BSelect, the first mouse button, provides a consistent means of activating a button using the mouse.
[Select] and
provide a uniform way of selecting a button. Selecting a button is
equivalent to activating the button.
[Select], ,
[Enter], and
offer a
consistent means of activating a Menu entry using the keyboard.
The visual state of a button offers a cue to the user about whether or not the button will be activated when the mouse button is released.
This rule provides for consistent integration of activation and selection in a collection where elements can be both selected and activated.
An accelerator is a key or key combination that invokes the action of some component regardless of the position of the location cursor when the accelerator is pressed. So that the user knows that there is an accelerator associated with a component, the accelerator needs to be displayed.
An accelerator must be activatable from the window or component associated with the accelerator.
A mnemonic is a single character that can be associated with any component that contains a text Label. Mnemonics provide a fast way of selecting a component from the keyboard. So that the user knows that there is a mnemonic associated with a selection, the mnemonic is underlined in the Label of the selection by the toolkit. In order for a mnemonic to be underlined, the Label for a selection needs to contain the mnemonic character. Putting the mnemonic in parentheses following the Label provides visual consistency.
The user must be able to activate a mnemonic by pressing either the lowercase or the uppercase variant of the mnemonic key.
A mnemonic is generally activatable when the location cursor is
within the component that contains the mnemonic. Pressing and the mnemonic provides a way to activate a
visible mnemonic when the location cursor is within the window that
contains the mnemonic.
A TearOffButton is like a PushButton with the special interaction of tearing off the Menu from its CascadeButton. TearOffButtons use the same basic activation as other buttons.
BTransfer, the second mouse button, provides a consistent means of activating a TearOffButton.
offers the user a consistent
mechanism for invoking context-sensitive help.
Placing emphasis on the default PushButton in a DialogBox provides the user with a visual cue about the expected reply to the dialog.
These rules ensure that the means of invoking a default action are consistent across applications.
provides a uniform means of
canceling a DialogBox from the keyboard.
Expert activation, using mouse double-clicking on buttons, provides a convenient way for experienced users to perform certain tasks quickly. However, new users and keyboard-only users need to be able to perform the same tasks.
This rule minimizes possible confusion between default and expert activation.
A user needs to be able to select a component, even if it has an expert action associated with it.
Activation preview presents the user with additional information that describes the effect of activating a button. This information cannot interfere with the normal operation of the application.
These guidelines for ensure the
consistent operation of the key across applications.