What should be avoided when designing forms for an electronic document management system (EDMS)?

When designing forms for an electronic document management system (EDMS), the use of shading on bars or lines that contain text should be avoided. This is because shading can impair the readability of the text. When lines or bars are shaded, it may create visual distractions or reduce the contrast between the text and the background, making it more challenging for both users and optical character recognition (OCR) systems to accurately read the information. Ensuring clarity and simplicity in form design is essential for effective data entry and retrieval. This aligns with best practices in information governance, which emphasize the importance of maintaining high data integrity and accessibility.

In contrast, elements like color borders or mnemonic descriptors can serve specific purposes in enhancing usability and aiding recognition, while a quarter-inch border without a barcode is typically within acceptable design practices unless specific layout requirements dictate otherwise. These aspects can contribute positively to the overall functionality and user experience of the forms within an EDMS.