3 Working with Windows

This chapter explains how to work with windows and window components such as menus and dialog boxes. It describes how to use the mouse to select items and to move, resize, and shrink windows.

3.1 Using the Mouse

The mouse provides a convenient way to interact with DECwindows and DECwindows applications. Use the mouse to choose commands from a menu, to enlarge and shrink windows, to select, cut, and paste text, and to rearrange windows on your screen.

The mouse has three buttons. MB1 (for mouse button 1) is on the left, MB2 is in the middle, and MB3 is on the right. Most often, you use MB1 to interact with applications. This button arrangement naturally suits right-handed users; you can rearrange this configuration if you prefer to use the mouse with your left hand. See Section 7.5 for information about how to change the mouse button arrangement.

To work with the mouse, make sure that the cable connecting it to the workstation is pointing away from you. Place the mouse on a smooth surface. As you move the mouse, watch your screen to see how moving the mouse moves the pointer on the screen in exactly the same way. If you run out of room on your desk, lift the mouse and put it down where you have more room. The pointer does not move when you lift the mouse.

By default the pointer is shaped like an arrow, but it can change shape to reflect the state of an application. For example, it becomes an hourglass or a wrist watch when an application is performing a task that needs more time to complete.

3.1.1 Summary of Mouse Techniques

By learning the following mouse techniques, you can work with any DECwindows application:

Point: Using the mouse, position the pointer to where you want the next action to occur.
Click: Quickly press and release any mouse button. You should hear and feel a faint click.
Press: Point to the menu name, scroll bar stepper arrow, or wherever you want the action to occur. Without moving the mouse, press and hold MB1.
Drag: Press and hold MB1 (or MB2), move the pointer, and release MB1 (or MB2).
Double click: Point to the object and click MB1 twice in quick succession.
Shift click: Point to the object. Press and hold the Shift key and click MB1. Release the Shift key.

3.2 Managing Windows

Typically you will run more than one application and so you will work with several windows. This section describes basic features of windows and explains how to move, size, and arrange them.

Figure 3-1: Parts of a Window

3.2.1 Parts of a Window

Most windows include some of the components shown in Figure 3-1:

The window frame surrounds a window and usually consists of resize borders, a title bar, and buttons that you use to rearrange your screen display.
The resize border surrounds an application window and lets you resize the application's window.
The title bar shows the name of the application and contains a window menu button, a minimize button, and a maximize button.
The title identifies the function of a window. For a main window, it usually contains the name of the application. For a dialog box, it can also contain specific information about the use of the window.
The window menu button displays the window menu, which contains menu items for working with windows.
The minimize button lets you shrink a window to an icon on the workspace. An icon is a small graphic representation of an object, usually an application.
The maximize button lets you increase the size of a window to its maximum allowable size.
The menu bar contains the names of menus you can use to work with the application.
The client or work area is the area in a window where you interact with the application.
The matte is an optional decorative border between the window frame and the work area.

3.2.2 Making Windows Active

The system must know which window you are currently using so that what you type ends up in the correct place. By giving a window input focus, you tell the system it is the active window. Only one window at a time has input focus.

To give a window input focus, point to the window frame and click MB1. The window frame is highlighted to indicate it is the "active" window. Any keystrokes you type appear in this window.

This way of giving a window focus is called explicit focus. You can customize your environment so that simply moving your pointer into a window gives it focus. This is called pointer focus. For information on changing this behavior, see Chapter 6.

3.2.3 Moving Windows

You will often want to move the windows to arrange your workspace. To move a window:

Position the pointer anywhere in the window's title bar (except on a button). If the title bar of window you want to move is covered with other windows, move those windows to the bottom of the stack of windows by shift clicking MB1 in their title bars. Or minimize them by clicking MB1 in their minimize buttons.
Press and hold MB1.
Drag the window to the new location.

When you move a window, it is given input focus and moves to the front of the stack of windows.

To cancel a move operation, press the Escape key (or the F11 key).

3.2.4 Resizing Windows

You can resize windows to make working with them more convenient, for example when you want to arrange your screen to have several windows simultaneously visible. Use a window's resize borders to change its size.

