[Sigia-l] pull-down menus and intermediate pages

[Gerry Gaffney]

I don't have data, but have observed several dozens of individual test
sessions with sites that use these pull-down menus, but also have
'intermediate' or introductory pages accessed by clicking the top-level menu
item.

Some users tend to click on the top level menu item, because they are unsure
of the content of the pull-down menu items, or because they have difficulty
in handling the mechanics of the dropdown (a very common occurrence), or
because they're just not the exploratory type.

It seems to me that intermediate pages are at worst harmless. They also
provide the ability to actually explain the meaning of the pull-downs to the
infrequent visitor.

- Gerry

_____________________
Gerry Gaffney
Information & Design

+61 3 9600 3333
+61 409 424 404 mobile

http://www.infodesign.com.au

PO Box 1255
Windsor VIC 3181
Australia
_____________________


-----Original Message-----
From: sigia-l-admin at asis.org [mailto:sigia-l-admin at asis.org] On Behalf Of
Heather Hedden
Sent: Wednesday, 11 August 2004 3:06 AM
To: SIGIA-L
Subject: [Sigia-l] pull-down menus and intermediate pages

Working on only a small website freelance, I designed a navigational
structure of six menu items (in addition to Home), each of which has a
drop-down menu leading to two to five sub-pages. Now the client wants
intermediate pages for each section, even though there would be minimal
content on these pages. But the client also wants to retain the drop-down
menus. I know that it is feasible, but is it reasonable for users? I had
thought that users expect upon clicking on a menu item to either go to a
page or get a drop-down menu, but not be able to get both, depending upon
where the mouse is unclicked.

--Heather

------------
When replying, please *trim your post* as much as possible.
*Plain text, please; NO Attachments

Searchable list archive:   http://www.info-arch.org/lists/sigia-l/
________________________________________
Sigia-l mailing list -- post to: Sigia-l at asis.org
Changes to subscription: http://mail.asis.org/mailman/listinfo/sigia-l