Window Components

Window Operations

Secondary Windows

Controls
    Buttons
    Check Boxes
    List Boxes
    Text Fields
    Text Boxes
    Combo Boxes
    Other Controls...

Menus

Toolbars & Status Bars

Property Sheets

Dialog Boxes

Message Boxes

Palette Windows

Popup Windows

Command Buttons:


A command button, also referred to as a push button, is a control, commonly rectangular in shape, that includes a label (text, graphic, or sometimes both).

When the user chooses a command button with mouse button 1 (for pens, tapping), the command associated with the button is carried out. When the user presses the mouse button, the input focus moves to the button, and the button state changes to its pressed appearance. If the user moves the pointer off the command button while the mouse button remains pressed, the button returns to its original state. Moving the pointer back over the button while pressing the mouse button returns the button to its pressed state.

When the user releases the mouse button with the pointer on the command button, the command associated with the control starts. If the pointer is not on the control when the user releases the mouse button, no action occurs.

You can define access keys and shortcut keys for command buttons. In addition, you can use the TAB key and arrow keys to support user navigation to or between command buttons. The SPACEBAR activates a command button if the user moves the input focus to the button.

The effect of choosing a button is immediate with respect to its context. For example, in toolbars, clicking a button carries out the associated action. In a secondary window, such as a dialog box, activating a button may initiate a transaction within the window, or apply a transaction and close the window.

The command button's label represents the action the button starts. When using a text label, the text should follow the same capitalization conventions defined for menus. If the control is disabled, display the label of the button as unavailable.

Include an ellipsis (...) as a visual cue for buttons associated with commands that require additional information. Like menu items, the use of an ellipsis indicates that further information is needed, not simply that a window will appear. Some buttons, when clicked, can display a message box, but this does not imply that the command button's label should include an ellipsis.

You can use command buttons to enlarge a secondary window and display additional options, also known as an unfold button. An unfold button is not really a different type of control, but the use of a command button for this specific function. When using a command button for this purpose, include a pair of "greater than" (>>) characters as part of the button's label.

In some cases, a command button can represent an object and its default action. For example, the task bar buttons represent an object's primary window and the Restore command. When the user clicks on the button with mouse button 1, the default command of the object is carried out. Clicking on a button with mouse button 2 displays a pop-up menu for the object the button represents.

You can also use command buttons to reflect a mode or property value similar to the use of option buttons or check boxes. While the typical interaction for a command button is to return to its normal "up" state, if you use it to represent a state, display the button in the option-set appearance.

You can also use command buttons to set tool modes - for example, in drawing or forms design programs for drawing out specific shapes or controls. In this case, design the button labels to reflect the tool's use. When the user chooses the tool (that is, clicks the button), display the button using the option-set appearance and change the pointer to indicate the change of the mode of interaction.

You can also use a command button to display a pop-up menu. This convention is known as a menu button. While this is not a specific control provided by the system, you can create this interface using the standard components.

A menu button looks just like a standard command button, except that, as a part of its label, it includes a triangular arrow similar to the one found in cascading menu titles.

A menu button supports the same type of interaction as a drop-down menu; the menu is displayed when the button is pressed and allows the user to drag into the menu from the button and make menu selections. Like any other menu, use highlighting to track the movement of the pointer.

Similarly, when the user clicks a menu button, the menu is displayed. At this point, interaction with the menu is the same as with any menu. For example, clicking a menu item carries out the associated command. Clicking outside the menu or on the menu button removes the menu.

When pressed, display the menu button with the pressed appearance. When the user releases the mouse button and the menu is displayed, use the option-set appearance. Otherwise, the menu button's appearance is the same as a typical command button. For example, if the button is disabled, display the button using the unavailable appearance.