Displaying Lists

The following controls display elements of a list:

List Box

A list box displays a fixed or variable list of objects or value choices. The user can scroll a list box that contains more items than can be displayed at one time within the border of the list box. Your application may allow the user to select only one or more than one item from the list..
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For more information, see the List Box (Control) reference page.

Drop-Down List Box

A drop-down list box is a variation of a list box. Only one item in the list is displayed until the user takes an action to display the rest of the list.

The drop-down list box contains a list cascade button, a button that contains a down-arrow graphic that presents the cascaded list of items.

You should use a drop-down list box when a list box would take up too much space within the window in which it is displayed. The drop-down list box appears only when the user chooses the list cascade button..
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For more information, see the Drop-Down List (Control) reference page.

Combination Box

A combination box combines a text-entry field with a list box. The user can select an item from the list or type data directly into the text-entry field. When the user selects an item from the list, that element appears in the text-entry field. The user can select only one item from the combination box.

You should use a combination box when there is an indeterminate number of items to be presented in a list box. Your application can fill the list box portion of the combination box with a set of standard choices for the user to select, while still allowing the user to enter a choice if it does not appear in the list..
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For more information, see the Combination Box (Control) reference page.

Drop-Down Combination Box

A drop-down combination box is a variation of a combination box. It displays only the text-entry field portion until the user takes an action to display the list box portion of the control. The user can select only one item from the drop-down combination box.

You should use a drop-down combination box when a combination box would take up too much space within the window in which it is displayed. The drop-down list box appears only when the user chooses the list cascade button..
View figure.

For more information, see the Drop-Down Combination Box (Control) reference page.

Selection Box

A selection box allows the user to make a single selection from a list of elements.

The selection box, like a combination box, combines a text-entry field with a list box. In addition, it contains push buttons, for example, to allow the user to confirm the value entered..
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For more information, see the Selection Box (Control) reference page.

Spin Box

A spin box displays related but mutually exclusive choices that have a natural sequence. Unlike other list controls, the spin box operates as though the top and bottom of the list are joined. The user cycles through the choices as if the fields were on a spinning cylinder. A spin box can control multiple fields by using a single set of spin arrows to change choices in each field. A spin box that contains a single field is sometimes called a spin button.

The user can also type a choice directly in the spin box field instead of using the spin arrow to change a value..
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For more information, see the Spin Box (Control) and Text-Entry Field (Control) reference pages.

Option Menu

An option menu is a menu that contains only value and cascading choices. To display an option menu, the user can use an option menu cascade button or choose an item from a cascading list within another option menu..
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For more information, see the Option Menu (Menu Type) reference page.