Windows standard for mnemonics

Question

Are there any mnemonic standards for Windows?

For example, the menu bar, actions in the menu bar (for example, Alt + f for the file menu, but ctrl + s for saving in the file menu) and controls.

I ask, because we have a search screen with many controls, and we are trying to solve shortcuts to get to fields and such as described above.

Is there anything official at Microsoft or in some kind of RFC document that we could read and present at the meeting to figure out how to handle this properly.

The only thing I have found so far is this - which helps some, but not go into details.

Besides, maybe there is a book that I can get to help me develop such things?

How does the community feel double mnemonics? (e.g. ctrl a, w)

Thanks!

Answer 1

You want to see the User Interaction Guide .

In particular, the Access Keys section.

Answer 2

Regarding double mnemonics:

I would consider them only if your users would have a high level of knowledge. If they use the day of your product per day and become very experienced, then double mnemonics can pay. But for many users, it is probably difficult to detect, remember, and use. (I use Visual Studio most of the day, and I only remember and use very few mnemonics available - only the ones I use very often). In this case, they will not be worth the effort required to implement them.

If you think your users might have this level of knowledge, I would still recommend simple usability testing , because this is not an ordinary idiom; although expert level features are difficult to evaluate in hallway style usability tests. Nevertheless, as programmers, we are not known to be able to judge usability, so definitely check and measure in some way with real users before making significant efforts!