Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Screen-Based Controls n Primarily ready-made objects –Standard look and feel across applications –Available in APIs Visual BasicVisual Basic Visual C++Visual C++ n Predefined behaviors –Customizable properties
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Predefined Controls n Command buttons n Text entry/read only n Selection controls n Combination entry/selection n Custom n Presentation
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Design Issues n Labels and graphics n Layout and organization n How activated Remember Galitz principles! Balance, symmetry...
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Buttons n Square or rectangle with a label n Causes an action to be accomplished immediately –Start an action –Change properties –Display pop-up menu n For frequently-used actions
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Button Styles n Command button –usually in a window n Bar button –part of toolbar n Symbol button –platform-specific OK
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Command Buttons n Initiate an action –An alternate to menu choice or command line entry n Always visible Convenient access to commandsConvenient access to commands Standard screen location for similar commandsStandard screen location for similar commands One click activationOne click activation Takes screen spaceTakes screen space n Text or icon as label Cancel
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Labeling Buttons n Use standard names when appropriate n Use consistent font style n Clearly tie the text to the control n Only use icons on commonly executed tasks –Make sure that the design maps to the action –Users have trouble identifying what icons are used for –Supplement icons with text descriptions Close
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Button Graphics n Maintain consistent heights, widths and spacing of buttons n Use common shapes (rectangles) n Avoid fancy graphic techniques, e.g., 3-D buttons
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Button Organization and Layout n Provide adequate spacing n Limit the number of controls on one screen n Keep related controls together –Use visual enclosure of groups where appropriate
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Button Ordering n Affirmative action to left or above n Default goes first n OK and Cancel next to each other n Help last (if available) OKCancelHelpApply
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Button Intent Indicators n Action performed immediately n Cascading dialog follows n Menu follows n Expanding dialog follows n Contingent relationship to another control Apply<- Select allOptions >>Menu >Open...
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Button Activation n Provide keyboard equivalents –Make equivalents consistent, e.g., –Make equivalents consistent, e.g., n Allow user to or advance from button to button on display n Provide feedback for actions n Gray out unavailable choices Open...
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Button bar/Tool bar n Collection of commands, actions, or functions n Grouped as a panel for quick access n Buttons generally same size (square) n Buttons usually show an icon
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Button Bar Purposes n Provide easy access to frequently used commands or options n Invoke sub-applications
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Button Bar Organization/Layout n Place most common choices at left/top n Keep related buttons grouped together n Separate potentially destructive choices n Permit user reconfiguration
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Button Bar Location n Locate the main bar horizontally just below menu bar n Position subsidiary bars along the sides of the window
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Text Entry/Read-Only Controls n Contains text –Entered or modified via keyboard –May be display-only (no user input) n Usually a rectangle n Usually has a descriptive caption
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Simple Text Boxes n Basic data entry and display –Data entry form fields n Variations –Editable or read-only –Single line or multiple lines –Fixed size or resizable –Visual or non-visual box –Scrollable or non-scrollable Customer Name: John Q. Public
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved We have discussed text boxes in some detail already!
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Single-Line Text Boxes n Short textual entries –File name –Directory path –Data on a form –Command
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Multiple-Line Text Boxes n Longer passages of text –Messages –Text file content –Free-form notes n May have scroll bars
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Text Box Captions n Identify the kind of information for the text box n Uses mixed-case font, normal intensity n Place to left or above the text box n Follow with a colon Customer Name: John Q. Public Related Customers: Mary R. Public Sam D. Public Nellie B. Swift
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Text Fields n Break up long text boxes using separate fields or delimiters Social Security Number: - - Telephone: ( ) - Social Security Number: Telephone:
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Selection Controls n Presents all choices on the screen –Radio buttons –Check boxes –Palettes n Single or multiple selection allowed
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Plan Choice: Limited Basic Superior Premium Radio Buttons n Use for mutually exclusive choices n Attributes, values, properties –Discrete –Few, fixed options –Hard to remember –Understood in context n Where adequate screen space is available
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Choice Descriptions n Clear and meaningful n Fully spelled-out n One text line each n Gray out if unavailable n Include None if appropriate
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Check Boxes n Independently selectable options –Set each option on or off –States are clearly opposite n Attributes, values, properties –Similar to radio buttons n Can be used to affect other controls
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Check Boxes n Related choices –Each can be selected or not selected –Similar to menus with toggled choices Standard Formatting Animation Drawing Pictures Toolbars > Standard Formatting Animation Drawing Pictures X X X X X Toolbars :
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Palettes n Series of graphical alternatives n Choices are self-describing –Colors –Patterns –Images n Selections are mutually exclusive
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved Sample Palettes
Copyright 1999 all rights reserved List Boxes n Text box with scroll bars –Limits screen space required –Allows for list of any length n Used for selecting items from a list n Drop-down list boxes –Provide permanent display of current choice n Combo boxes –Text box plus a drop down list