WAP Service Developer's Guide for Nokia Series 40
Version 1.0
Copyright © 2002. Nokia Corporation. All rights reserved.
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2.4.4
Choose descriptive card titles
It is very useful to give a descriptive name for the card. It might be a good idea to start the
title with your service’s name and to keep the total length of the title short.
It also pays to use meaningful URL addresses since the user sees the URL of the currently
selected link on the screen and can use it as a navigational help, especially when images
have not been loaded.
2.4.5
Pay attention to the first screen
The first (topmost) screen of any page is the most important one. All of the often-used
navigational links, search fields, login screens, and bulk of the information should reside
there. The user is then able to navigate forward before the rest of the card has been loaded,
and the user does not have to scroll the card.
Avoid wasting the top of the page for banner advertisements or non-informative graphics. It
is better to place the advertisements at the left or right edges rather than on the top.
2.4.6
Do not use absolute values for the screen size
When using images, the use of absolute values (in pixels) is not recommended. Sizes should
be specified as percentages of the total width or height.
2.4.7
Usage of do elements
Always use descriptive and short labels for all do elements. Favour local do elements instead
of anchored links that do not fit into their surrounding context. Global do elements should
be used only when especially needed at the end of the card. Always include a
prev
element
in every card to enable backward navigation.
2.5
Pictures and tables
2.5.1
Avoid useless images
Downloading images takes time, and many users may switch off the loading of images for
more speed. Try to optimise the size of images. If you have large pictures on your site,
consider using thumbnails for the image index.
Always give an alternative text (using the alt attribute of the <
img>
element) for images
that convey information. Always use a null alternative text (alt=””) for images that do not
convey information, or are used for page layout or decorative purposes only.
2.5.2
Use reasonable table sizes
If the table size exceeds the maximum width of the application screen due to the number of
columns, the table size will be scaled down to fit the screen. To keep the cell content
readable, special attention should be paid to table structuring.
