[2005] Soliciting Design Ideas

[Hack]

I'm not looking for any code here, I'm looking for some ideas on designing my startup form.

The application that I'm rewriting in VB.NET has twelve different components, or modules of functions (depending on your choice of terms .)

The startup form needs to act as a menu, which lists all twelve. Once a selection has been made, the screen dealing with that selection is displayed, and the user will do/enter/process/etc whatever needs to be done/entered/processed/etc'ered)

The VB6 equivlant is basically nothing more than some command buttons which function as a menu. There is also a drop down menu which performs the same task as the buttons.

Since I'm redoing this, I think I would like something a bit snazzier. However, I'm a database programmer, not a graphics designer, so I really don't have any ideas.

When you guys develop an app and need a menu/navigation form as your startup, how do you design it? I know, functionally speaking, what it needs to do, I'm just looking for some tips/hints/examples on how to make it look cool doing it.

Screen shots would be cool.

Thanks.

[RobDog888]

Perhaps a Listview in LargeIcon view and each module/section to open represented as an icon to double click and open. Then you can let the user save view states of the listview for customization. Associate cool relevant business icons for each module.

Or you could use a TreeView also.

[Hack]

Perhaps a Listview in LargeIcon view and each module/section to open represented as an icon to double click and open. Then you can let the user save view states of the listview for customization. Associate cool relevant business icons for each module.

This is not a bad idea actually. It could accomplish two things.

Make the menu kinda cool and it would be the first time I've EVER used a listview in anything but lvwReport (VB6) or Details (VB.NET) view.

I would have to go get some cool icons though. The only icons I have stored are icons that I use for my toolbars, and those are pretty standard stuff that you see in just about every toolbar in the universe.

Any other ideas?

[RobDog888]

Here are two clips from one major ERP software system I support for a client.

You could duplicate the one with either buttons or the ListView in Large Icon view.

[Hack]

I really like the top one.

Did you make those icons or find them somewhere?

[RobDog888]

Its a pre-canned software package but I support it by customizing some features or reports etc in it. The manufacturer wrote what you see. I just wanted to give a visual as I think its easier to envision the possibilities.

[Hack]

So, the main screen on this app has both the treeview and the button menu?

Thats not a bad idea either.

[RobDog888]

Yes, it has both. Its a browser based app but the square "buttons" navigate to other sections of the app.