Checking, Confirming, Closing and Applying the Dialogue Box

If several fields and/or table entries in a dialogue box can be changed, it may be useful to have entries checked when you hit the "Enter" key. In this case, the dialogue box remains open and must be closed explicitly using a separate function. The function "Check" can be performed on "Enter" (format: icon_okay + text "Check"). The dialogue box must then be closed with the function "Confirm" (case 1).

Conversely, the dialogue box can, of course, be closed with Enter, as before. An specific function, "Check", which has been added, then allows entries to be checked without closing the dialogue box (case 2).

Here are also cases where the entries in the dialogue box affect the underlying primary window (case 3). This case is similar to case 2, except that the function "Check" is called "Apply".

Case 1: Check on "Enter", Confirm on V8

In order to check the entries in the following dialogue box, the function "Check" is assigned to "Enter" (format: icon_okay + text "Check"). The dialogue box remains open. The function "Confirm" is on V8 (format: only text "Confirm"). This ensures that the entries are checked and the dialogue box closed. "Cancel" is the last function.

This type of arrangement is always useful when it is usual to make several entries which must first be checked to see if they are correct. This is especially useful if tables are also used in the dialogue box.

Fortschreibungsregel: Detail

Figure 1: Dialogue box with the sequence of pushbuttons "Check" (Enter), "Confirm" (V8), <Other Functions>, "Cancel" (V12)

Case 2: Confirm on "Enter", Check on V7

In order to check the entries in the following dialogue box, the function "Check" is assigned V7 (format: only icon_check). The dialogue box remains open. The function "Confirm" is on the enter key (format: only icon_okay). This ensures that the entries are checked and the dialogue box closed. Cancel is the last function.

This type of arrangement is useful if it is usual to end the dialogue step immediately using "Enter" and when no errors are expected. The specific "Check" function on V7, however, allows the entries to be checked first, without closing the dialogue box.

Figure 2: Dialogue box with the sequence of pushbuttons "Confirm" only with icon_okay (Enter), "Check" (V7), <...>, "Cancel" (V12)

Case 3: Confirm on "Enter", Apply on V7

This case differs from case 2 in that the function "Apply" (format: text only) causes a change in the underlying primary window. Thus settings will be made in the dialogue box which influence the primary window. "Confirm" on Enter (format: only icon_okay) adopts the settings and closes the dialogue box.

Eigenschaften Datum und Zeit

Figure 3: Dialogue box with the sequence of pushbuttons "Confirm" only with Icon ICON_okay (Enter), "Apply" (V7), <...>, "Cancel" (V12)

Exception: "Save" in the Dialogue Box

Normally, the whole object being processed would be saved for each transaction. To do this, the save function (ctrl-S), which is found in the standard toolbar, is used.

Alternatively, the "Save" function can be extended to "Save and Close". The text must then be moved to the relevant icon. If "Check" is omitted, this function would move to the enter key (with the icon icon_okay and text "Save and close").

Case 4: Check on "Enter", Close on V15 and Save on V11

In particular cases, the whole object can also be processed in a dialogue box. In this case, it is useful to be able to save the object directly. In this case the "Check" function is on "Enter" (format: icon_okay plus text), which means that you can continue processing the object until it is correct. The "Close" function (or "Exit") is used to close the dialogue box. The icon "ICON_CLOSE" is also available for this purpose. "Close" and "Exit" are on V15. If the object has not yet been saved, a confirmation prompt will appear.

The "Save" function actively saves the processed object. A success message should appear. The dialogue box is not normally closed. It is then possible to process another object in the dialogue box.

"Cancel" is then, of course, displayed as the last key, allowing you to exit the dialogue step.

Note: This procedure undermines the strict old rule, "never use save in a dialogue box".

Figure 4: Dialogue box with the sequence of pushbuttons "Check" (Enter); "Close" (V15), <...>, "Save" (V11), <...Other Functions>, "Cancel" (V12)