Posted by Jose on 10/23/81 11:35

>>> But when a variant is rejected, the user should clearly be told why, or
>>> they will get frustrated.
>
> You can make it as clear as you like. I would say that saying "Your input
> '...' was not recognized as a country name. Please select a country name or
> two-letter country code from the list at ..." would be enough.

Well, then you are giving a list, but AFTER a failed attempt. Further,
you are making the user go elsewhere for that list, wondering if when he
comes back his partly filled-in form will be erased or not (browser and
settings dependent, no?). As a user, I'd rather have a drop-down which
allows typing (and fills in as I go) in circumstances where an exact
match is required. I am given the list from which I must match up
front, and my job as a user is easy.

I would like the most common three or four countries to be at the top
though, as well as in their proper place alphabetcally.

As for what should be recognized as a country - if you "recognize
everything" then the problem in data analysis comes later, but it is the
same problem, and the one person best able to sort the ambiguity is long
gone.

Jose
--
You can choose whom to befriend, but you cannot choose whom to love.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Back to original message]