Motif and Common Desktop Environment: Style Guide Reference Migration Version

Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide Reference

Tool (Value Choice Type)

Reference

Description

A tool is a choice in a value set that, when set, places the user in a mode that limits or specializes the user's interaction with the application.

Figure 71. Tools in a Value Set.

View figure.

When to Use

Required

Include tools in a value set to perform specific tasks in an application.

Guidelines

Required

When the user selects a tool, do the following:

Change or augment the pointer to indicate which operation the user can perform. For example, if the user chooses a line-drawing tool in a value set, change the pointer to a line-drawing tool pointer in the applications viewing area.

Provide a tool within the value set to allow the user to return to a neutral state, unless completing the activated choice automatically returns the user to a neutral state. For example, if the user chooses a line-drawing tool in a tool palette area and the pointer is not restored to the arrow pointer after the line-drawing operation is complete, provide an arrow-pointer choice on the palette area.

Display the pointer appropriate for the tool mode when the pointer is within the area to which the tool applies.

Required

When focus is on a tool, the default action, if any, is an expert action; that is, one which is equivalent to using the tool in some special way. For example, make the default action (such as, expert) for an eraser tool erase the entire contents of the control to which the tool applies.

Recommended

When the user chooses a tool that displays a dialog window used to set parameters for use of the tool, provide an expert action for the tool that initiates the tool with the most frequently used set of parameters.

Essential Related Topics

For more information, see the Choice and Value Set (Control) reference pages.

Supplemental Related Topics

For more information, see the Palette Area (Area) reference page.