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IRIX 6.5  »  Books  »  Developer  »  
IRIX® Interactive Desktop User Interface Guidelines
(document number: 007-2167-006  /  published: 2001-11-07)   additional info | download

This guide is intended for developers of software products used on Silicon Graphics workstations, including software engineers, user interface (UI) designers, and human factors specialists. Its purpose is to help you create products that are consistent with other applications and that integrate seamlessly into the IRIX Interactive Desktop environment. This guide contains two major parts: Part I describes how users might want to interact with your application from the Desktop. It covers the Desktop, icon design, application windows, IRIX Interactive Desktop services, and interoperability among applications. Part II describes the individual components of the Silicon Graphics interface, such as menus, dialogs, and controls, and presents examples of appropriate and inappropriate ways to use them.

table of contents (expand all | collapse all)  |  list of figures  |  list of tables  |  list of examples  |  list of procedures  |  

   Front Matter
 - About This Guide
     - What This Guide Contains
           Part One: Integrating With the IRIX Interactive Desktop
           Part Two: Interface Components
           Part Three: Designing 3D Applications
           Appendix
       What You Should Know Before Reading This Guide
       Suggestions for Further Reading
     - Conventions Used in This Guide
           Style Guidelines
           Font Conventions
 - Part I. Integrating With the IRIX Interactive Desktop
     - Chapter 1. Overview of the IRIX Interactive Desktop
           Overview of the Desktop
           How Users Interact with Desktop Icons
           Mouse and Keyboard Hardware
     - Chapter 2. Icons
         - Designing the Appearance of Icons
             - General Icon Design: Components, Size, and Colors
                   Icon Components
                   Icon Size
                   Icon Colors
                   Icon Orientation
               Application Icon Design
               File Icon Design
               Icon Appearance Design Guidelines
         - Defining the Behavior of Icons With FTRs
               User and Icon Interaction
               Icon Behavior Guidelines
         - Making Application Icons Accessible
               Putting Icons Into the Icon Catalog
               Naming and Locating Executables for the Find an Icon Tool
               Application Icon Accessibility Guidelines
     - Chapter 3. Windows in the IRIX Interactive Desktop Environment
         - The IRIX Interactive Desktop Look: Graphic Features and Schemes
               Enhanced Graphics in the IRIX Interactive Desktop Look
               Schemes for Colors and Fonts
               IRIX Interactive Desktop Look Guidelines
         - Application Window Categories and Characteristics
               Application Window Categories
             - Application Models
                   “Single Document, One Primary” Application Model
                   “Single Document, Multiple Primaries” Application Model
                   “Multiple Document, Visible Main” Application Model
                   “Multiple Document, No Visible Main” Application Model
               Window Decorations and the Window Menu
             - Window Title Bar
                   Rules for Labeling the Title Bar in Main Primary Windows
                   Rules for Labeling the Title Bar in Windows Other Than Main
               Window Size
               Window Placement
               Application Window Characteristic Guidelines
         - Keyboard Focus Across Windows
               Single-Action Pointer Grab Model
               Multiple-Action Pointer Grab Model
               Guidelines for Keyboard Focus Across Windows
         - Minimized Windows
               Choosing an Image for Your Minimized Window
               Labeling a Minimized Window
               Processing While Minimized
               Using the Minimized Window to Show Status
               Minimized Window Guidelines
         - Desks
               Desks Guidelines
         - Session Management
               Session Management Guidelines
     - Chapter 4. IRIX Interactive Desktop Services
         - Software Installation
               Software Installation Guideline
         - Online Help
               Providing Help Using SGIHelp
             - Types of Online Help
                   Context-Sensitive Information
                   Overview Information
                   Task-Oriented Information
                   Index of Help Topics
                   Keyboard Shortcut Information
                   Product Information
               Providing Help through a Help Menu
               Providing Help Through a Help Button
               Guidelines for Designing Online Help
             - Writing Online Help Content for SGIHelp
                   Learning About SGIHelp
                   Creating Help Cards
                   Writing Context-Sensitive Help
                   Writing Overview Information
                   Writing Task Information
                   Writing Index Information
                   Writing Keyboard Shortcut Information
                   Writing for Windows With Help Buttons
               Guidelines for Creating SGIHelp Content
           Online Documentation
         - Desktop Variables
               Scheme Setting
               Auto Window Placement Setting
               Language Setting
               Mouse Double-Click Speed Setting
               Editor Preference Setting
               Desktop Variables Guidelines
         - File Alteration Monitor (FAM)
               File Monitoring Guideline
     - Chapter 5. Data Exchange on the IRIX Interactive Desktop
           Supporting the Clipboard Transfer Model
           Supporting the Primary Transfer Model
           Data Types Supported for Inter-Application Transfer
           Data Exchange Guidelines
 - Part II. Interface Components
     - Chapter 6. Application Windows
         - Application Models
               Window Types
