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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide Reference

Multilevel Selection Technique

Reference

Description

Multilevel selection techniques are mouse-based variants of other group techniques in which elements are selected in parts.

Within scopes whose elements could be seen to be divided into groups (at various levels), multilevel selection techniques can be used to select a higher-level part of many elements at a time by using multi-press or multi-click on the SELECT or ADJUST buttons.

The number of clicks or presses control the level. For example, within text, the following can occur:

  1. Double-click selects a word.

  2. Double-press, moving the pointer, and releasing selects parts of words at a time.

  3. Higher numbers of presses or clicks may select lines, sentences, paragraphs, or all the text in the scope.

    In these examples, the use of the multilevel technique selects ranges of characters -- that is, text supports multilevel range techniques.

    Any of the standard techniques (including adjustment) may be used as a multilevel technique. For example:

    1. A multilevel range point technique would involve a multiple click to select a part of many elements (for example, double-pressing the SELECT button to select a word).

    2. A multilevel range adjust swipe technique would adjust the selection by a part of many elements at a time (for example, double-pressing the ADJUST button, moving the pointer, and releasing the ADJUST button to adjust a text selection a word at a time).

      In addition, you can use Ctrl to augment multiple presses or clicks of the SELECT button to force use of toggle mode. Table 18 lists the techniques available.

      Table 18. Multilevel Selection Technique Methods

      Technique Method
      Multilevel point technique Multi-click SELECT
      Multilevel point technique, forcing toggle mode Multi-click Ctrl SELECT
      Multilevel swipe technique Multi-press SELECT, move pointer, release SELECT
      Multilevel swipe technique, forcing toggle mode Multi-press Ctrl SELECT, move pointer, release SELECT
      Multilevel click technique Multi-click SELECT, move pointer, click ADJUST
      Multilevel click technique, forcing toggle mode Multi-click Ctrl SELECT, move pointer, click ADJUST
      Multilevel adjust click technique Multi-click ADJUST
      Multilevel adjust swipe technique Multi-press ADJUST, move pointer, release ADJUST

      3. Guidelines

      Required
      After using a multilevel point technique:

      1. Identify the pointer position as the anchor point.

      2. Define the selection region to consist of the part of elements (depending on the number of clicks), if any, containing the pointer.

      3. Define the anchor element to be the element in the region nearest to the pointer.

      4. Define the anchor region to be the selection region.

      5. Place the active cursor as follows:

        1. At the anchor point, if it can be placed there

        2. On the anchor element, if it is an element cursor

        3. Where the cursor previously was in the scope, if there is no anchor element

          4. Required
          When using a multilevel click or swipe technique:

          1. Identify the pointer position at initiation of the technique as the anchor point.

          2. Define the selection region to consist of all elements that would be selected when using the corresponding click or swipe technique. Expand the selection region if all elements in its part (depending on the number of presses) are also included in the region.

          3. Define the anchor element to be the element in the selection region nearest to the pointer.

          4. Define the anchor region to be the selection region that would be obtained if a multilevel point technique had been used instead at the point at which the technique was initiated.

          5. Place the active cursor as follows:

            1. At the pointer position when the technique was finished, if it can be placed there

            2. On the element at the other end of the range from the anchor element, if you are using an element cursor, the region is not empty, and range technique is in effect

            3. On an element within the selection region, if you are using an element cursor, the region is not empty, and area technique is in effect

            4. On the last element touched, if you are using an element cursor, the region is not empty, and touch technique is in effect

            5. Where the cursor previously was in the scope, if none of the above are true

              6. Required
              When using a multilevel point, swipe, or click technique in select mode:

              1. Select all the elements in the selection region.

              2. Deselect all other elements in the scope.

                3. Required
                When using a multilevel point, swipe, or click technique in toggle mode, toggle all elements in the selection region, based on the toggling policy.

                Required
                When using an adjustment technique to adjust a selection initially made using a multilevel technique, expand the selection region so that if an element is in the region, all elements in its part (depending on the number of times the SELECT button was pressed in the initial technique) are also included in the region.

                Required
                When using a multilevel adjust click or swipe technique:

                1. Identify the pointer position at initiation of the technique as the anchor point.

                2. Define the selection region to consist of all elements that would be selected when using the corresponding adjust click or swipe technique, but then expanded so that one of the following occurs:

                  1. If an element is added to the region, also include all elements in its part (depending on the number of times the ADJUST button is pressed) in the region.

                  2. If an element is removed from the region, place it back into the region, unless all elements in its part (depending on the number of times the ADJUST button was pressed) are also included in the region.

                  3. Define the anchor element to be the element in the selection region nearest to the pointer.

                  4. Define the anchor region to be the selection region that would be obtained if a multilevel point technique had been used instead at the point at which the technique was initiated.

                    5. Essential Related Topics

                    For more information, see the Adjustment Techniques, Selection Modes, and Selection Techniques reference pages.

                    Supplemental Related Topics

                    For more information, see the Selection Models and Selection Policies reference pages.

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