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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.