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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide Reference

Value (Choice Type)

Reference

Description

A value is a type of choice that allows the user to indicate whether a value is set or unset (or in some circumstances, indeterminate). You can present value choices in such controls as list boxes, radio buttons, and check boxes.

When to Use

Recommended
Use a value choice to allow a user to set or unset a value.

Guidelines

Required
Do not change the text label of a value choice when it is set or unset.

Recommended
If a menu contains a group of value choices that are mutually exclusive, display unavailable emphasis on the choice that currently applies. Remove the unavailable emphasis when the choice no longer applies.

Recommended
When the user toggles a value choice in a dialog or property window, do not immediately apply the change. Apply the change when the user activates the Apply or OK choice.

Recommended
When the user activates a value choice in a menu, immediately apply the choice. If the change can cause some action within the application, it should do so.

Recommended
When the user toggles a value choice in a primary window, immediately apply the choice unless an Apply push button is provided, and propagate the results of the change within the same viewing area. Also, determine if the change should propagate to other viewing areas in the same or other primary windows.

Recommended
If it is risky to apply value choices to a viewing area, provide a sample within the window that demonstrates the change that will occur when the properties are applied. For example, instead of applying a font change to a large document, display sample text with the chosen font and provide an Apply push button that applies the selected font.

Recommended
Avoid placing value choices in menus. However, allow the user to place value choices in menus as a customization option.

Optional
If a value choice is labeled with a graphic rather than text, change the graphic's appearance when the choice is set or unset.

Required
Group related value choices together. If value choices are placed in a menu, use separators to separate groups of related choices.

Required
In a control that displays value choices, allow the user to clearly see whether the value choice is set or unset.

Required
In a menu other than an option menu, display a graphic next to a value choice's label to indicate its setting.

Required
If a value choice does not use a separate graphic to indicate its setting, change the contents (only if it is a graphic) or visual aspects of the label to indicate whether it is set or not.

Essential Related Topics

For more information, see the Action (Choice Type), Choice, Dialog (Choice Type), and Emphasis (Cue) reference pages.

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