In percentage, should we expect the user to enter 4 for 4%?

[dee-u]

If we format a value for percent "{0:#%}" then it will become 400%, and this also applies to all the 3rd party controls I've tried. I've used custom format as a workaround for this but perhaps you guys could enlighten me on this one. If a user inputted 4 for example then did the user intended 4% or 400%? If it were me that I would expect the 4 to be 4% rather than 400%.

Thanks!

[cicatrix]

I'd used NumericUpDown control for this because even if you put a BIG RED LABEL saying which format to use there would be no less than 50% of users who will input the data wrongly. Don't leave users any chance. Expecting 4 instead of 0.04 is natural. Your app should simply divide the input by 100.

[NickThissen]

Just put a label saying "%" next to the input (textbox?). Then there is no ambiguity for the user. If he types 0.04, then it will say 0.04% and the user should not expect any different. If he meant 4%, he should have typed 4. It's the same for anything else, such as currency. If you have to enter the cost of some item (let's say 56 cents) in a textbox that says:

[         ] $

then surely you wouldn't type 56? You would type 0.56, because 56 cents is 0.56$.

[Siddharth Rout]

On more suggestion is to show the percentage sign as the user types in the textbox so the moment the user types 4 it shows as 4% in the textbox?

[techgnome]

Depends on the target audience (an accountant might be comfortable in 0.04 ... but a front office person might expect 4)
but I agree, give the user some visual cue up front to let them know what the expectation is.

-tg

[stanav]

On more suggestion is to show the percentage sign as the user types in the textbox so the moment the user types 4 it shows as 4% in the textbox?

You wouldn't want to do this... Just use a textbox (or a numericupdown) and a label with the "%" as its text.

[cicatrix]

And a bit of advice. If you don't know which option to implement implement them both and have an options screen where a user can set the mode he/she likes more. Something like this:

[ ] Check this if you want your percent style 0,04 or uncheck it to enter 4 instead.

[stanav]

Why would someone prefer to type "0.04" (4 keystrokes) over "4" (1 keystroke) is beyond me

[yo mismo]

Depends.

If you dont want to train the app user use the "common sense" 4 stands for 4%.

[Siddharth Rout]

You wouldn't want to do this... Just use a textbox (or a numericupdown) and a label with the "%" as its text.

Hi Stanav.

Any specific reason on why not this option?

[cicatrix]

Hi Stanav.

Any specific reason on why not this option?

Don't. Just try to implement this. Handle every possible option for user to type in, paste, type inside the existing string, etc, handle appearing double percent signs, etc. Just try it in order not to do that again.

And generally it's a good practice to leave the user input unchanged.

[NickThissen]

Hi Stanav.

Any specific reason on why not this option?

I don't see how it's any different to just showing the % sign behind the textbox. Showing it in the textbox is only going to be confusing to the user. Can he select it? Can he delete it? Should he delete it? Should he type it himself if he accidently deletes it? Not to mention it will be more work for the programmer. You should have all bases covered so that the % sign shows up no matter what happens, and then you need to parse the input back to remove the % sign again... So why not just leave it out in the first place?