List Box

  Description    Purpose    Advantages     Disadvantages    Usage   List Size     Caption       

1. Description
1. A permanently displayed box-shaped control containing a list of attributes or objects from which a single selection is made or multiple selections are made.
2. The choice may be text, pictorial representations, or graphics.
3. Selections are made by using a mouse to point and click.
4. Capable of being scrolled to view large lists of choices.
5. No text entry field exists in which to type text.
6. A list box may be associated with a text box control where the selected choice may be displayed or an item added to the list.
2. Purpose
1. To select from a large set of choices that may be either mutually exclusive options or non-mutually exclusive options.
3. Advantages
1. Unlimited number of choices
2. Reminds users of available options.
3. Box always visible
4. Disadvantages
1. Consumes screen space
2. Often requires an action (scrolling) to see all list choices.
3. The content may change, making it hard to find items.
4. The list may be ordered in an unpredictable way, making it hard to find items.
5. Usage
1. For selecting values or setting attributes.
2. For choices that are mutually exclusive or non-mutually exclusive.
3. Where screen space is available.
4. For data and choices that are:
1. Best represented textually.
2. Not frequently selected.
3. Not well known, easily learned, or remembered.
4. Ordered in a non-predictable fashion.
5. Frequently changed.
6. Large in number.
7. Fixed or variable in list length.
5. When screen space or layout considerations make radio buttons or check boxes impractical.
6. List Size
1. Not limited in size.
2. Present all available alternatives.
3. Requires no more than 40 pagedowns to search a list.
7. Caption
1. Use mixed-case letters.
2. The preferred position of the control caption is above the upper-left corner of the list box.
3. Alternatively, the caption may be located to the left of the topmost choice description.

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