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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide Reference

Input Focus

Reference

Description

Input focus, or focus, identifies the place to which keyboard input is directed.

Figure 36. Focus on a Text-Entry Field.




View figure.

When to Use

Required
When the user has set the input focus in the workspace to track the pointer, use an implicit focus policy to move focus from window to window by always ensuring that the window under the pointer has the focus.

Required
When the user has set the input focus in the workspace to be explicitly changed, use an explicit focus policy to move focus from window to window.

Required
When the user has set the input focus within a window to track the pointer, use an implicit focus policy to move focus from control to control within that window by always ensuring that the control under the pointer has the focus.

Required
When the user has set the input focus within a window to be explicitly changed, use an explicit focus policy to move focus from control to control, except within controls that are spring sensitive.

Guidelines

Required
When an explicit focus policy is in use in a workspace, and the user presses the SELECT button (optionally augmented by Shift and/or Ctrl) in a window, move the focus to that window.

Required
When an explicit focus policy is in use in a window, and the user presses the SELECT button (possibly augmented by Shift and/or Ctrl) in a control that can take focus, in addition to performing any action the control binds to the button press, move the focus to the control, unless the control is used to change the visible portion of some area (for example, a scroll bar).

Required
When a window that uses an explicit keyboard focus policy acquires focus through either keyboard navigation or a button press (but not by pressing SELECT [possibly augmented by Shift and/or Ctrl ] in a control in that window) causing that control to take focus, then move the focus to the control that last had focus in the window if the following are true:

  1. The window had the focus at some time in the past (whether or not it has been minimized since then)

  2. The control that last had focus in the window is still able to receive input focus

    Otherwise, move focus to either of the following:

    1. The control with which the user is most likely to want to interact

    2. The initial control of the first tab group in the window

      3. Required
      Do not change the state, appearance, or behavior of a control when the user uses the keyboard to move the input focus to the control, except for showing focus emphasis. For example, when the user moves through a set of radio buttons with the directional keys, do not change the state of any of the radio buttons.

      Required
      When the user presses Ctrl SELECT on a control that can take focus, move focus to the control but do not perform any other action unless pressing Ctrl SELECT already has a predefined meaning in that control.

      Recommended
      When the user uses a pointing device to manipulate a control such as a scroll bar or a split bar that changes the visible portion of some area, do not move the focus to that control.

      Recommended

      Do not change the input focus as a result of a direct manipulation operation except for those that use the SELECT button, possibly augmented by Shift and/or Ctrl.

      Essential Related Topics

      For more information, see the Active Window reference page.

      Supplemental Related Topics

      For more information, see the Cursor, Keyboard (Device), Mouse (Device), and Window Navigation reference pages.

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