When navigating screens and dialog boxes using the keyboard, does the focus follow a logical tabbing order?
The screen of a typical computer program usually provides several user options. Frequently, one of the options is highlighted and can be accessed by hitting the “enter” key. The item which is selected and which can be invoked by hitting the enter key is the point of “focus.” This “focus” usually changes depending on the screen that is currently before the user. For instance, if the user tries to save her work in a file that already exists, the program may generate a “dialog box” that asks whether the user wants to overwrite the existing file with a new one. The dialog box may include two buttons (“yes” and “no”) and the “no” button may have a bold dark line around its perimeter. In that case, the “no” button is the “focus” and selecting “enter” will indicate that the user does not wish to overwrite her other file. However, the user can change the focus by using the “tab” key or other key combination. For instance, if the user hits the tab key, the bold dark line may disappear from the
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