             - Standard Application Models
                   “Single Document, One Primary” Application Model
                   “Single Document, Multiple Primaries” Application Model
                   “Multiple Document, Visible Main” Application Model
                   “Multiple Document, No Visible Main” Application Model
               Application Model Guidelines
         - Main and Co-Primary Windows
               Menu Bars in Primary Windows
               Scrollable Work Areas in Primary Windows
               Control Areas in Primary Windows
               Status Areas in Primary Windows
               Splitting Primary Windows Into Panes
               Popup Menus in Primary Windows
               Primary Window Guidelines
         - Support Windows
               General Support Window Design
               A Specific Standard Support Window: The IRIX Interactive Desktop Color Chooser
               Support Window Guidelines
         - Pointer Behavior in a Window
               Pointer Behavior Guidelines
     - Chapter 7. Focus, Selection, and Drag and Drop
         - Keyboard Focus and Navigation
             - Keyboard Focus Policy and Navigation Within a Window
                   Keyboard Navigation
                   Mouse Navigation
               Keyboard Focus and Navigation Guidelines
         - Selection
               Selection Models—What Can Be Selected and How To Select It
               Highlighting a Selection
               Multiple Collections in One Application Window
               Selection Guidelines
         - Drag and Drop
             - Two Models of Drag and Drop
                   Drag and Drop for Non-Text Objects
                   Drag and Drop for Text
               Pointers for Drag Operations
               Drag and Drop Guidelines
     - Chapter 8. Menus
         - Types of Menus
               Pull Down Menus
               Popup Menus
               Option Menus
         - Menu Traversal and Activation
             - Using the Mouse to Manipulate Menus
                   Spring-Loaded Manner
                   Posted Manner
                   Mouse Click
               Using the Keyboard to Manipulate Menus
               Menu Traversal and Activation Guidelines
         - The Menu Bar and Pull-Down Menus
             - Standard Menus
                   File Menu
                   Selected Menu
                   Edit Menu
                   View Menu
                   Tools menu
                   Options menu
                   Help menu
             - What to Put in the Pull-Down Menus
                   Naming Menus in the Menu Bar
                   Naming Menu Entries in the Pull-Down Menus
                   Ordering Menus and Menu Entries in the Pull-Down Menus
                   Using Cascading Menus
                   Using Radio Buttons and Checkboxes in Pull-Down Menus
               Choosing Mnemonics
               Choosing Keyboard Accelerators
               Disabling Menu Entries
               Dynamic Menu Entries
               Pull-Down Menu Guidelines
         - Popup Menus
               What to Put in Popup Menus
               Disabling Popup Menu Entries
               Popup Menu Guidelines
     - Chapter 9. Controls
         - Pushbuttons
               Pushbutton Guidelines
         - Option Buttons
               Option Button Guidelines
         - Checkboxes
               Checkbox Guidelines
         - Radio Buttons
               Radio Button Guidelines
         - LED Indicators
               LED Button Guidelines
         - Lists
               List Guidelines
         - Text Fields
               Text Field Guidelines
         - Scrollbars
               Scrollbar Guidelines
         - IRIX Interactive Desktop Scales
               IRIX Interactive Desktop Scale Guidelines
         - Labels
               Label Guidelines
         - File Finder
               File Finder Guidelines
         - Thumbwheels
               Thumbwheel Guidelines
         - Dials
               Dial Guidelines
     - Chapter 10. Dialogs
         - Types and Modes of Dialogs
               Dialog Modes
               Guidelines for Using the Various Types and Modes of Dialogs
         - Designing Dialogs
               Decorations, Initial State, and Layout of Dialogs
             - Standard Dialog Actions
                   Choosing Specific Actions for Your Dialogs
                   Choosing Default Actions
                   Labeling Dialog Buttons
             - Content of Specific Types of Dialogs
                   Prompt Dialogs
                   Error Dialogs
                   Warning Dialogs
                   Question Dialogs
                   Working Dialogs
               Guidelines for Designing Dialogs
         - Invoking Dialogs
               Invoking Dialogs When Manipulating Files
               Other Situations for Invoking Dialogs
               Guidelines for Invoking Dialogs
     - Chapter 11. User Feedback
         - Types of Feedback
               Providing Graphic Feedback
               Keeping Information Up to Date
               Providing Messages to the User
               General User Feedback Guidelines
         - Pointer Shapes and Colors
               Standard Pointer Shapes and Colors
               Designing New Pointer Shapes
               Pointer Shapes and Colors Guidelines
 - Part III. 3D Style Guidelines
     - Chapter 12. Introduction to 3D Style Guidelines
         - Making 3D Functionality Available
               Designing Mouse Input for 3D Applications
               Using Modifier Keys in 3D Applications
               Basic 3D Interface Design Guidelines
         - Pointer Shapes for 3D Functions
               Pointer Feedback Guidelines for 3D Applications
         - Resizing the 3D Viewing Window
               Guidelines for Resizing Windows in 3D Applications
     - Chapter 13. Interactive Viewing of 3D Objects
           Introduction to 3D Viewing
         - 3D Viewing Functions
             - Inspection Functions for 3D Viewing
                   Inspection Overview
                   Tumbling
                   Dollying
                   Panning