To change the size of a window:

Position the pointer on one of the window's resize borders. The resize operation is limited by the side or corner that you select.
The pointer changes into one of the following resize cursors:
Press and hold MB1.
Drag the resize cursor until the window is the size you want.
To make the window larger, drag the resize cursor toward the outside of the window. To make the window smaller, drag the resize cursor toward the inside of the window. The outline stops moving if you try to make the window smaller than its minimum permissible size.
Release MB1.

3.2.4.1 Minimizing Windows

Minimize a window to an icon to free up space on your screen without quitting an application. When you minimize a window, the application it represents continues to run and remains easily accessible.

To minimize a window, point to the window's minimize button and click MB1. The icon appears on the workspace. You can also minimize a window by double clicking MB1 on the window's title.

To restore the icon to a window, point to the icon on the workspace and double click MB1. The window opens at the top of any stack of overlapping windows, is given input focus, and is available for your use.

3.2.4.2 Maximizing Windows

The maximize button enlarges a window so that it fills your screen. When you maximize a window, your other windows and icons stay on the screen, but they are covered by the maximized window.

To maximize a window, point to the window's maximize button and click MB1. The window expands to its maximum allowable size.

To restore a maximized window, point to the window's maximize button and click MB1. The window returns to its original size.

3.2.5 Viewing Text with Scroll Bars

Some application windows display scroll bars, which let you view the text that does not fit in a single window. Some windows have both horizontal and vertical scroll bars.

A scroll bar consists of stepper arrows at either end of the scroll region. The slider is the thicker box that overlays some of the scroll region. If a vertical slider is at the top of the scroll region, the beginning of the file, list, or other text in the window is visible. If the slider is at the bottom of the scroll region, the end of the text is visible.

The length of the slider, compared to the length of the scroll region, indicates what proportion of all the text in the window is currently visible. For example, a short slider indicates that most of the text is not visible. A long slider that completely fills the scroll bar indicates that all the text is currently displayed.

The following table describes how to use scroll bars:

To scroll Do this

One line at a time Click MB1 on the stepper arrows.

Forward one window of text at a time Point to the scroll region below the slider and click MB1.

Back one window of text at a time Point to the scroll region above the slider and click MB1.

Continuously through the text one line at a time Press and hold MB1 on either stepper arrow.

Continuously through the text one window of text at a time Press and hold MB1 in the scroll region.

To a particlar position in the scroll region Click MB2 in the scroll region above or below the slider.

To another location in the text Drag the slider to a position in the scroll region that corresponds to the general location you want to see. If the slider is at the top of the scroll region, you are viewing the beginning of the text. If the slider is in the middle of the scroll region, you are viewing the middle of the text. Cancel the drag by clicking another mouse button before releasing MB1.

3.2.6 Special Menus to Manage Windows

The preceding sections describe how to manage windows by using the buttons and resize borders on the windows' frames. You can access many of these features by using the Window menu. Additionally, you can customize and control your DECwindows environment with the Workspace menu.

The Window menu contains menu items for working with windows. To display a Window menu, click on the Window Menu button on the left corner of the title bar:

The workspace is the background of your workstation screen; it is the area of your screen that has no windows, dialog boxes, or icons covering it. The Workspace menu contains general information for arranging windows and customizing the window manager. To display the Workspace menu, press MB1 or MB3 on the workspace:

You can also display the Workspace menu by choosing Workspace from the Window menu.

3.2.6.1 Using the Workspace Menu to Arrange Windows

When you are working with stacked windows and select a window, the selected window moves to the front of the stack and is given input focus. But if a larger window obscures a smaller window, you cannot select that small window without moving the larger window out of the way. If you use the title bar to move the larger window, you disrupt your work arrangement.

Use the window-arranging options on the Workspace menu to shuffle your windows without moving them to another location. The options are Shuffle Up, Shuffle Down, Next Window, and Previous Window.

The Shuffle Up and Shuffle Down menu items raise and lower windows on the screen without affecting input focus.

You can shuffle the windows on the screen until a hidden window is displayed and then continue to type in the large window. If no windows are obscuring other windows, shuffling the windows has no effect.

The Next Window and Previous Window menu items change which window is active. The active window is raised to the top of the screen.

The Next Window and Previous Window menu items are useful if you want to circulate through all the windows on the screen. Using these options differs from shuffling windows. Next Window always brings you to the next window even if it is not obscured and always makes that window active.

