Glossary
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## Glossary

acceleration

  A temporary change in the mouse pointer gain.

accelerator

  A key or sequence of keys (typically a modifier key and some other key) that provides a shortcut, immediately accessing a program function.

activation

  Invocation of a component's primary action. For example, the user activates a PushButton by pressing BSelect on the PushButton.

  A position in a collection of selectable objects that marks one endpoint of an extended selection range.

application modal

  A state of a window in which interaction is limited to that window and windows outside of that window's application.

apply

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of applying the current changes in the DialogBox without closing the DialogBox.

autorepeat

  A means of PushButton activation where a mouse button is pressed and held on a PushButton and the PushButton continues to activate at regular intervals until the mouse button is released.

browse selection

  A selection model that allows browsing through single selection collections.

button

  A button on a mouse pointing device; mouse buttons can be mapped to the keyboard. A graphical component on a window frame or in a DialogBox that works by pressing it.

cancel

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of closing the DialogBox without implementing any changes.

cascading Menu

  A submenu that provides selections that amplify the parent selection on a Pulldown or Popup Menu.

CheckButton

  A component used to select settings that are not mutually exclusive. The visual cue to the selection is frequently that the button is filled in or checked.

click

  To press and release a mouse button. The term comes from the fact that pressing and releasing most mouse buttons makes a clicking sound.

client area

  The area within the borders of a primary window's frame that is controlled by an application.

clipboard

  Any device used to store text or graphics during cut-and-paste operations.

close

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of closing the DialogBox. Close is also used as a selection in Menus to close the window associated with the Menu.

control panel

  An area of a window, similar to the control panels in real life, that is used to hold PushButtons and other graphical components.

cursor

  A graphical image, usually a pipe (|) or block, that shows the location where text will appear on the screen when keys on the keyboard are pressed or where a selection can be made.

desktop

  See workspace.

destination

  The location at which transfer actions place data.

DialogBox

  A secondary window that the user can display and that contains application components.

dimmed selection

  A selection that is not currently available.

discontiguous selection

  A selection model that allows multiple discontiguous selections.

double-click

  To press and release a mouse button twice in rapid succession.

drag and drop

  A transfer mechanism where data is dragged from a source to a drop site using mouse motion.

drag icon

  A graphic that is generated using pixmaps and is moved during a drag operation. The drag icon is composed of a source pixmap, a state cursor, and an operation cursor.

drag transfer

  See drag and drop.

drop site

  An area of the screen on which the user can drop a drag icon.

expert activation

  A means of activation where double-clicking on a PushButton activates a different action from clicking the PushButton.

explicit focus

  A keyboard focus model that sends keyboard events to the window or component that was specified explicitly with a mouse button press or a keyboard event.

focus

  A state of the system that indicates which component receives keyboard events. A component is said to have the focus if keyboard events are sent to that component.

focus policy

  The model by which keyboard focus is moved among components. See also explicit focus.

gain

  The ratio of the distance the pointer moves to the distance the mouse moves.

grayed selection

  A Menu selection that is not currently available and so has been dimmed.

help

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of providing help for the DialogBox.

highlight

  A graphic technique used to provide a visual cue to the current selection or to the current location of the input focus. Highlighting is frequently accomplished by reversing the video of the selection.

hotspot

  The area of a graphical image used as a pointer or cursor that is defined as the point of the pointer or cursor.

hourglass

  A graphical image used to symbolize the passage of time and provide a visual cue that the application is currently performing an operation.

I-beam

  A graphical image used to represent the location of the mouse pointer in a text entry box and providing a visual cue that text can be entered in an area.

icon

  A small graphical image used to represent a window. Windows can be turned into icons or minimized to save room or unclutter the workspace.

icon box

  A window for organizing icons.

implicit focus

  A keyboard focus model that sends keyboard events to the window or component that the mouse pointer is over.

insertion cursor

  The graphical symbol that provides the visual cue to the location of the insertion point.

keyboard

  An input device consisting of various keys that allows the user to input data, control cursor and pointer locations, and to control the dialog with the workstation.

keyboard focus

  Indicates the window or component within a window that receives keyboard input. It is sometimes called the input focus.

Label

  The text part of an icon or graphical component.

list box

  A component that provides users with a scrollable list of options from which to choose.

location cursor

  A graphical symbol that marks the current location of the keyboard input focus for selection. Typically, this symbol is a box that surrounds the current object.

lower

  To move a window to the bottom of the window stack on the workspace.

maximize

  To enlarge a window to its maximum size.

maximize button

  A control button placed on a window manager window frame and used to initiate the maximize function.

Menu

  A list of available selections from which a user chooses.

Menu system

  A collection of Menus cascading from a single CascadeButton.

Menu window

  An application window used to contain a Menu. Menu windows are transitory.

MenuBar

  A rectangular area at the top of the client area of a window that contains the titles of the standard Pulldown Menus for that application.

MenuBar system

  A collection of Menus associated with a MenuBar and the MenuBar itself.

