Labels

All items can have a label, which is a string associated with the item. Screenshot shows an item with a label.

Screenshot Item Label on a Form

Java graphics 08fig01.gif


app Developer Responsibilities

MIDP Implementor Responsibilities
  • Any label text
  • Text-display policy (wrapped or clipped)
  • Placement in relation to item content
  • Item placement if label is not present
  • Font and color (if different from item font)
  • Visibility as the user scrolls through a form
  • Whether to use as the title of the editing screen for items edited off the form
  • Maximum size of a label
For information on laying out labels on a form, see "Label Sizes" on page 73. For information on labels and how to use them when a user edits an item off the form, see "System-Generated Screens" on page 36.

app Developers

Strongly Recommend: Java graphics bulb1_icon.gif Provide labels that act as a prompt or provide instructions to the user for all interactive items.

Recommend: Java graphics bulb2_icon.gif Keep your labels short and to the point to conserve space on small displays. Limit their length to two lines on a small screen (test the app on a device with a small screen, such as one with dimensions of 96-by-54 pixels). Use wording that makes sense, even if it is shortened, to help keep your application usable even if its labels must be clipped.

Consider: You can change an item label as needed. Try to do it only when the form is not visible or in response to a user action. Arbitrary changes to visible screens are confusing to users.


   
Comments