For example, suppose you have three windows: a clock, the Session Manager window, and a DECterm window. The DECterm window is active. If you select Next Window, then the clock may become active. If you select Next Window again, then Session Manager window becomes active. If you choose Previous Window, then the clock becomes active again.

To Do this

Raise the bottom-most window to the top of the screen Choose Shuffle Up from the Workspace menu.

Lower the top-most window to the bottom of the screen Choose Shuffle Down from the Workspace menu.

Give input focus to a previously active window Choose Next Window from the Workspace menu.

Give input focus in the reverse order of Next Window Choose Previous Window from the Workspace menu.

3.2.7 Customizing Your Windows

The DECwindows Motif window manager (mwm) controls the way your windows look (for example, the style and contents of the title bar) and behave when you are working with them. By using the Workspace options menu, you can customize your workspace and windows to suit your working needs and style. For more information about customizing the window manager, see Chapter 6. For advanced topics in customizing, see Chapter 9.

3.3 Interacting with DECwindows

You interact with DECwindows applications by using a mouse or keyboard to make selections from menus or in special windows called dialog boxes. DECwindows applications generate message boxes, informing you of status or errors, for example.

When using DECwindows, some tasks are easier to perform with a mouse and some are easier with a keyboard. Try both mouse and keyboard techniques and use each where it works best. For more information about keyboard techniques and procedures, see Appendix A.

This section describes how to use menus, dialog boxes, and message boxes to interact with DECwindows applications.

3.3.1 Working with Menus

Many times you interact with windows applications by selecting items from a menu. The names of menus available in an application appear on its menu bar.

When working with DECwindows Motif, there are three types of menus. You access these menus in different ways, but all present a selection of items. The menu types are:

Pull-down menus
Pull-down menus are found in an application's menu bar. "Pull-down" refers to the way the menu is displayed when you click on its name. Some pull-down menus contain commands; others list the names of items you can work with.
To display a pull-down menu, on the menu bar, point to the menu name and press and hold MB1. To select an item, while holding MB1, drag to the item you want and release MB1.
Pop-up menus
Pop-up menus often duplicate commands that are available from pull-down menus. They can be displayed anywhere on the applications work area to give you quick access to files or commands.
To display a pop-up menu, press and hold MB3 on the application's work area and drag to the menu item you want. Release MB3 to choose the item.
Options menus
Options menus appear in a dialog box. Only the current option is displayed until you click on the menu. To display an options menu, press and hold MB1 on the current option. To select an item, hold and drag MB1 to the item you want, then release MB1.

You can also display a menu by clicking MB1 on the menu name. To choose an item, click MB1 on the item.

To cancel any menu selection and dismiss the menu, drag the pointer outside the menu and release the mouse button.

Any menu can contain submenus: An arrow next to a menu item indicates that a submenu will be displayed when you choose that menu item.

If you select a menu item that is followed by three periods (...), a dialog box will appear.

Some applications, such as Mail, offer rectangular push buttons to duplicate frequently used commands that are also available as menu items. Push buttons are usually found underneath the area where the application's text and graphics are displayed. To execute these commands, click MB1 on the push button.

3.3.1.1 Two Menu Shortcuts

Menus contain two shortcuts that you can use with your keyboard: accelerators and mnemonics.

An accelerator is a key or sequence of keys on your keyboard that you can use to execute a function in a menu. Accelerators are listed in the menu to the right of the function items if they are available for that function.

A mnemonic is an underlined letter in a menu name or a menu item. Mnemonics let you display menus and perform tasks by typing letters on your keyboard.

For more information about using keyboard accelerators, see Appendix A.

3.3.1.2 Using Tear-Off Menus

Most DECwindows applications allow you to tear off pull-down menus. Tear-off menus let you keep frequently used menus displayed without repeatedly pulling them down. To tear off a menu:

Display a pull-down menu.
If the menu is a tear-off menu, a dotted line appears at the top of the menu.
While holding MB1, drag the pointer to the dotted line; then release MB1.
The menu will change its appearance and resemble a small dialog box. You can move it to a more convenient location. The menu remains active until you close it or until the parent application is closed.

