Unit 4 - The Use of Popup Windows in Web Design
	Main Topic:	Unit IV Golden Rules of Interface Design
	Created by:	Leanne C Boyd on 25-Apr-00 at 9:47 pm
	For:	Unit 4 Assignments

The Use of Popup Windows in Web Design

I totally agree with what has been said concerning many users being disturbed with the average popup window. It can get confusing when all of a sudden, the Back button isn't there. I've done a lot of study and designing on this issue — because I really believe that the "stacked" window idea is very useful in being able to organize a train of thought.

So, if you haven't taken a peek at my web site at Refuge_Earth (http://www.refuge-earth.org/), please do! I haven't done this on the ED722 site, as the coding is heavy-duty work, and I just haven't had the time. I eventually will go in and add the javascript to do this, for the popups.

But, my solution was to not only provide an instant realization of a new window being opened, but also a "safeguard" for the window NOT being orphaned when someone clicks off somewhere else. Usually, this leads to a bunch of open windows, laying behind the one you are looking at. I coded the pages so that they are smaller than the base page. They are smack up against the upper left or the upper right ... in a recognizable fashion for the area of the site you are in. Because they are coded to NOT fit the whole monitor, they "overlay" the page beneath.

Each page then has a button that either indicates it will close the window, or that it will return you to the page you just came from (which, either leads to the page in the smaller window you just came from, as in the immediate previous page — or it also closes it, to get to where you just clicked UP from). But, at no time, do you lose visual track of the base page. To COMPLETELY safeguard against the lost, orphan windows, it is also scripted so that when you click on the page beneath, the upper page disappears. It doesn't just "go behind," it literally closes.

On some of the pages, the link leads to a completely different section. This section WILL fill the entire screen. However, the navigation buttons indicate that clicking will close the window and return you where you just were. Unlike Hoyle's buttons/links — mine really DO go back to the previous page, or close the window ... or whatever, exactly, the button says it will do.

There are a couple of real neat things about the popup window. Used with tact (and boy, those entryway popups are irritating, but seem very popular these days ... even Capella has used it) — they are a very intuitive way of expanding upon information, without "losing" the original page. I mean that from the user's standpoint, where perhaps they aren't familiar with the "Go" tab in the Menu, etc. But ... in this day of every user is a possible consumer ... you don't want to lose the customer. When they are done clicking around, the base page is STILL there.

Let's talk!! Write to:
WebSpinner@refuge-earth.org
( that's me — Leanne! )

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