On-line help with server based applications usually requires the application to open additional windows to service the help text or requires the user to select hypertext links to other documents. These approaches tend to lead the user away from the survey questionnaire and may make it difficult to return. On-line help in the form of JavaScript alerts are the most user friendly. However, they require the user to have a browser capable of executing JavaScript. One of the advantages of collecting information through the computer is that the computer is able to monitor the data entry and can notify the user if they have neglected to enter information into a required field.
Some salary surveys conducted are through spreadsheet software.
This software is usually written as a spreadsheet macro and requires an advanced spreadsheet application. Data entry should be reduced to the minimum number of keystrokes. Try to index or sort list boxes so that users may easily identify the correct response. Long scrolling list boxes are difficult to navigate. The best kind of data entry software is one that accepts multiple types of input from users.