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Basic Controls
Description
Basic controls are components that only take simple input. They
are distinct from field controls in that
they are usually elements of navigation fields rather than fields
themselves. Basic controls must have no internal navigation. The
following text describes the basic controls:
- Separator
- Draws a separating line within windows, between Menu items, and
between Panes of a PanedWindow. A Separator allows no application
interaction.
- Label
- Displays static text and images. A Label presents application
information to users.
- PushButton
- A button used to activate an operation. A PushButton contains
a Label that indicates the operation of the button. The Label can
contain text or an image.
- CascadeButton
- A button used to display a Pulldown Menu. A CascadeButton
contains a Label that indicates the Menu displayed. CascadeButtons
can also contain an arrow graphic after the Label to distinguish it
from PushButtons and to indicate the direction of the cascading Menu.
- OptionButton
- A button used to display an Option Menu. An Option Menu allows
for a one-of-many selection. An OptionButton contains a Label that
indicates the current state of the Option Menu, and a bar graphic to
distinguish it from a PushButton.
- ToggleButton
- A button with two states: on and off. A ToggleButton contains
a Label that indicates the state of the ToggleButton when it is set.
Normally, preceding the Label is a graphic indicator of the state of
the ToggleButton.
- CheckButton
- A ToggleButton in a group of ToggleButtons where any number of
the ToggleButtons can be on at a time. The graphic indicator for a
CheckButton is usually a filled square to indicate the on state or an
empty square to indicate the off state.
- RadioButton
- A ToggleButton in a group of ToggleButtons where only one of
the ToggleButtons can be on at a time. The graphic indicator for a
RadioButton is usually a filled diamond or circle to indicate the on
state or an empty diamond or circle to indicate the off state.
- TearOffButton
- A button used for tearing off a Menu to create a dialog
representation of the Menu contents. A TearOffButton tears off a Menu
in place when activated, or is dragged to tear off and move in one
action. A TearOffButton usually contains a dashed line graphic
representing perforations.
A single-line Text control can be configured to act like a basic
control.
Navigation
Basic controls must have no internal navigation.
Other Operations
Activatable basic controls follow the basic activation model
described in Basic Activation.
Related Information
For more information, see the reference pages for each basic control.