[Sigia-l] Multiple submit buttons vs. Check boxes on a form

[Jeff Isom]

I am designing a web application with a number of forms. Many of the forms allow the user to print a copy of the form after they have saved the information. As part of the business process, the users are often required to print the form so this is something they do frequently, but not always. I've seen this handled a couple of ways.

1. The form has multiple buttons at the bottom. Save | Save and Print | Cancel

2. The form has a check box above the buttons "Print this Form on Save" and then only two buttons Save | Cancel. You could either default the check box checked or unchecked depending on the frequency of the need to print.

I'm curious if anyone has seen studies or had any experience with the usability of these two approaches (or others that you've seen that accomplish the same thing).

Thanks in advance for the help.

Jeff