Microsoft Windows User Experience
Official Guidelines for User Interface Developers and Designers

http://www.empowermentzone.com/win_user.zip


CONTENTS

Foreword
Buy this Book

Introduction
How to Use This Book
How to Apply These Guidelines
Conventions Used in This Book

Part 1:  Fundamentals of Designing User Interaction
Chapter 1:  Getting Started
What's New
The Importance of a Well-Designed Interface
The Need for Improved Simplicity
Key Areas for Improvement
Checklist for a Good Interface

Chapter 2:  Design Principles and Methodology
User-Centered Design Principles
Design Methodology
Understanding Users
Design Tradeoffs

Chapter 3:  Basic Concepts
Data-Centered Design
Objects as Metaphor
Putting Theory into Practice

Chapter 4:  The Windows Environment
The Desktop
The Taskbar
Icons
Windows

Chapter 5:  Input Basics
Mouse Input
Keyboard Input

Chapter 6:  General Interaction Techniques
Navigation
Selection
Common Conventions for Supporting Operations
Editing Operations
Transfer Operations
Creation Operations

Part 2:  Windows Interface Components
Chapter 7:  Windows
Common Types of Windows
Primary Window Components
Basic Window Operations

Chapter 8:  Menus, Controls, and Toolbars
Menus
Controls
Toolbars and Status Bars

Chapter 9:  Secondary Windows
Characteristics of Secondary Windows
Property Sheets and Inspectors
Dialog Boxes
Palette Windows
Message Boxes
Pop-up Windows

Part 3:  Design Specifications and Guidelines
Chapter 10:  Window Management
               Selecting a Window Management Model
                Single-Document Window Interface
                            Workbooks
                    Web-Application Interface
                            Projects
                   Multiple-Document Interface

Chapter 11:  Integrating with the System
Using the File System
Using the Registry
Installation
Using System Settings and Notifications
Integrating with the Shell
Supporting Network Computing
Supporting Hardware Devices
Supporting Multiple-Monitor Configuration Devices
Supporting Plug and Play

Chapter 12:  Working with OLE Embedded and Linked Objects
The Interaction Model
Creating Embedded and Linked Objects
Displaying Objects
Selecting Objects
Activating Objects
Visual Editing of Embedded Objects
Editing a Linked Object
Accessing Properties of Objects
Converting Types
Using Handles
Displaying Messages

Chapter 13:  User Assistance
User Assistance Road Map
Contextual Help
Procedural Help
Reference Help
Conceptual Help
HTML Help
Wizards

Chapter 14:  Visual Design
Visual Communication
Design of Visual Elements
User Interface Text
Layout
Design of Graphic Images
Selection Appearance
Transfer Appearance
Open Appearance
Link Appearance
Animation

Chapter 15:  Special Design Considerations
Sound
Accessibility
Localization

Part 4:  Appendixes and References
Appendix A:  Mouse Interface Summary
Appendix B:  Keyboard Interface Summary
Glossary
International Word List
Bibliography


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