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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide Certification Checklist

Pointer

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Display a pointer whenever the operating environment allows the user to move it.

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Use the hot spot to target (point to) the window, object, element, or selection under the pointer. If multiple elements are under the pointer, the topmost element is generally considered the element pointed to by the pointer.

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When no other element-specific or task-specific pointer is displayed, display the arrow pointer.

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Do not create new pointer shapes for operations that already have pointer shapes associated with them.

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If the pointer can be warped (that is, moved by the application without reference to any user control of the pointing device), allow the operating environment to disable this feature and prevent the pointer from being warped.

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Define a hot spot for each pointer shape.

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For users unable to use a standard pointing device, support a mode whose only effect is to enable the directional keys, possibly modified with Ctrl, to act as a pointing device.

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Support access for users unable to press a pointer button or move the pointer simultaneously or for users who need to perform more precise placement than possible with a standard pointing device.

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If your interface enters a mode on a pointer button press and supports behavior on pointer motion in that mode, and there is no other efficient alternative means of providing the same effect, then do the following:

  1. Provide a means of entering that mode via the keyboard, clicking a pointer button (possibly augmented by modifier keys), or both.

  2. Support both the pointing device and the directional keys as a means of moving the pointer in that mode, with an unmodified directional key moving the pointer by one pixel in the direction indicated, and a directional key modified by Ctrl moving the pointer by a larger increment.

  3. Do not change the effect of other keyboard actions. In particular, support Enter to complete the operation and to exit from the mode, Cancel to cancel the operation and to exit from the mode, and Help to obtain help.

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    Use the hot spot position of the pointer to track the movement of the input device and the location where input device actions occur.

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    As the pointer changes shape, indicating a change in the function of the current area, do not change the location of the hot spot on the screen.

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