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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide Reference

File Selection (Dialog)

Reference

Description

A file selection dialog is a dialog that allows the user to specify a file or element.

Figure 26. File Selection Dialog.




View figure.

When to Use

Use a file selection dialog when the user needs to open a file for processing.

Guidelines

Required
Allow the user to continue interacting with the application when a file selection dialog is displayed.

Required
The file selection dialog box must be composed of at least the following:

  1. A text component for displaying and editing a directory mask (or filter) used to select the file to be displayed. The directory mask must be a string that specifies the base directory to be examined and a search path.

  2. A list component for displaying file names. The list should display all files and subdirectories in the base directory that match the search pattern. The list must use either the single or browse selection model.

  3. A text component for displaying and editing a file name.

  4. A group of push buttons labeled OK, Filter, Cancel, and Help. If the file selection dialog is used to perform a specific action to the selected files, OK can be replaced by a label that describes the action to be done.

    5. Required
    The user must be able to select a new directory to examine by scrolling through the list of subdirectories and selecting the desired directory or by editing the directory mask. Selecting a new directory from the directory list must not change the search pattern. A user must be able to select a new search pattern by editing the directory mask.

    Required
    Allow the user to navigate the text within each list component by pressing ^, V, Ctrl Begin, and CtrlEnd. Allow the navigation actions PageUp and PageDown to move the cursored element within each list.

    Required
    The contents of the directory in the text-entry field must correspond to the contents of the directory list. The contents of the file name text must also correspond to the contents of the file name list.

    Required
    The user must be able to select a file by scrolling through the list of file names and selecting the desired file or by entering the file name directly into the text-entry field. Selecting a file from the list causes that file name to appear in the file selection text-display field.

    Required
    The user can select a new file as many times as desired. The application must not process the file until one of the following events occurs:

    1. The user activates the OK button.

    2. The user presses Enter or Return while the file name text-entry field has focus.

    3. The user presses Enter or Return while the cursor is on an item in the file list.

    4. The user double-clicks the SELECT button on an item in the file list.

      5. Required
      The file selection dialog must initiate a directory and file search when any of the following occurs:

      1. The file selection dialog box is initialized

      2. The user activates the Filter push button

      3. The user double-clicks the SELECT button or presses Enter or Return on an item in the directory list

      4. The user presses Enter or Return while the directory mask text-entry field has focus

        5. Essential Related Topics

        For more information, see the Dialog (Choice Type), Text Display Field, and Text-Entry Field (Control) reference pages.

        Supplemental Related Topics

        For more information, see the Dialog (Window) reference page.

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