7 Selection Dialogs
This chapter describes the predefined Motif selection−style dialogs. These dialogs display a list of items, such as files
or commands, and allow the user to select items.
In Chapter 5, Introduction to Dialogs, we introduced the idea that dialogs are transient windows that perform a single
task in an application. Dialogs may perform tasks that range from displaying a simple message, to asking a question,
to providing a highly interactive window that obtains information from the user. The previous chapter also introduced
MessageDialogs and discussed how they are used by the Motif toolkit. This chapter discusses SelectionDialogs, which
are at the next level of complexity in predefined Motif dialogs.
In general, SelectionDialogs are used to present the user with a list of choices. The user can also enter a new selection
or edit an existing one by typing in a text area in the dialog. SelectionDialogs are appropriate when the user is
supposed to respond to the dialog with more than just a simple yes or no answer. With respect to the action area,
SelectionDialogs have the same default buttons as MessageBoxes (e.g., OK, Cancel, and Help). The dialogs also
provide an Apply button, but the button is not always managed by default. SelectionDialogs are meant to be less
transient than MessageDialogs, since the user is expected to do more than read a message.
7.1 Types of SelectionDialogs
As explained in Chapter 5, Introduction to Dialogs, there are four kinds of SelectionDialogs. The ...