Defaulting Dependencies

Defaulting input values is supposed to simplify the workflow for a user. Yet sometimes an application has a problem accepting its own suggestion. We wrote about that. Another piece that is always worth exploring is input dependencies.

See, if an application

• has a functionality that responds on your selection by updating dependent controls (enable/disable, reload list items, change default value);


• sets defaults in accordance to each other;


• sets defaults in accordance to date, time, and regional settings;


• has a functionality that remembers user input and uses it as defaults, either on client or server side;


• has a "storage" for customizable defaults on the client side (registry, files, etc.);

...end explore if it can be messed up.