Developing User Interfaces for Microsoft Windows
| 1999-04-27 00:00:00 | | 0 | Human Computer Interaction
For the seasoned developer, Developing User Interfaces for Microsoft Windows provides a common-sense guide for improving Windows user interfaces. After a survey of recent writings on user interface design, this title covers a wide range of topics in very short chapters with a minimum of software engineering jargon. (One standout area looks at reusing resources in Visual C++.) The text also presents a `model` Windows program--Visual C++ 5.0.
In its exploration of designing software for beginning and advanced users, the book advises against creating software tailored for specialized roles (a preference that arguably shows the book's interest in `shrink-wrapped` software, since business applications routinely require distinct modules for different types of users). Software is categorized into applications and utilities, with visual design guidelines for each. (This book doesn't avoid controversy here by arguing against both user-driven design and prototyping within the project life cycle.) Further chapters look at what UI features should be readily visible to users, and which ones (like unnecessary error messages) should be removed.
In one notable section, new ideas in UI design based on today's Web sites are presented. (HTML changes the rules for Windows desktop users too.) Readers also get a laundry list of features that work, such as direct manipulation, good configurability, previews, and tooltips. There's advice on help and documentation and an excellent section on creating more effective (and simpler) setup programs. In all, this book can be read profitably by any Windows developer using C++. It provides a solid checklist for thinking about user interface design on the Windows platform. --Richard Dragan
User review
Arrived quickly and in good condition
The book was as described with the CD and in good condition. I arrived in a reasonable amount of time.
User review
Wind blew
Not to dissent, but this seems more one man's personal manifesto than a guide for making apps conform with existing Windows standards. Did Microsoft Press just farm this book out to some random writer? Not that he doesn't raise the occasional valid point, but if you're looking for Windows standards and practices, be it ui or infrastructure--or if you're looking for the results of solid research as opposed to assertions of opinion--look elsewhere.
User review
Very Useful and Practical Book
This book is well written and contains a helpful CD with a great set of sample guidelines that acts as a terrific cheat sheet of the book's main points.
User review
Outstanding Quality
I was 100% satisfied with this book. It is clearly written, well organized and filled with many usefull examples of both good and bad designs. It also is very well cross referenced to other user interface design resources on every topic. In particular, it contains comprehensive reviews of other usefull books related to user interface design. I rate this as a must-have quality book.
User review
Good content, shame about the interface
Mr McKay knows his subject and could have written an attractive slim volume. As it is, he has given us a fat ugly one. Ironically, the worst aspect of this book is its UI and for exactly the reasons that the author is at pains to explain. The giant headings are distracting, the over printed chapter numbers, just silly, etc. To compound the irksome UI, the author insists on recycling every sentence he has written over and over again - this undoubtedly bulks out the book, but it does nothing for this user's experience.