Laddawn.com : Widget validation error messages

Mandatory fields left blank (and we have not supplied a default selection by design)

You’ve gone outside of allowable ranges, here’s how you can fix that                             

You've entered characters that we don't allow in this field

You need to resolve a conflict between a deliberate choice you made previously and your latest choice - we don’t want to just override one or the other for you 

Problem (aside from tone)

This is too generic; when you close out of the message it isn't clear what data the user needs to provide - especially problematic with level 3 menus with lots of data entry points.

Possible approach

In addition to softening the tone...Instead of a generic statement about “mandatory fields” - be more specific about what fields need to be completed. For example:

Problem (aside from tone)

Nothing really.

Possible approach

Some wordsmithing.

• Please adjust (dimension).
• For (X product), please enter a (dimension) within the range of (high -low) (unit).

Problem (aside from tone)

What is "5N or 6AN"? Need to replace that.

Possible approach

Needs some wordsmithing for clarity.

Problem (aside from tone)

It's unclear.

Question: Do I want to proceed with what? Overriding my original choice, or overriding my last choice? If I say "no" does everything reset?

Answer: Clicking “yes” overrides original choice, clicking “no” overrides latest choice - but that’s not clear.

There are also a variety of sentence constructions - see examples below, broken out by type.

Possible approach

In addition to softening the tone... Be clearer with respect to what the user can expect with Yes v. No.

The choice you just made is not available with a choice you made previously. Do you want to proceed with what you just chose? (What you chose before will be deselected.)

Also:

• Be specific, rather than say "chosen material,"or "entered width" or "chosen vent hole type" - name the material, width or vent hole type.
  
  • If we must use generic terms, be consistent with use of "chosen" v. "entered" ( our preference is "chosen").
• Tweak the syntax; "UVI additive," not "Additive UVI."
• Be consistent - if we say "UVI Additive" then we should also say  "Postal Approved Material," not just "Postal approved" and"Clarity Material" not just "Clarity."
  
  

Examples

I don't have a list of the triggering events. Would this work for other examples?

Examples

"Please enter an Antistat Percent within the range of "

"Please enter Inches Between Holes within the range of "

"Please enter a Depth within the range of "

"Please enter Inches from Bottom within the range of "

"Please enter Inches from Side within the range of "

"Please enter a Gauge within the range of "

"Please enter an Image Height within the range of "

"Please enter an Image Width within the range of "

"Please enter a Length within the range of "

"Please enter an Metallocene Percent within the range of "

"Please enter Nbr of Holes within the range of "

"Please enter a Packout within the range of " – " or change packaging to Cradlepacked"

"Please enter a Quantity within the range of "

"Please enter an UVI/UVA Percent within the range of"

"Please enter a Packout within the range of " – " or change packaging to Cradlepacked"

"Invalid Zip Code"

• This zip code is not valid.

Examples

"Dash is not allowed in Zip Code - format is 5N or 6AN"

"Spaces are not allowed in Zip Code - format is 5N or 6AN"

Just use one message for both errors.

Examples

We think the above formula and proposed edits could be applied to each of these variations.

I. Cannot be selected for/when

• "Color cannot be selected for Postal Approved"
• "Color cannot be selected for Clarity"
• "Pink cannot be selected for AmineFree Clear/Color"
• "Opacity cannot be selected when Color is Clear"

II. Is not available for/with (as stated above, it would be better if we could replace "the chosen/the entered" with the specific value; if not, consistently use "the chosen...")

• "Additive Anti Block is not available for chosen material"
• "Vent Hole Placement is not available for chosen Vent Hole Type"
• "Additive High Slip is not available for chosen material"
• "Folded Option isn't available with your other selections"
• "Venting is not available for gusseted sheeting"
• "Venting is not available for entered Width"
• "Venting is not available for entered Length"
• "Venting is not available for entered Material"
• "Additive UVI is not available for chosen material"

Must be

• "Color must be Pink for AmineFree Pink"
• "Furniture Bags < 1.15mil must be Full Gauge"
•  "Hole side must be 'Both Sides' for Std Mattress Venting"
• "Opacity must be 'Tint' for Blue VCI"
• "Mil Spec < 4.40mil must be Full Gauge"
• "Opaque < 2.90mil must be Full Gauge"
• "Non Slip < 1.10mil must be Full Gauge"
• "Gauge < 1.00 must be Full Gauge"
• "VCI < 2.00mil must be Full Gauge"
• "Non Scratch < 1.10mil must be Full Gauge"

Miscellaneous

• "For widths < 6.00, a hole side of 'Both Sides' is invalid"
• "For widths > 16.00, a hole side of 'Center' is invalid"
• "White Ink cannot be used on a White item"
• "Only Black or White Ink available for AmineFree Pink items"
• "Only White Ink can be used with Item Color"
• "Only Black or White Ink can be used with Item Color"
• "Opaque can only be selected when Color is Black"
• "Cradlepacking is not allowed for Width"
• "Reading Orientation is not allowed unless Print Direction is Horizontal"
  The "unless" construction is a little tricky. To be consistent, should it be "Reading orientation is not allowed with vertical orientation" ?
  

• "Hole Side is not required for Micro-Perforation"