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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide



Changing Values in Controls

There are several ways the user can change the value that is managed by a control, depending on the type of control. Controls that allow the user to change values include check boxes, radio buttons, spin boxes, and sliders.

In a check box, the user can click the SELECT button while the pointer is on the control or press Spacebar while the focus is on the control to change the value of the check box. For example, if the user clicks the SELECT button while the pointer is on a check box that represents the choice Boldface, the check box changes from its current state and cycles through the states available: boldface on, boldface off, and possibly a special indeterminate state.

In a radio box, clicking on a radio button that is off turns it on and turns off any other buttons in the box that were on.

In a spin box, the user changes the value by clicking the SELECT button while the pointer is on an arrow. For example, if a spin box represents the days of the week, the user can click the SELECT button while the pointer is on the up arrow button to change to the next day of the week.

In a slider, the user changes the value represented by the slider by directly manipulating the slider arm, that is, by pressing the directional keys or by pressing the SELECT button while the pointer is on the slider arm and then moving the pointer in the direction of the desired value. For example, if a slider represents decibels for sound output, the user can press the > directional key or press the SELECT button and move the slider to the right to increase the volume of the output.


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