Style guide for including more help/info to a FOLIO app

Style guide for including more help/info to a FOLIO app

Overview

FOLIO has several UX patterns that can be used to provide a FOLIO user help or additional information about a field, function, or an app. The following outlines the patterns and when to use them. It is encouraged that POs use these patterns to assist users understanding of FOLIO.

Tooltip component

  • Pattern: https://dev.folio.org/stripes-components/?path=/story/components-tooltip--basic-usage

  • When to use

    • Apply this component to a button, link, or an input field, especially when the field is disabled and can become enabled if an action is taken elsewhere on the page.

    • The tooltip text should be brief.

  • Example:

    image-20251211-150610.png

Infotip popover

  • Pattern: https://dev.folio.org/stripes-components/?path=/story/components-infopopover--basic-usage

  • When to use it:

    • Apply this component to an accordion, a page, a field label, or button (when tip is not brief)

    • If a feature/function is rather complex then please use this component to help a FOLIO user out.

    • Use this component when the tip is lengthy and/or links to help documentation.

    • The Learn more button should link to documentation that is on docs.folio.org

      • The link should go directly to the most relevant help documentation.

      • Clicking Learn more link should open documentation in a new tab/window.

  • Example:

image-20251211-151533.png

Placeholder

Pattern: https://dev.folio.org/stripes-components/?path=/story/components-multiselect--placeholder&globals=backgrounds.grid:!false

When to use it:

  • Apply this pattern to date/time picker, select, text box, text area inputs to give user context on what to do/expect when using the input.

Examples:

image-20251211-152014.png
image-20251211-152044.png

App context menu

When to use it:

Apply this component to show a.) application documentation created by the product owner (ex. keyboard shortcuts, search tips), application relevant release notes documentation, and application relevant external URLs.

Example(s):

image-20251211-152611.png
image-20251211-152512.png

Help text on page

When to use it: Depending on data density, adding help text on a page is helpful to communicate functionality. A good area to place this information is Settings. This help text should not be a book but a couple of sentences.

Example(s): Settings > Mosaic integration

image-20251211-172913.png