Input and Output Elements

Individual Input and Output Elements | Group of Input or Output Elements | Tables

German Version

Input and output elements are

  • Input and output fields
  • Field labels
  • Descriptive text fields
  • Tables
  • Lists
  • Graphics

 

Individual Input and Output Elements

Rules

  1. Use easily understandable descriptors in nominal phrases for selection elements. If necessary, state the unit of measure for the entry. Do not use punctuation at the end of the field descriptor.
    (If changing the descriptor would be an improvement for all other SAP applications, change it in the ABAP Dictionary. Note that changes to the length of the descriptor may affect translation.)
  2. Position field labels to the left of the field they describe. If this is not possible due to the screen structure, in exceptional cases you can also align the field label along the left margin above the input field.
  3. Indicate required entry fields as such.
  4. If the field label is not sufficient, you can use examples in the correct input format. Do not use any punctuation for examples. Examples should not be longer than two lines.
  5. Align examples along the left margin below the input field in a smaller font.
  6. If field labels and examples are not sufficient, use an instruction or a hint formulated in a complete sentence. Instructions and hints can also include examples.
  7. Use a colon between an instruction or hint and its subsequent field description. The colon clearly indicates that the leading text belongs with the input field.
  8. Position the instructions or hints above the input field.
  9. In exceptional cases, you can integrate the highlighted field label in the instruction. In this case, you do not need a field label before the input field.
  10. Avoid redundancy. If several input fields have the same entry format, consider whether you can group the fields together and add an explanation for all the fields above the group.
  11. In an explantion of the input format for a date, use uppercase letters ("DD/MM/YY" for "Day/Month/Year").

Standard formulation

Enter <data to be entered>:

(rule 6-7)

If you would like to <action>, enter <data to be entered>:

(rule 6-7)

You can <action>:

(rule 6-7)

Examples

Rule no.

Correct

Incorrect

1

Distance in miles

<input field>

Distance

<input field>

miles

4, 5

Function

<input field>

Example: User Interface Designer

Keyword

<input field>

Example: Hypertext

Function

<input field>

For example, write "User Interface Designer".

Keyword, for example
Hypertext

<input field>

4, 5, 11

Start date

<input field>

DD.MM.YYYY

Start date

<input field>

(DD.MM.YYYY)

Start date

<input field>

dd.mm.yyyy

6, 7

Enter the postal code of the city in which you want to find a telephone number:

Postal code

<input field>

Enter the distance between your home and your work:

Distance in miles

<input field>

Enter the data here:

3, 4

Enter either the departure city (for example, Miami) or the departure airport code (for example, MIA):

Departure city

<input field>

6, 7

If you would like to give your manager a reason for your absence, enter a note:

Note

<input field>

6, 7

Enter an asterisk (*) if you know only part of the word or you want to search for objects containing that word. Example: software*. You can leave the Search term blank and search by Subject. Use AND and OR to narrow your search. Do not use quotation marks or commas:

Search term

<input field>

Subject

<input field>

Search term entry:
Entry of search term:
Search according to?

6, 7

To request leave, enter the time period during which you will be absent:
Time period <input field> to <input field>

Reason

<input field>

Cost center

<input field>

 

Group of Input or Output Elements

Rules

  1. If it is necessary to describe groups of input or output elements, use instructions and hints in complete sentences. Instructions and hints may also contain examples.
  2. Use a colon between an instruction or hint and its subsequent input fields. The colon clearly indicates that the leading text belongs with the input fields.
  3. If several input fields next to or above one another require the same input format, use a complete sentence to describe the input format.
  4. Align the instructions or hints along the left margin above the group.
  5. To explain to the user which tasks he or she can perform, use a two-column table. The first column of the table states what the user can do and the second states how to do it.

Examples

Rule no.

Correct

Incorrect

1-4

If you enter information about the start date, you must also enter the duration:

1-4

Enter your contact information. Make sure you enter the address correctly to ensure that the form is sent to you promptly:

Name

<input field>

Street

<input field>

City

<input field>

Telephone no.

<input field>

3

Enter each date in format DD/MM/YYYY:

Move date

<input field>

Work start date

<input field>

Work end date

<input field>

Date format DD/MM/YYYY

Format for date entry: dd.mm.yyyy

 

Tables

Rules

  1. Make sure that the table title describes the name of the objects listed in the table. Do not use the words Table or List since it is already apparent to the user.
  2. Use noun phrases for table titles. Do not use infinitive verbs.
  3. Align the table title along the left margin above the table.
  4. Left-align each column heading.
  5. Make sure that all cells in a column are the same width.
  6. Position tables that are by themselves directly in the background. Do not position single tables in a group box.

 

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Source:  SAP Reference Lists