This guide would help you design Explorer Bars to add to the Windows Internet Explorer user interface.
This guide will help you design the Explorer bar, which will be added to the browser's user interface
General guidelines
Because Explorer Bars become a permanent part of the end user's browser, all Explorer Bars should add value to the user ' s Overall Web experience and not just to a particular Web site.
Because the Explorer Bar will become a permanent part of the user's browser, all Explorer bars should have a holistic user experience instead of a particular website
For example, an Explorer Bar should never is used to replace or augment a Web site ' s frameset. Using Explorer Bars This is only affects the user's experience for a single site and does not improve overall Web browsin G.
For example, an Explorer bar should not be used to replace or add a Web site's framework. This use of Explorer bars only affects the user experience of a site, not the overall browsing experience.
An example of a good-use-of-a-Explorer Bar would be-to-display information that the user was interested in, like stock Prices, using a horizontal Explorer Bar. Instead of have to navigate to a investment Web site, enter the stock symbols, and download the results at various time s while the the-the-open, you could design a Explorer Bar that saves the user's favorite stock symbols, periodically do Wnloads the data, and displays it. The user is then free to browse other sites on the Internet without have to stop and periodically check the stock prices .
An example, a good way to use Explorer Bars, is to display information that users are interested in, such as stock prices, using horizontal Explorer Bars. Instead of having to browse a survey site, enter a stock tag, download the results after the open, and show it. Users can then browse other websites without having to stop to check stock prices regularly.
Vertical or Horizontal
Now it's the idea of what to improve the user's Web browsing experience, it's time to decide whether to use a VE Rtical or horizontal Explorer Bar. The final decision is yours, but here's some general guidelines:
Now that you have a doctrine on how to improve the user's browsing experience, this discussion should be done with a horizontal or vertical Explorer bar, with the following recommendations:
Vertical Explorer Bars should is used to display lists the items that can is navigated to.
Vertical Explorer Bars should be used to display list items
Vertical Explorer Bars is designed to improve the user's experience when navigating lists of information, like search res Ults, lists of links, or other navigation UI. The Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Standard user interface have three vertical Explorer bars:search, Favorites, and history .
Portrait Explorer Bars is designed to display list information, such as search results, connection lists, and other browsing UIs. IE5 has 3 vertical Explorer Bars: Search, Favorites, History
Horizontal Explorer Bars should is used to display information or provide communication functionality.
Landscape Explorer Bars for displaying information and providing interactive functionality
Horizontal Explorer Bars allow for a more natural display of the text and edit fields. Any display of textual information about a item, of meta data about the page the user was currently on, or of features tha T require a lot of reading or typing would work on a horizontal Explorer Bar. Other applications, like chat programs, annotations of the Web pages, or threaded discussions, could also work well in a Horiz Ontal Explorer Bar.
Landscape Explorer Bars allows for more text display and editor areas.
Appearance
Because users would be familiar with what the default Explorer Bars in Internet Explorer look, feel, and operate, there is a Definite advantage to following the style and behavior of existing Explorer Bars. Using system colors whenever possible and reusing familiar user interface elements of the default Explorer Bars would help The users feel that your explorer Bar are a part of the Internet Explorer, not the just something that were added on as an afterthought.
Because the user is familiar with IE default Explorer bars Look, feel, operation, the following Explorer bars style and behavior will have certain benefits. Whenever possible, using system colors, reusing the default Explorer bars interface elements will help users feel that your Explorer bars is part of the browser, not some post-add product
Explorer Bar Design Guide
