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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide Reference

Control

Reference

Description

A control is a visually recognizable element or group of elements that the user interacts with. Controls are usually identified by text (headings, push button labels, and window titles for example).

When to Use

Provide controls to allow the user to interact with your application.

Guidelines

Recommended
Identify each control or group of controls with a label, a column heading, a group heading, or a window title, whichever is most appropriate.

Recommended
In documentation, avoid using the term "control." Instead, describe the specific type of control.

Recommended
Use a label that clearly indicates the control's function.

Recommended
If a standard or common control meets your needs, use it rather than designing a new control unless an analysis indicates a clear advantage for the new control.

Recommended
When a window is sized, adjust the size of the controls. For example, make the text-entry fields longer or shorter as the window is sized larger or smaller. At some minimal useful size, clip the controls instead of adjusting the size; that is, remove characters from the right side of the displayed text in the controls to allow them to fit into the available space.

Supplemental Related Topics

For more information, see the Check Box (Control), Choice, Combination Box (Control), Command Box (Control), Container (Control), Default Action, Drop-Down Combination Box (Control), Drop-Down List (Control), Gauge (Control), Group Box, Label, List Box (Control), Menu (Control), Menu Bar (Menu Type), Notebook (Control), Option Menu (Menu Type), Push Button (Control), Radio Button (Control), Selection Box (Control), Slider (Control), Spin Box (Control), Text-Entry Field (Control), Text Field (Abstract Control), Value Set (Control), Window Frame, Window Navigation, and Window Title reference pages.

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