To ensure the MaxLength module is as intuitive as possible, we're running usability tests.

We conducted our first round of usability tests in November 2021. We've made several improvements since then and would like to see what difference those changes have made to the user experience.

Usability Test Results

Maxlength Usability Test Results (2021)

Here are the scenarios we are testing. All are welcome to run a usability test that best matches your role.

Task Scenarios

Learner

  • Find, install and enable the MaxLength module based on the need to add soft or hard character limits on a field.
  • Set a soft limit of 100 characters on a body field.
  • Set a hard limit of 100 characters on a body field.
  • Set a soft limit of 50 characters on a plain text field.
  • Set a hard limit of 50 characters on a plain text field.

Skilled

  • Evaluate whether the MaxLength module is the right fit for a Drupal website in need of character limits.
  • Learn MaxLength's current features, known issues and roadmap.
  • Determine whether a bug report has been made about new lines being miscounted. If so, comment that it's a high priority for me. If not, file the bug report.

Expert

  • Determine what volunteering would most benefit the MaxLength project.
  • Test and, if necessary, re-roll a patch awaiting review.
  • Stay connected with the latest news and updates about MaxLength.

How to Participate in a Usability Test for the MaxLength Project

We invite people to either schedule a usability test session with Clayton Dewey or record themselves completing any task scenarios relevant to them and to share their results with us. Here is how.

  1. Choose one or more of the above task scenarios from the persona that most closely matches you. You can include any of the tasks for the persona earlier in the learning process than you. For example, if you identify as Skilled you can complete Learner tasks as well.
  2. Set up a screen recording tool such as Quicktime, Loom, Zoom, etc.
  3. Record yourself with an introduction of yourself and the persona you most identify, complete your chosen task scenarios, sharing your thinking out loud as much as possible.
  4. Post your recording, along with any additional notes either to this issue queue (if you're comfortable sharing the results publicly) or emailing them to cedewey.
  5. Note whether you would like your test results to be anonymous or if you would like to receive drupal.org credit.
  6. If you have any questions as you complete the test, reach out to cedewey via drupal.org or in the Drupal Slack.

The MaxLength maintainers will then synthesize the findings, create follow up issues and update the roadmap accordingly.

CommentFileSizeAuthor
#12 maxlength.txt15.69 KBrkoller
Support from Acquia helps fund testing for Drupal Acquia logo

Comments

cedewey created an issue. See original summary.

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Issue tags: +GiftofOpenSource

cedewey credited erinfogel.

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FileSize
15.69 KB

Ran through the tasks in the learner track and wrote down my observations. Additionally I've added a few suggestions, outlined a few problems and added one feature idea.

p.s. one addition to the uploaded text file I've found after I've already posted my comment. a good example for aria-live and the implementation of a character counter for screen readers could be found on the USWDS website: https://designsystem.digital.gov/components/character-count/

benjifisher’s picture

We discussed this issue at #3252601: Drupal Usability Meeting 2021-12-10. That issue has a link to a recording of the meeting.

hipp2bsquare’s picture

Hi Clayton, ran through all three levels (though I missed the patching one).
- Screen recording
A few notes and observations:

Learner:

  • Setting hard vs. soft limit on the body field was not intuitive (force truncation, even for me as a dev who knows what that means, was not the obvious choice.)
  • Encountered some exciting/confusing JS behaviors after changing the body field from soft limit to hard.
  • Could not ascertain how to change from hard to soft on plain text field; also noting that the default behavior is inverted between this and the body field.

Skilled:

  • I like the demo gif on the module page.
  • The note about ckeditor wordcount is confusing because it does not state why/how this module's count is more accurate.
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A big thank you to everyone who tested out the module. I've synthesized the results in https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/128w2ufsObMhMKNmY0l4MWOfRb2AKFs6H...

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Status: Active » Fixed

Status: Fixed » Closed (fixed)

Automatically closed - issue fixed for 2 weeks with no activity.

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We are re-opening this task to run another round of usability tests, to see how the changes we've made over the past year have affected the module's user experience. Updated info is in the issue summary. We look forward to learning from everyone's experience!

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Status: Closed (fixed) » Active
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Version: 2.0.x-dev » 2.1.x-dev