Map Design Considerations › Designing Maps

Designing Maps

Successful Layouts

The layout of a map should make the map easy to use. A successful map layout exhibits the following characteristics:

• Consistency—Entities such as fields, headings, labels, responses, messages, and control keys should have the same meaning or effect throughout the application. The meaning or effect need not be identical for every map but should be consistent within the broader confines of the system.

  Message and response fields should appear in the same location on each map in an application. These fields should remain standard for all applications at a site.

• Supportiveness—The reactions of the system should make it easy for the operator to handle normal situations. For example, displayed informational and/or error messages should be meaningful.

What's Included in this Section

These standards, which are discussed separately, can be adapted as necessary to conform to the needs of a particular site or application:

• General considerations
• Control key standards
• Naming conventions
• Layout and display standards
• Pageable map considerations