The Windows Interface Guidelines for Software Design
An Application Design Guide
Microsoft Press, 1995
576 pages
ISBN: 1-5561-5679-0

This official set of guidelines for creating Windows-compliant user interfaces was published in 1995, and explains in depth then just released Windows 95. Profusely illustrated and nicely printed on a good quality paper, it seems to cover all the necessary bases on its 550+ pages. It might not be the best lecture ever – the text is rather dry and gets boring after a while – but for a reference book that it is, it’s hard to point out any serious problems. Even when Windows 95-like interface will be long but obsolete, the book might be a joy to riffle through. International word lists, presenting Windows terms translated to 25 languages, are a nice addition.

Similar books:

	Microsoft Windows User Experience

The following paragraphs are quoted verbatim from the back cover:

Here are the Microsoft® guidelines for creating well-designed, visually and functionally consistent user interfaces for applications that run on the Microsoft Windows operating system. The Windows Interface Guidelines for Software Design is an essential handbook for all programmers and designers working with the latest release of Windows, regardless of experience level or development tools used.

This book covers the basic principles of user interface design and design methodologies and specifies how data-centered concepts such as objects and properties can be applied to interface design. It includes detailed information on mouse, keyboard, and pen interaction and on how to use the common interface elements supplied by the system. This book also includes information about special considerations such as network computing, international users, and users with disabilities.

Topics include:

	General input techniques – navigation, selection, viewing, editing, and creation, including both command and direct manipulation methods such as drag and drop.
	Windows – primary and secondary types and their components, including property sheets, dialog boxes, message boxes, palette windows, and pop-up windows.
	Menus, controls, and toolbars – types and their components and when to use them.
	Microsoft OLE – how to support design interfaces for OLE embedded and linked objects, visual editing, and other forms of activation.
	User assistance – how to use contextual forms of help, including tooltips and wizards.
	Integration with the system – designing your software so that its interface functions and operates consistently with Windows.
	Visual design – effective use of color, layout, fonts, and graphics.

If you are developing or are considering developing applications for Microsoft Windows, The Windows Interface Guidelines for Software Design is a key resource.