usability issue: some Graphics Preferences change without user input

Author	Message
jpmcgee Send message Joined: 22 Mar 06 Posts: 10 Credit: 2,938,651 RAC: 0	Message 33123 - Posted: 28 Mar 2008, 16:32:26 UTC Versions: BOINC Mgr 5.10.45, CPN hadcm3i 5.44, Windows XP, SP2, CPN web page as of 27 March 2008 Issue: When editing Graphics preferences on the web page, some values change back to defaults instead of remembering the user\'s previous selection. Expected behavior: Go to the Graphics preferences on the web page. Note the values of all the fields. Click Edit. Compare the values shown with those noted above. There should be no differences. Why I expected this: Usability principles. Reference just about anything written by Jakob Nielsen. In general, if a user sets something, don\'t change it out from under them. Actual behavior: Several fields had different values. Fields included Scene and Rotation. Headlight, Political Boundaries are not affected. Why this is important: The more frustrations a volunteer has, the less likely they are to continue to donate their computer time to this project. ID: 33123 · Reply Quote

mo.v Volunteer moderator Send message Joined: 29 Sep 04 Posts: 2363 Credit: 14,611,758 RAC: 0	Message 33126 - Posted: 28 Mar 2008, 20:56:19 UTC Last modified: 28 Mar 2008, 21:00:38 UTC Hi jpmcgee After you\'d clicked the Edit button on your account CPDN preferences page, did you open boinc manager, highlight the CPDN project and click the Update button? Changed preferences only take effect after doing this because the project server has to be told about the changes. Edit: I\'ve now seen your post in the other thread of this section and it looks as if you did update the CPDN project. Cpdn news ID: 33126 · Reply Quote

jpmcgee Send message Joined: 22 Mar 06 Posts: 10 Credit: 2,938,651 RAC: 0	Message 33127 - Posted: 28 Mar 2008, 21:00:52 UTC The issue I described is strictly on the web page, not with how the web page interacts with the client program. I apologize for not making that point more clearly. Pat ID: 33127 · Reply Quote

mo.v Volunteer moderator Send message Joined: 29 Sep 04 Posts: 2363 Credit: 14,611,758 RAC: 0	Message 33136 - Posted: 29 Mar 2008, 21:01:37 UTC Last modified: 29 Mar 2008, 21:03:25 UTC I now see what you mean (sorry I misunderstood you before though you had explained very carefully). The problem seems to be that if you try to change your graphics preferences (a second time?), as soon as you open the editing window certain values revert to the default. If you\'d previously changed the default 3D to 2D for example, you find that it reverts to 2D and you may have to change it again. This happens even if you\'ve selected NO for the default values. This is so bizarre that I think we\'ll have to wait for some other people to test it and see what they think. Cpdn news ID: 33136 · Reply Quote