                   Seeking
             - Navigation Functions for 3D Viewing
                   Navigation Overview
                   Roaming
                   Tilting
                   Sidling
               Guidelines for 3D Viewing Functions
         - 3D Viewing Interface Trade-Offs
             - Viewing and Editing in 3D Applications
                   Separate View and Edit Modes
                   View Overlay
                   Viewing Controls
                   Dedicated Viewing Peripheral Devices
             - Single-Viewport and Multi-Viewport Viewing in 3D Applications
                   Single-Viewport Viewing
                   Multi-Viewport Viewing
               3D Viewing Performance and Scene Fidelity
               3D Viewing Trade-Offs and Related Guidelines
     - Chapter 14. Selection in 3D Applications
         - 3D Selection Concepts and Models
               The Object-Action Paradigm in 3D Applications
               Direct Selection in 3D Applications
               Indirect Selection in 3D Applications
               3D Selection Models
               Selection in Hierarchies of Objects
               3D Selection Design Guidelines
         - Selection Feedback for 3D Objects
               Bounding Box Selection Feedback
               Manipulator Selection Feedback
               Highlight Selection Feedback
               3D Selection Feedback Design Guidelines
         - Lead Objects in 3D Applications
               Lead Object When Selecting Multiple Objects
               Lead Object During Grouping and Ungrouping
               Lead Object Design Guidelines for 3D Applications
     - Chapter 15. Manipulating 3D Objects
         - Basic 3D Manipulation Techniques
               Phases of 3D Manipulation
               3D Manipulation Feedback
               Free and Constrained 3D Manipulation
               Manipulator Presentation and Selection
               Basic 3D Manipulation Guidelines
         - Translating 3D Objects
               3D Translation Basics
               Simple (Planar) 3D Translation
             - Constrained 3D Translation
                   Translation Constrained to One Axis of the Plane
                   Translation Constrained to the Normal of the Selected Plane
               3D Translation User Interface Guidelines
         - Rotating 3D Objects
               3D Rotation Basics
               Constrained 3D Rotation
               Free 3D Rotation
               3D Rotation User Interface Guidelines
         - Scaling 3D Objects
               3D Scaling Basics
               Uniform 3D Scaling
               Axial 3D Scaling (Stretching)
               Scaling Around the Opposite Corner or Side
               3D Scaling User Interface Guidelines
         - Changing the Center of Rotation and Scaling for 3D Objects
               Guidelines for Changing the Center of 3D Rotation
         - Object Manipulation for Multiple Selected 3D Objects
               Translation of Multiple Selected 3D Objects
               Rotation of Multiple Selected 3D Objects
               Scaling of Multiple Selected 3D Objects
               Guidelines for Manipulating More Than One 3D Object
     - Appendix A. Summary of Guidelines
         - Guidelines for Integrating With the IRIX Interactive Desktop
               Icon Appearance Design Guidelines
               Icon Behavior Guidelines
               Application Icon Accessibility Guidelines
               IRIX Interactive Desktop Look Guidelines
               Application Window Characteristic Guidelines
               Guidelines for Keyboard Focus Across Windows
               Minimized Window Guidelines
               Desks Guidelines
               Session Management Guidelines
               Software Installation Guideline
               Guidelines for Designing Online Help
               Guidelines for Creating SGIHelp Content
               Desktop Variables Guidelines
               File Monitoring Guideline
               Data Exchange Guidelines
         - Interface Component Guidelines
               Application Model Guidelines
               Primary Window Guidelines
               Support Window Guidelines
               Pointer Behavior Guidelines
               Keyboard Focus and Navigation Guidelines
               Selection Guidelines
               Drag and Drop Guidelines
               Menu Traversal and Activation Guidelines
               Pull-Down Menu Guidelines
               Popup Menu Guidelines
               Tab Panel Guidelines
               Pushbutton Guidelines
               Option Button Guidelines
               Checkbox Guidelines
               Radio Button Guidelines
               LED Button Guidelines
               List Guidelines
               Text Field Guidelines
               Scrollbar Guidelines
               IRIX Interactive Desktop Scale Guidelines
               Label Guidelines
               File Finder Guidelines
               Thumbwheel Guidelines
               Dial Guidelines
               Guidelines for Using the Various Types and Modes of Dialogs
               Guidelines for Designing Dialogs
               Guidelines for Invoking Dialogs
               General User Feedback Guidelines
               Pointer Shapes and Colors Guidelines
         - 3D Style Guidelines
               Basic 3D Interface Design Guidelines
               Pointer Feedback Guidelines for 3D Applications
               Guidelines for Resizing Windows in 3D Applications
               Guidelines for 3D Viewing Functions
               3D Viewing Trade-Offs and Related Guidelines
               3D Selection Design Guidelines
               3D Selection Feedback Design Guidelines
               Lead Object Design Guidelines for 3D Applications
               Basic 3D Manipulation Guidelines
               3D Translation User Interface Guidelines
               3D Rotation User Interface Guidelines
               3D Scaling User Interface Guidelines
               Guidelines for Changing the Center of 3D Rotation
               Guidelines for Manipulating More Than One 3D Object
       Index


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