At ENC we tried to develop a flexible workspace that minimized scrolling or paging around. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, frames divide the screen into work areas. As the query is constructed, terms selected appear in the middle box. The information in the bottom frame changes based on users' selections. Make the system actions explicit to the information seeker.
Instructions placed near related controls show functional grouping.
Analogies using familiar objects guide many interfaces. Many people intuitively know what to do when presented with a form to complete. Boxes suggest areas to type into and buttons suggest places to click. Place functions near the object acted upon. For instance, Search and Reset buttons should be placed near the query in order to suggest applicability.