[Zope3-dev] Links styling

[Steve Alexander]

maxm wrote:
> Godefroid Chapelle wrote:
> 
>  > Basic Page Style
>  > All links underlined
>  > Content box links underlined
> 
> from a usability viewpoint all links should be underlined. And 
> preferably blue ...
> 
> http://www.google.com/search?q=usability%20underline%20links&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 

On the Google page you cite (and, Nielsen is on the Google advisory 
board), there are various links that are not underlined and blue.

The links in the "content" area are all underlined. However, only the 
"primary" links to sites are blue. The rest (Cached, Similar pages, More 
results...) are grey.

The advertisement boxes down the right hand side contain what appears to 
be a blue link, but the whole box is a clickable link.

The "See your message here..." solicitation for advertising is 
underlined and in grey.

The "Web, Images, Groups..." tabs along the top are blue (except for the 
highlighted one), and are not underlined.

The Google logo is a link. It is mostly not blue and is not underlined.

The "Advanced search, etc..." links along the top of the page are blue 
and underlined.

The links at the very bottom of the page (you'll have to scroll) are 
underlined and white on blue.

The links that allow you to jump to different results pages (including 
the Goooooooogle) at the bottom of the page are black (or perhaps dark 
grey) and underlined.

However, the graphics of the "Gooooooogle" also act as links.



So, on one of the most usable sites on the Interweb, which Nielsen 
himself no doubt advised on usability, we see the following:

1: The most important links for getting your job done are blue and 
underlined.

2: Links of secondary importance are not blue, but are underlined.

3: Some important areas of the screen that are clickable as links are 
neither blue nor underlined.

4: All areas of the screen that are clickable contain something blue or 
something underlined.


--
Steve Alexander