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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide Reference

Shortcut Key

Reference

Description

A shortcut key is a key or combination of keys assigned to a menu item that activates that item (even if the associated menu is not currently displayed) such as Alt F4 for the Close choice in the window menu. The shortcut key is also known as an accelerator.

Figure 60. Shortcut Key.




View figure.

When to Use

Required
Provide the predefined shortcut key assignment for each predefined choice.

Recommended
Provide a unique shortcut key assignment for each frequently used choice in a menu.

Guidelines

Required
When the user presses a shortcut key, perform the same function that would be performed if the user had activated the associated choice.

Required
Perform the function assigned to a shortcut key only if it is assigned within the active window.

Required
If the shortcut key choice is within a menu displayed from a menu bar, activate the choice if the user presses the shortcut key and the input focus is in the menu-bar system or the window that contains the menu bar.

Required
If the shortcut key choice is on a push button, activate the choice if the user presses the shortcut key and the active cursor is in the window.

Required
If the shortcut key choice is within a pop-up menu system, activate the choice if and only if that pop-up menu system is active or the pop-up menu is associated with the active cursor.

Recommended
If the shortcut key choice is on a menu pulled down from a menu cascade button, activate the choice if and only if the active cursor is on the menu cascade button.

Required
Even if the user turns off the display of shortcut keys in a menu, continue to support the shortcut keys that correspond to the menu items.

Recommended
If a choice has a shortcut key assignment, display it to the right of the label that identifies the choice, except in the case of other rules that indicate specific shortcut keys that should not be displayed.

Recommended
Left-align shortcut keys in a column to the right of the choices in a menu. For information on bidirectional and vertical language support, see Chapter 11.

Recommended
Allow the user to hide or display shortcut keys. For example, provide a check box choice labeled Display Shortcut Keys in a properties window.

Optional
Identify shortcut keys by their keycap names, if possible. For example, if the Control key is labeled Ctrl, use Ctrl, not Control.

Required
Do not use a printing character augmented by Alt as a shortcut key, as it would conflict with activation that uses mnemonics.

Required
Assign the same shortcut key for a choice in all windows that provide that choice.

Recommended
Assign only one shortcut key to a function except where multiple predefined keys already are defined.

Recommended
Use the Ctrl key as part of application-specific shortcut key assignments.

Recommended
Do not use two or more modifiers in a shortcut key.

Recommended
Allow users to redefine or disable shortcut key bindings when in text-entry fields.

Recommended
Allow the user to change shortcut key assignments.

Required
If the user can change shortcut key assignments, display the new assignments in menus and list the new assignments in any Help information provided for the shortcut keys.

Essential Related Topics

For more information, see the Keyboard (Device) and Mnemonic reference pages.

Supplemental Related Topics

For more information, see the Menu (Control) reference page.

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