To close a tear-off menu:

Click on the Window menu button in the tear-off menu. (The window menu button is described in Section 3.2.1.)
Choose the Close menu item.

3.3.2 Working with Dialog Boxes

A DECwindows application displays a dialog box whenever it needs additional information from you to carry out a task. Sometimes you need to type text; other times, you need only click on a button to change a setting.

3.3.2.1 Changing Information in a Dialog Box

Dialog boxes offer various devices, illustrated above, to supply information to an application:

Text-entry box
A text-entry box is an area in a dialog box where you type information.
An insertion cursor is visible in each text-entry box. The insertion cursor, which blinks when the text-entry box has input focus, shows you where the text you type will appear. What you type appears to the left of the insertion cursor. Use the <X] (Delete) key to correct typing mistakes.
Diamond-shaped radio buttons and square check buttons
Click on a radio button to select one option from many. Click on a check button to turn a setting on or off. A selected radio or check button is dark filled.
Slider and scale
Dialog boxes often contain a scale and slider when you need to supply a numeric value. The arrow in the slider points to the current value. Drag the slider to change the value.
List box
Choose one of several items by clicking on one in a list box. Scroll bars appear if the choices do not fit in the list box.
Push button
Click on a push button, such as OK, Apply, or Cancel to tell an application what to do with the information you supplied in the dialog box.
Note

A double border around a push button indicates that it is the default option. Default options are those that the application designer anticipates users will most frequently choose. Usually, the OK button is the default option in a dialog box. Whenever you see a button with a double border, pressing Return achieves the same result as clicking on that button.

Usually, the easiest way to interact with a dialog box is with the mouse, as just described. You can also interact with dialog boxes using just the keyboard. See Appendix A.

3.3.2.2 Saving Your Settings

Once you change the settings you want, click on either the OK or the Apply button and the new settings will take effect. If you decide not to change the settings, click on the Cancel button. Some applications might save or apply settings in different ways. Refer to the individual application's help for more information.

Many dialog boxes also have a Help button. Click on the Help button if you need more information about the dialog box and selections you can make.

3.3.2.3 Making Selections from List Boxes

A list box is part of a dialog box that contains a list of items, often file names, from which you can choose. Many applications display a list box when you open or save a file.

To select an item from a list box, position the pointer on the item and click MB1. The item you select is highlighted.

If an application needs a file name to complete a task, it displays a file selection box.

A file selection box contains a list box that displays a list of files in the current directory.

To open or use a file, click on a file name in the list box to select it, then click on OK. Alternatively, simply double click on the file name.

If you want to work with a file that does not appear in the list box, type the name of the file in the Selection text-entry box and click on OK. Or, use the Filter text-entry box to list a subset of files from which you select.

For example, if you are running Bookreader, your entry in the Filter text-entry box might look like this:

/usr/staff/jones/*.decw_book

3.3.3 Working with Message Boxes

Applications use message boxes to convey information to you. Message boxes can:

Notify you that an application is starting
Ask you to confirm a request
Provide status on an application or particular task
Ask you if you want to proceed with a task

Click on OK to dismiss a message box.

To scroll	Do this
One line at a time	Click MB1 on the stepper arrows.
Forward one window of text at a time	Point to the scroll region below the slider and click MB1.
Back one window of text at a time	Point to the scroll region above the slider and click MB1.
Continuously through the text one line at a time	Press and hold MB1 on either stepper arrow.
Continuously through the text one window of text at a time	Press and hold MB1 in the scroll region.
To a particlar position in the scroll region	Click MB2 in the scroll region above or below the slider.
To another location in the text	Drag the slider to a position in the scroll region that corresponds to the general location you want to see. If the slider is at the top of the scroll region, you are viewing the beginning of the text. If the slider is in the middle of the scroll region, you are viewing the middle of the text. Cancel the drag by clicking another mouse button before releasing MB1.

To	Do this
Raise the bottom-most window to the top of the screen	Choose Shuffle Up from the Workspace menu.
Lower the top-most window to the bottom of the screen	Choose Shuffle Down from the Workspace menu.
Give input focus to a previously active window	Choose Next Window from the Workspace menu.
Give input focus in the reverse order of Next Window	Choose Previous Window from the Workspace menu.