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>>Web standards and Windows standards are sometimes opposed to each other. What we should do is keep in mind where the application is going. If it is a web app, then flashing is fine...if not, then flashing is contrary to the standards. I'm not saying you can't have flashing labels, etc in a Windows application. I'm saying you shouldn't use flashing labels, etc.
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>Craig,
>
>Your answers most typically state 'Its not a xxxxxxx standard' and that's about all.
>I, and I really can't blame others also, read this as a simple statement of fact IMPLYING that you are saying to NOT do it if it is against xxxxxx standard.
>
>Perhaps if you took the time to qualify your curt answers in the first place, discussions as have occurred here would not be needed.
>
>You over-simplify (in my humble opinion). . . for instance, in the above statement you seem to differentiate between a "Web app" and a Windows application" where, in fact, both (on 99% of machines) are the same thing. At least a Web app is a sub-set of a Windows app!
>
>Finally, it's a damned good thing that not everyone just blindly follows any/every standard. IF they all did, there would never be innovation. We never would have got menus or listboxes or ComboBoxes or buttons or etc. etc. etc.
>The Windows "standard" leaves much to be desired, and it is people pushing the envelope which will see to it that it improves over time.
>
>Cheers,
>Jim N


Jim, you are very wrong here. Web standards are NOT a subset of Windows standards. Web applications run pretty much the same on Win 3.1 (standards are different than Win 95 & NT 4.0), Mac, and X-Windows. Windows standards are well documented and readily available. They are guidlines that developers should strive to follow. Microsoft has spent millions in usability tests and in research showing that training costs drop when these standards are followed. IF you need more information on Windows standards, I suggest you get the book "Windows Interface Guidelines for Software Design: An Application Design Guide" from Microsoft Press, ISBN 1556156790. It is available from Amazon for $23.96.

Note that the book is called Guidelines not rules, and I'm not saying to blindly follow. I don't follow everything in there..I doubt anyone does (even Microsoft violates them at times).