Do you use a Wizard to help a user through a complicated set of steps?

Though all software should be intuitive there are still times when users need extra guidance. Wizards are ideal especially for stepping through more complicated steps or when an application isn't going to be used regularly.

Most importantly when a first time a user tries your program, they should be able to step through the setting up process. A wizard helps to show how your application flows from beginning to end.

To ensure a consistent user experience, make sure to include these visual elements:

1. Page name - It is important for the user to know which page they are currently on
2. Page description - You should provide a short description of the task to be performed on the page
3. Instructions - Not required for every page, this is a short description requesting the user to perform a task, for example, entering some values into a text field
4. Company logo - This helps promote branding, however it should be inconspicuous and should not move visual focus away from the body of your application.

✅ Figure: Good example - Good Example - SSW Link Auditor Wizard's better flow of information

Example: SSW CodeAuditor may only run once a month, during which time the user may forget all the steps involved. You can see an example of all the relevant steps at Code Auditor User Guide.

Technical note: To ensure visual consistency across applications, create a base form then set the properties in that form (application icon, menu structure, button names etc.) Add any logic in for switching pages with the "Next" and "Back" buttons. Then for all projects, add a reference to that one and inherit the customized form.

In the forms in your application, instead of inheriting from System.Windows.Forms.Form (the Default), inherit from your new base form class.

public class MyForm : System.Windows.Form.Form

Figure: Default code in a Windows Form

public class MyForm : Company.Framework.BaseCustomForm

Figure: Change the form so that it inherits from your new base form class The "finish" button denotes the end of the Wizard; by clicking on it, the user closes the Wizard.

For longer processes, the Wizard should implement "Start" and "Skip" features to guide the user through from start to finish.

✅ Figure: Good example - Good Example - SSW Code Auditor Wizard featuring "Start" and "Skip" options

Here's some more information on Microsoft's Wizards: Design Guidelines.