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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide Reference

Point Technique

Reference

Description

The point technique is an individual selection technique in which a single point is identified. If the point is on a selectable element, that element is either selected or has its selection state toggled. The following describes the steps for mouse-based and keyboard-based techniques:

Mouse-based point technique
Click the SELECT button at the desired point or on the desired element.

If no mouse-based group technique is supported for the selection scope:

  1. Press the SELECT button on a selectable element.

  2. Release the SELECT button on the same element (with arbitrary movement of the mouse in between).

    3. Mouse-based point technique, forcing toggle mode
    Click Ctrl SELECT at the desired point, or on the desired element.

    If no mouse-based group technique is supported for the selection scope:

    1. Press Ctrl SELECT on a selectable element.

    2. Release the SELECT button on the same element with arbitrary movement of the mouse in between).

      3. Keyboard-based point technique
      Press Select, Space (unless in text), or press Ctrl Space with the cursor at the desired point or on the desired element.

      Guidelines

      Required
      When the user is using the point technique in select mode and presses or clicks the SELECT button on a selectable element and then releases SELECT on the same element:

      1. Select that element.

      2. Deselect all other elements in the scope.

        3. Required
        When using the point technique in select mode and the user clicks the SELECT button in the background of a selection scope, deselect all elements in the scope.

        Required
        When the user is using the point technique in select mode and presses Ctrl SELECT in place of SELECT, select as if toggle mode were in use.

        Required
        When the user is using the point technique in toggle mode and presses or clicks the SELECT button on a selectable element and then releases SELECT on the same element, toggle the selection state of that element.

        Required
        Allow the point technique in toggle mode to select an element as follows:

        1. If only one element at a time may be selected in a scope, deselect the currently selected element (if any) in the scope.

        2. If any number of elements can be selected in the scope, do not change the selection state of the other elements.

          3. Required
          When the user is using the point technique in toggle mode and clicks the SELECT button in the background of a selection scope, it should have no effect on the selection state of the elements in the scope.

          Required
          When the user is using the point technique in normal mode while the active cursor is on a selectable element and presses Select, Space (unless in text), or Ctrl Space:

          1. Select that element.

          2. Deselect all other elements in the scope.

            3. Required

            When the user is using the point technique in normal mode, if the active cursor is in the background of a selection scope and the user presses Select, Space (unless in text), or Ctrl Space, deselect all elements in the scope.

            Required
            When the user is using the point technique in add mode while the active cursor is on a selectable element and presses Select, Space (unless in text), or Ctrl Space, toggle the selection state of that element.

            Required
            Allow the point technique in add mode to select an element as follows:

            1. If only one element at a time may be selected in a scope, deselect the currently selected element (if any) in the scope.

            2. If selections are required to be contiguous, deselect all other elements in the scope.

            3. If any number of elements can be selected in the scope, do not change the selection state of the other elements.

              4. Required
              When the user is using the point technique in add mode while the active cursor is in the background of a selection scope and presses Select, Space (unless in text), or Ctrl Space:

              1. If selections are required to be contiguous, deselect all elements in the scope.

              2. If selections may be discontiguous, do not change the selection state of the elements in the scope.

                3. Required
                When the user performs the point technique on a selectable element:

                1. Identify that element as an anchor element for later use in adjustment of the selection.

                2. Define the current selection region to consist of that element.

                  3. Required
                  When the user uses the point technique on a selectable element, identify a point as an anchor point for later use in adjustment of the selection. That point should be:

                  1. The pointer position, for the mouse-based technique

                  2. The cursor position, for the keyboard-based technique with a text or graphics cursor

                  3. The center of the element, for the keyboard-based technique with an element cursor

                    4. Required
                    When the user uses the point technique in the background of a selection scope:

                    1. Identify that point as an anchor point for later use in adjustment of the selection.

                    2. Define the current selection region to be empty.

                      3. Required
                      After a mouse-based point technique, place the active cursor as follows:

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

                      2. On the anchor element, if using an element cursor

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

                        4. Essential Related Topics

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

                        Supplemental Related Topics

                        For more information, see the Selection Models reference page.

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