MIL-STD-334-SUP Displayed Messages for Automatic Test Equipment No S/S DocumentThis standard sets uniform requirements for written or graphical information delivered to users of automatic test equipment ATE by computer-controlled output devices. Such devices include, but are not limited to, cathode-ray tubes, plasma displays, liquid crystal displays, printers, and plotters. This information, herein called displayed messages, may be directive and/or informative in nature. Displayed messages are included within the definition of official equipment publications.

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MIL-STD-334B(TM)

5.1.2  Abbreviations and acronyms.  Information shall be displayed in plain concise text wherever possible.  Abbreviations and acronyms not peculiar to a specific system shall be from appendix A of this document or from MIL-STD-12.

5.1.3  Display codes.  Approved abbreviations, acronyms, or display codes shall be used where space does not permit plain text.

5.1.4  Feedback.  Feedback shall be provided to the operator to indicate the status of test program processing and provide for user confidence.  Feedback shall conform to the following:

a.        Periodic feedback shall be provided to the operator to indicate normal system operation when test program processing requires the operator to stand by for more than 15 seconds without making a response.

b.       The operator shall be informed at least once before the test or tests are initiated when a testing event or a series of testing events technically prohibits interruption to inform the operator.

c.        Positive indication shall be presented to the operator about the outcome of the process and the requirements for subsequent operator actions when a process or sequence is completed or aborted by the system or TPS.

d.       Feedback shall be provided to indicate the reason for rejection and the required corrective action if the system rejects an operator input.  Feedback shall be self-explanatory or coded in a manner clearly understood by the target audience.

5.2     Format design.

5.2.1  Display formats.  Display formats shall be designed to optimize information coding, grouping, and appropriate information density.  Where applicable, the criteria of MIL-STD-1472 shall apply.

5.2.2  Grouping.  Displayed data necessary to support an operator activity or sequence of activities shall be grouped together.

5.2.3  Tabular data display.  Tabular data shall be captioned.

5.2.3.1  Tabular data.  Tabular data shall be presented in a row- column display.

5.2.3.2  Recurring data.  Location of recurring data shall be similar among all tabular data displayed.

5.2.3.3  Tables.  Tables shall be vertically aligned under their column headings and horizontally aligned with their row headings.

5.2.3.4  Values.  All values contained within a table shall be expressed to the same number of decimal places.

5.2.3.5  Alphabetic data.  Columns of alphabetic data shall be left-justified.

5.2.3.6  Numeric data.  Columns of numeric data, without decimals, shall be displayed right-justified;

numeric data with decimals shall be justified with respect to the decimal point.

5.2.4  Information density.  At least one line space shall be left blank above and below critical information, and at least two character spaces shall be left blank on each side.

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