Countries in drop down lists
Many websites need to ask users which country they come from, and use a drop-down list of countries to collect the information. If, like me, you come from the "United Kingdom", these forms are often a pain to fill in. The process should be easy, because there is a standard list of countries called ISO 3166. This list contains official names (notified by the country to the UN Secretary General, no less), and is ordered alphabetically.
With the standard list I can hit "U" 4 times to get "United Kingdom". "Uganda , "Ukraine" and "United Arab Emirates" skip right by. This short-cut needs to be learned, but it will work internationally. Those who have not learned the short-cut can find their country in the place they expect it.
The problem: Websites often mess with the country list.
For example:
- By changing the name of my country. I have to find "Great Britain", or even England. Time-consuming and not helpful. Did the site owner think I was going to read the full list to pick the best option?
- By sticking United States at the top. In some software (particularly mobile device browsers) this means I can't just hit "U" to scan through the countries. The non-alphabetical order confuses things.
- By also sticking "United Kingdom" at the top. If the "U" key still works, I often spin right past United Kingdom and have to go round again.
A simple request: If you want an international audience stick to the standard list.
No changes, please. Unless you're the UN Secretary General.
Tagged: Life
Posted at 14:46 BST, 30th June 2008.
Last changed at 15:00 BST, 30th June 2008.
3 Comments
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Finally!
Finally someone writes about it. I couldn't agree more. I'd also add that a plethora of websites NOT servicing the world outside the U.S. (there is a world outside the U.S.?!) could start by NOT using any confusing drop down list of countries (instead of the usual list of states) and, perhaps, also stating clearly that they only cover destinations this to that.
I agree
Spot on, although there's a nerdily interesting point of how you keep up with changes to the list, and how you manage for newly minted countries in your locality, and how you treat them before the UN agrees.
A bigger problem for me is getting some way through the sign-up process before any mention of country ever happens, and they then assume I must be in the USA. Grr. I have a half-baked Hulu.com account on just such a basis.
I do agree, I think they should only mention United Kingdom, I've came across the following list and it's the most updated http://www.toolsjar.com/list_generator.php?list=true&listname=World+Countries