Jumps

In Help, text or a bitmap in a topic can link to a topic in another window, display information in a pop-up window, or execute various actions through macros. It is important that users experience consistent functionality when they choose a jump, pop-up, or macro hot spot.

Principles

nUse 10-point MS Sans Serif for hot-spot text.

nAssign the J1 authoring template style to a list of hot-spot text to add points of leading between the lines and to wrap the hot spot text correctly when the Help window is resized.

nWhen creating lists of hot spots, align them with the preceding text (Figure 4.x).

nIf you use color, a graphic, or some other visual indicator for a jump hot spot, don’t use this visual marker for another purpose in the Help file.

nIn running text, don’t use jumps that replace the topic in the main window with another topic. Users can become disoriented when the main topic window changes before they have read all the text in the first topic.

If you must use jumps in running text, use a secondary window so that the original topic remains visible.

nDon’t use a pop-up hot spot within a pop-up window.

This replaces the content of the first pop-up window and may cause user disorientation. A pop-up window should be used when you want to give additional information while retaining the content of the original message.

nWhen a graphic and text are used to indicate a jump or pop-up hot spot, make both hot (Figure 4.x).

nUsers generally recall no more than five to nine chunks of information with any success. Don’t put excessive demands on the user by having too many options to explore.

nWhen needed, use text by the hot spot to clarify for the user what will happen when they choose the hot spot.

Strategies

nConsider the overall design of all your Help files when determining how hot spots will appear and act. Provide the user with a consistent look and feel. For example, don’t mix jump and pop-up hot spots, or green hot spots and graphical hot spots, in the same list or use the same visual marker for hot spots that result in different actions.

nLimit the number of hot spots in a navigational screen or list, such as Contents, Index, and See Also/Related Topics. If many hot spots are needed in this type of list, consider grouping the hot-spot topics under headings. The headings should not begin with gerunds or jump to a new topic. They should display subheadings for the hot spots (Figure 4.x).

nInclude as few jump and pop-up hot spots as possible while still providing the needed information.

nWhen there are more than six headings in a navigational screen (such as Contents or an Index) or more than six subheading hot spots under a main heading, use a graphic and black text to indicate the hot spots. This helps prevent the “green screen” phenomenon (Figure 4.x).

nIf colors other than the default green are used for hot spots, users must edit their WIN.INI file to change the hot-spot color. Consider including a procedure in the How To Use Help file to help them change the hot-spot color.

nPunctuation that follows hot text must also be formatted as hot to prevent wrapping problems.