Guideline 2.5 Level 2, SC 1,2, 3a, 3b, 3c
This technique applies to interactive environments where there user has made an error and it is practical and possible to automatically correct the error.
When this task is completed the errors such as wrongly formatted dates will be corrected automatically.
Where possible and practical auto correct errors, such as dates.
This would link to a JavaScript technique.
Editor's note: this technique could conflict with Guideline 2.5, Level 2, SC 1 that says errors are identified to the user. This technique does not allow the user to identify and review errors. Another possible problem is the program could assume the user wanted to enter a date format such as MM/DD/YYYY when they actually thought it was DD/MM/YYYY. In this case if the user entered 7/12/2005 the auto-correct would make it December 7, 2005 when the date they entered was July 12, 2005. I made this type of error in a US accounting program, and when I submitted what I thought was a Canadian format it pushed the accounting program ahead 5 months and because it was a secure environment (Simply Accounting), I could not turn the date back. This is another reason why we may want to require drop down menus for dates.