Robert-

What exactly is giving you heart burn?

>My Boss and I are meeting tomorrow to discuss user interface (forms). From previous conversations with her I know part of what she wants:

> 1) All labels and headings will be BOLD;

Okay.

> 2) All controls will be FLAT;

Okay.

> 3) no toolbars -- buttons on the form;

Okay. I'll assume you mean navigation and commands like Edit, Save, Pring, etc? In my experience users find it easier to have the buttons on the form and not in the tool bar.

> 4) edit child records in a grid or use an array (with a button to display the next "page" of records); and

Okay. Grids are a PIA, but it's doable.

> 5) record locking.

As opposed to table locking? You'll need to explain to her why table locking is at least necessary for grid editing, but is doable for the parent editing, although table locking is still prefered there, too. You can easily write a paragraph outlining why this is recommended. There was just a recent discussion here about it, even.

More serious is Optimistic vs. Pessimistic buffering. The former is prefered, generally.

> The reason she will want it this that is the way the original DOS program (since converted to FPW then transported to VFP) looked and performed.

Sounds like she's trying to maintain consistency for users who are accustomed to something that works for them. That's not a bad impulse, you konw.

> She will also say the she wants the application to be different looking.

It also sounds like she knows it's dated. It's your job to get her to describe what she means by that, and help her get that.

>So my question: what are the current guidelines for interface control look and feel?

Do you mean guidelines, or fashion? MS publishes the Windows UI guidelines book. Not that they themselves adhere to it 100% in all products. But it sounds like it might be a good place to start for the two of you. As for fashion...well, phooey.

> MSDN review indicates she is exact opposite of the Windows development guidelines.

Cite, please. I'd be interested.

> Is she out of sync?

Doesn't sound like it at all. So far her ideas and reasons are a lot clearer than yours for opposing her. *g*.

>PS: When I started this project she said she wanted a "true visual product".

And, did you ask her what that means to her?

>Thanks in advance for any information and comments

Sorry, unless you can give me a better idea of what _your_ concerns are, I'm thinking your client sounds pretty rational. Maybe not the most attractive or goundbreaking application, but then...software is about the users, it's not about us, is it? *beg*