about the meaning of these option list values can lead to situations where an inappropriate value is selected.

Strategies

This limitation can be ameliorated by

  1. enabling a user to display a static help topic window that contains a description of the values,
  2. displaying the definitions in a pop-up window that allows the user to select a value by clicking on the value or value definition in the window, or
  3. displaying the definitions in the option list.

Static Help Topic Window

With this strategy, you would display a separate window when the user performs a particular action. To implement this strategy you will need to:

  1. Create a help topic file using the online help program or hypertext system for your particular operating system (Windows, Unix or Mac). You can also use your program development system to create the static help topic window. For example, in Visual Basic you could create a separate form that contained the definitions.
  2. Add a button or other devise to your program to enable the user to display the definition window. For example, you could place a button next to the option list field. The user could click the button to display the definitions. It may also be possible to automatically display the definitions when a user clicks the down arrow on a drop down option list.

While this method provides a user with the required information, it has some disadvantages and limitations.

  1. Generally, the user must perform some action (Mouse click, etc) to display the window containing the definitions. This means adding a button or other actionable devise (menu item, graphic, function key, etc.) that a person can use to display the definitions. If the purpose of the button or devise is not obvious, you will need to train the users.
  2. With the definition stored in a separate file, one must be careful to match the definitions with the values in the option list. If you add a new value or change the name of a value, you must ensure that the definitions are also changed.

Linked Window

With this strategy you will need to

  1. Use the program development tool to create a pop-up window that display the definitions and enables the user to select one of the values. The window would then disappear and the cursor would move to the next field. If you are developing the application with Microsoft Visual Basic, you can create this functionality with a Windows 95 help topic and the foCoach ActiveX component.
  2. Add a button or other devise to your program to enable the user to display the definition window.
  3. If the option list values are stored in a database, add a new field for the definitions.

If you are using Netscape Navigator 3.0 or 4.0, you can try the following example. Click the "Definitions" button to pop-up a definitions window. Select one of the options in the window. This example will not work in Internet Explorer or some versions of Navigator running on the UNIX or Mac operating systems.

Definition in Option List

Most of the current application development tools either include or allow you to add an option list component that will display a multi-column list. The first column can show the values and the second the definition of the values. The use of this strategy depends on the available screen space and the length of the definition.