Pop-up Error Messages

In most GUI systems, when a person enters the incorrect information in a field, the system displays an error message in a separate window. To correct the problem, the person must first read and remember the message so they can locate and fix the problem. They must then click the OK button to dismiss the message window and click the field that contains the incorrect information. Finally they must switch back to the keyboard to change the data. 

Intuit came up with a better way of handling error detection and correction. Intuit's TurboTax program uses a pop-up message to display information about a data entry problem (figure 1).  The message appears as soon as a person tabs to the next field. When a data entry problem is detected, TurboTax returns the cursor to the field and displays a pop-up message. The pop-up provides some helpful information about correcting the problem and remains visible until the person corrects the problems and tabs to the next field.   

Figure 1

It is possible to use this messaging technique in HTML forms in an environment where  you are developing Intranet based applications for an organization that has standardized to IE 4/5 or Netscape Navigator 4. 

Internet Explorer 5.0 Example

Implementing pop-up messages in relatively easy. You can position the pop-up so it appears immediately after the field or just below it. This sample may also work in IE 4.0

Netscape & IE Example

This pop-up is somewhat more difficult to implement because Netscape 4.0 does not support the Cascading Style Sheet standards. The solutions depends on positioning the pop-up at a specified coordinate relative to the top and left side of the browser window. For this solution to work consistently in an environment where people use different size fonts, you must put the form elements in a table with a specified pixel width and cell height. You also must position the pop-ups so they are not over a form element. In Netscape 4 the element will bleed through the pop-up.