Exploiting form semantics and validation checks to improve e-form layout

On their route to the electronic era, organisations, release on the web more and more complex form-based services, which require users to enter numerous data items interrelated by business rules. In such a context, it is crucial to provide optimal form layouts, in order to present the service users with interfaces that facilitate their work. This paper presents an integrated environment, which exploits data item interrelations manifested by the business rules (or validation checks) to optimise the layout of the web forms comprising a complex service. The approach is validated through its application on a tax return form e-service.