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Subject:Questions on Win3.1 GUI From:Susan Schulken <SSchulken -at- NEA -dot- ORG> Date:Thu, 2 May 1996 10:25:58 EDT
I have two questions about standards for Windows 3.1 user interfaces.
I have a copy of "The Windows Interface Guidelines for Software Design,"
for Win95 and NT but can't find the answers I need there. If you know of a
resource that can address these (and similar) questions, please let me know.
OK, here are the questions:
1. Drop-down list box indicators in data entry windows
One application includes several data entry windows with
drop-down list boxes. The drop-down indicator does not
appear until the user clicks or tabs to the box. Does this
conform to Windows 3.1 standards?
2. Text boxes with read-only text
The application also includes many text boxes with read-only
text. In most Windows applications I've seen, regular text boxes
have a white background, and read-only text boxes have a gray
background.
In this application, both regular and display-only text boxes have
a white background. The regular text boxes use the standard
3D field border style (black and white, with gray sunken border),
and the display-only text boxes use a 2D solid black border.
Problem: It's difficult to distinguish visually between the regular
and display-only text boxes. But, the developers insist that they're
following "the Windows 3.1 standard." (Is there such a thing...?)
Thanks for your help.
Susan
=== Susan Schulken, Writing Consultant
=== National Education Association
=== Internet: SSchulken -at- nea -dot- org
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