UI Design Suggestions

[humble_learner]

In a desktop based .NET 2.0 Forms application, there is this requirement in a series of UI Form. Each Form is expected to allow the user to enter the 1) Basic settings and 2) Advanced Settings (if required)

One of the ways is to have a Form displaying the controls for Basic Settings and then having a button for the user to invoke the Advanced Settings child form when required.

The above is a very basic narration of a possible solution. But in keeping with modern UI standards and the facilities on offer in Windows Forms (.NET 2.0) would like to understand better solutions to the same problem in UI design that you might have experienced.

Any pointers to applications designed to solve the same sort of problems would be helpful too.

[Zaccheus]

On the desktop, create a shortcut anything, then rightclick->properties will show you the kind of 'Advanced' button which I think you have in mind.

[TechGnome]

You could make it a button... a check box... or a menu item.
The VLC Media Player uses Radio Buttons for their "Simple" "Advanced" option... VS uses a check box "Show Advanced Options" in the options area....

Any of those would be adequate I'd think.

-tg

[Zaccheus]

You could also have a tab-control with one page for basic and one for advanced options - that way the user could very quicky switch back and forth while not cluttering the current area.

[humble_learner]

Thanks for your suggestions. They do provide another perspective.

What about a case where a single form could have sub sections like sectionX, sectionY, sectionZ.
Each of the sections (each section could be a grouping) could contain controls for simple settings and the user should have the facility to set advance settings for each of the sections when necessary.

Are there any solutions other than adding a Advance Settings button for each of the sections in the form ? The Advance Settings are unique to each section and hence cannot be lumped in one new form.

[Zaccheus]

In C# Express 2005, under Tools->Options => Projects & Solutions->General there is a "Show Advanced Build Configuration" setting.