Response Time
24 — 48 hours
Using the Country custom filed causes usability issues in the country list filter as noted below. My users report regularly that they are getting errors regarding the Country custom field. I have determined the usability error occurs when a common abbreviation is used not the full country name. While we can't plan for the exception we should improve the usability of the field as noted below.
Issue 1: Filtering the list by user input
1. When users start typing, the drop down list that appears includes all countries with the first letter typed in any part of a country name.
2. When the user types the second letter the list adjusts to include all countries with letter 1 and letter 2 in any part of a country name.
Currently any country with the letter U in the country name Aruba or Hungary will appear in the list.
The proper way to display the country names in the filtered list should be as follows:
a. user types the first letter U - all countries beginning with the letter U should appear.
b. user types the second letter N - all countries beginning with the letters UN should appear.
Issue 2: No placeholder text - unlike most/all other custom fields, this field does not allow placeholder text.
Issue 3: No error message during data entry on this field
When the user enters a name not found in the list. Try typing USA or GB or any country abbreviation commonly used by citizens of a country - no error message will appear. The resulting problem is that when the user tries to use something common but not exactly what is in the database "United States" the system does not generate an error at the time of data entry. As a result, the user tries to "submit" the page of custom fields in the registration and at this time, an error message says "Sorry, some information is missing or incomplete. Please check and try again." This system message is appropriate as it has been created and is intentionally generic to account for many possible missing or incomplete fields, however the user would have no idea that USA is not accepted in the system.
I have needed to add (Do not Abbreviate) to both the description and the custom field name without 100% success to get users to adhere to the requirement of typing a Country Name i.e. United States rather than USA. I presume others have had this trouble as well as it is universal challenge. I understand that if 100% of my users would actually read the field description - this would not be a problem, however improving the process to increase successful registration is a mutual goal.
Proposed Solution by order of benefit to users:
1. Create a popup dialog box or red marker message as shown for other fields such as when a user tries to use an email already in the system. Message should say "Country name not found.". This message should appear as soon as the user entered letters do not match a country name in the regions list.
2. Allow filtering the list in order by first-second-third letters typed rather than filtering list showing all countries with letters in any position of the country name.
3. Add option for placeholder
Your feedback would be appreciated.
Todd
Issue 1: Filtering the list by user input
1. When users start typing, the drop down list that appears includes all countries with the first letter typed in any part of a country name.
2. When the user types the second letter the list adjusts to include all countries with letter 1 and letter 2 in any part of a country name.
Currently any country with the letter U in the country name Aruba or Hungary will appear in the list.
The proper way to display the country names in the filtered list should be as follows:
a. user types the first letter U - all countries beginning with the letter U should appear.
b. user types the second letter N - all countries beginning with the letters UN should appear.
Issue 2: No placeholder text - unlike most/all other custom fields, this field does not allow placeholder text.
Issue 3: No error message during data entry on this field
When the user enters a name not found in the list. Try typing USA or GB or any country abbreviation commonly used by citizens of a country - no error message will appear. The resulting problem is that when the user tries to use something common but not exactly what is in the database "United States" the system does not generate an error at the time of data entry. As a result, the user tries to "submit" the page of custom fields in the registration and at this time, an error message says "Sorry, some information is missing or incomplete. Please check and try again." This system message is appropriate as it has been created and is intentionally generic to account for many possible missing or incomplete fields, however the user would have no idea that USA is not accepted in the system.
I have needed to add (Do not Abbreviate) to both the description and the custom field name without 100% success to get users to adhere to the requirement of typing a Country Name i.e. United States rather than USA. I presume others have had this trouble as well as it is universal challenge. I understand that if 100% of my users would actually read the field description - this would not be a problem, however improving the process to increase successful registration is a mutual goal.
Proposed Solution by order of benefit to users:
1. Create a popup dialog box or red marker message as shown for other fields such as when a user tries to use an email already in the system. Message should say "Country name not found.". This message should appear as soon as the user entered letters do not match a country name in the regions list.
2. Allow filtering the list in order by first-second-third letters typed rather than filtering list showing all countries with letters in any position of the country name.
3. Add option for placeholder
Your feedback would be appreciated.
Todd
1 Replies
The replies under this section are restricted to logged in users or users with an active subscription with us
