Posted by Fester Bestertester on 10/26/07 21:33

Shelly wrote:
> A "submit" button on a form has a reason for existence. There have been
> MANY times that I have entered data on a form and changed my mind before
> "submit"ing. I simply closed the window and all was gone! That is the
> EXPECTED behavior. If a user is annoyed that this happened, then he should
> learn how to use his computer! If data are to be entered whether or not he
> clicks the "submit" button, then by all means get rid of that button!
>
> Simply put, I totally disagree with the use of the word "Unfortunately".
> Rather, I would have said "dammit" (or worse!) if the data had actually been
> entered when I closed the window without clicking "submit".

Actually this answer kind of reflects my initial reaction on hearing the
issue come up in the first place. My inclination was to ask, "so, if you
go to your bank's web site and enter all the information for a transfer
of funds from one account to another and then just click the "x" window,
do you assume the transaction went through?"

I sort of can't blame the users though. The functional people designed
this particular software usage survey form in such a way that it has
dozens of fields, for dozens of possible types of software. The result
is that the user scrolls down, enters some numbers at the bottom of the
form, and then forgets that there's a "Submit" button back at the top.

I've remedied this by creating several new instances of the Submit
button throughout the form, so that at least one instance is always
visible, and by placing a text reminder at the top of the form.
Hopefully that will do the trick.

[Back to original message]