Forms Intelligent Guided Test (IGT)
The forms intelligent guided test (IGT) facilitates the testing of a single form and all of its fields, a single group of fields, or even a single field. Make sure to test all forms including any that might be present in modal windows or dialogs launched from your page.
What the Forms IGT tests for:
- form field labels
- grouping of form fields
- instructions
- validation and error messages
- reversible submission
The forms IGT only covers native form controls; custom widgets will not be included.
How it works
Step 1: Choose Form
All forms found on the page (or selected part of page) under test will be displayed. You will also be given a choice to select a different form in case the IGT did not detect the form you'd like to test.
To highlight a found form, select the appropriate radio button.
Once you have made your selection, choose NEXT to continue.
Step 2: Fields
Optimizing your test
All the native form controls found within the selected form will be detected. Choose NEXT to continue.
You will then be presented with a series of questions for each form control.
Choosing to test a field
Question: Do you want to test the highlighted form field?
You are able to control which specific fields you'd like to test. You can easily skip the testing of specific fields by selecting No. However, if you select Yes, you will be asked a series of simple questions which help the tool raise accessibility issues.
Groups
Question: Is this field part of a group of related fields?
If the highlighted field is in fact part of a group, you will be asked to name it (to help identify the group in any group-related issues raised by the IGT), as well as a series of questions relating to the group, each field's label, and the group label.
If the IGT detects fields that appear to be part of a group, it will ask "We think we've found a group of fields. Should the highlighted group of fields actually be a group?" For example, a form's Theme section will commonly have a grouping of radio buttons such as Light, Dark, and Device. None of these radio buttons may make sense on their own unless grouped properly with a label of Theme.
Labels
After answering questions about any potential groups, you will be guided through the testing of the given field's label. Each simple question helps the IGT raise any potential labelling issues.
Validation / Errors
After the label questions, you will be guided through testing the field's validation. This set of questions determines:
- if required fields are properly conveyed as required
- if error messages caused by submitting the form with the field empty are properly associated with the field
- if error messages caused by submitting the form with invalid data are properly associated with the field
- if the actual error messages are informative enough for users to fix the errors
Step 3: Form Info
Now that you have tested each form field, the IGT will walk you through questions that relate to the overall form. For certain types of forms with serious consequences for errors, it is critical that a user should be able to review all the data entered and have the ability to edit and correct any erroneous information. You can specify that the form has serious consequences for error by choosing an option in this step. The choices are:
- A financial transaction will be completed.
- A legal commitment will be made.
- A student test or exam will be submitted.