MessageBox

  The generic name for any DialogBox that provides information, gives the current state of a work in progress, asks a question, issues a warning, or draws attention to an error.

minimize (iconfiy)

  To turn a window into an icon.

minimize button

  A control button placed on a window manager window frame and used to initiate the minimize function.

mnemonic

  A single character (frequently the initial character) of a Menu selection. When the Menu is displayed and the user presses the key that corresponds to that character, the Menu selection is chosen.

model keyboard

  A fictional keyboard that contains the keys and key labels described by this guide.

modifier key

  A key that, when pressed with another key, changes the meaning of the other key. `<Ctrl>`, `<Alt>`, and `<Shift>` are modifier keys.

motion

  Movement of the mouse.

mouse

  A pointing device commonly used in conjunction with a keyboard in point-and-click, object- oriented user interfaces.

mouse button

  A button on a mouse pointing device. Mouse buttons can be pressed, released, moved, clicked, and double-clicked.

multiclick

  To click a mouse button multiple times without moving the pointer.

multimotion

  To press a mouse button multiple times without moving the pointer and then move the mouse pointer.

multiple selection

  A selection model that allows multiple single selections.

multipress

  To press a mouse button multiple times without moving the pointer.

navigation (traversal)

  An action that causes the focus to move to another component.

no

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of answering "no" and closing the DialogBox.

OK

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of answering "OK" and closing the DialogBox without implementing any changes.

open

  To start an action or begin working with a text, data, or graphics file.

paste

  Inserting data into an area. Pasting is commonly used in reference to text files where a block of text is cut from one area and pasted into another area.

pause

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of pausing the action of the DialogBox.

pointer

  The graphical image that appears on the workspace and represents the current location of a mouse or other pointing device.

pointing device

  A device such as a mouse, trackball, or graphics tablet that allows users to move a pointer about on the workspace and point to graphical objects.

Popup Menu

  A Menu that provides no visual cue to its presence, but simply pops up when a user performs a particular action. Popup Menus are associated with a particular area of the workspace, such as the client area of an application, and a user must memorize where these areas are.

posted

  A state of a Menu where it remains in a visible state even though a mouse button is not being held down. See also spring-loaded.

press

  To hold down a mouse button or a key.

previewing

  A means of PushButton activation where information about the impending action of a button release is displayed on the button press action.

primary modal

  A state of a window in which interaction is limited to that window and windows that are not ancestors of that window.

primary transfer

  A transfer mechanism where the primary selection is transferred to the destination.

primary window

  A top-level window of an application. Primary windows can be minimized.

Pulldown Menu

  A Menu that is pulled down from a client application's title bar.

PushButton

  A graphic component that simulates a real-life push button. When a user pushes the PushButton, by pressing a key or a mouse button, an action takes place.

quick transfer

  A transfer mechanism where selected data is immediately transferred to the destination.

RadioButton

  A graphic component that simulates the buttons on a real-life car radio. Each button represents a mutually exclusive selection. RadioButtons are typically used for setting states or modes.

range selection

  A selection model that allows selection of a range of elements.

release

  To let up on a mouse button or key that has been pressed. Sometimes it is the press that initiates the action; sometimes it is the release.

reset

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of resetting the initial state of the DialogBox.

resize

  To change the height or width of a window.

resize border

  The window manager window frame part that surrounds the client area of an application and that is used to change the height or width of the window.

restore

  To return an icon or maximized window to its normal size.

resume

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of resuming the action of a DialogBox previously paused.

retry

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of retrying the action whose failure posted the DialogBox.

save

  To write changes to a data file to a storage device for safekeeping.

ScrollBar

  A graphical device used to change a user's view of the contents of a window. A ScrollBar consists of a slider, a trough, and scroll arrows. A user changes the view by sliding the slider up or down in the scroll area or by pressing one of the scroll arrows. These actions cause the view to scroll up or down in the window adjacent to the ScrollBar.

secondary window

  A child window of a primary window.

select

  To choose an object to be acted upon or an action to be performed.

selection

  The object or action that is selected. Menus are composed of selection items. DialogBoxes contain components, each of which represents a selection.

single selection

  A selection model that allows selection of a single element.

slider

  One of the graphical components of a ScrollBar or Scale. The slider is the object that is dragged along the scroll area to cause a change.

spring-loaded

  A state of a Menu where it remains only as long as a mouse button is being held down. See also posted.

stop

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of stopping the work in progress indicated by the DialogBox.

submenu

  A cascading Menu.

system Menu

  See window Menu.

system modal

  A state of a window in which interaction is limited to that window.

text cursor

  See insertion cursor.

title area

  The area at the top of the window frame immediately beneath the resize border. The title bar has two functions: it contains a title or name that identifies the window, and it can be grabbed and dragged to relocate the window.

title bar

  The bar across the top of a window manager window that consists of the window Menu button, the title area, and the window-control buttons.

transient window

  A window of short duration such as a DialogBox. The window is displayed for only a short time, usually just long enough to convey some information or get some operational directions.

traversal

  See navigation (traversal).

virtual button

  A model, used by this style guide, which defines mouse button bindings independent of the actual number of buttons on the mouse.

window

  A data structure that represents all or part of the display screen. Visually, a window is represented as a subarea of the display screen.

window decoration

  The frame and window-control buttons that surround windows managed by the window manager.

window frame

  The area surrounding a window. A window frame can consist of a resize border, a window Menu button, a title bar, and window-control buttons.

window manager

  A program that controls the size, placement, and operation of windows on the workspace. The window manager includes the functional window frames that surround each window object and may include a separate Menu for the workspace.

window Menu

  The Menu that appears when the window Menu button is pressed. The window Menu typically contains selections for restoring, moving, sizing, minimizing, maximizing, and closing the window.

window Menu button

  The graphical control button that appears at the left side of the title bar in the window frame.

window navigation

  Moving the keyboard focus among windows.

workspace

  The CRT screen. The area on which the windows of a user's environment appear. The workspace is sometimes called the desk, desktop, or root window.

yes

  A label given to a PushButton in some DialogBoxes that performs the action of answering "yes" and closing the DialogBox.

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