Confused by some Windows terms used in the Help files?
Need some help explaining a program problem to Tech Support?
All of the Windows elements used in Sanction II (and lot’s of other programs!) can be found below. Many of the items can be seen in action directly on the image of the Windows Explorer!
Tree View – A graphic "tree" where "branches" are displayed or hidden by a mouse click or the keyboard arrows. You cannot multi select (see below) from a Tree View control, you can only select one branch at a time. When a branch is "open", it is "expanded". When the branch is hidden, it is "collapsed". In Sanction II, the Tree View is the left most portion of the main screen which displays the group elements in the case database.
List View – A list of items with column headers describing what’s in each column. Multiple list view items can be selected using either the SHIFT key or holding down the Control key. This is sometimes referred to as "multi-selecting". The center portion of the Sanction II main screen is the List View.
The Windows Explorer is a combination of the Tree View and List Views.
Tool Bar - Tool bars are the icon buttons typically located at the top of the screen directly under the menu items (although tool bars can also be at the left, right, bottom or even "floating").
Sanction II uses Tool bars in various parts of the program including the Main screen, Presentation Mode and Annotation Tool Windows.
Scroll Bar - Scroll bars are the up/down, right/left arrows that help you view screens that are larger than the current window. Sanction II uses scroll bars for long lists of items in Tree and List views
Text Box – a rectangular box on the screen that allows the user to type in information. Sanction II uses Text Boxes for adding items, finding items, setting options, etc.
List Box – a list of items in a rectangular window that allows the user to select individual or multiple items.
Combo Box - similar to a List Box except items in a combo box are not visible until you click on the box. Clicking on a combo box displays a scrollable list of items that can be selected with either the mouse or the arrow keys. Depending on the location of the combo box, the list may either drop down or up. Sanction II's Presentation Mode uses a combo box to access Presentation items.
Check Box - small square boxes on the screen that toggle between a "checked" and "unchecked" state. Check boxes are typically used for setting options. Sanction II uses check boxes for setting Print, Scan and Find options and various other settings in the program.
Radio button – like a check box, radio buttons are used for setting options but typically allow only one choice to be selected. Selecting one radio button disables the unselected choices.
Title Bar – the title bar is the colored rectangular region at the top of a program window. Double clicking on the title bar maximizes/restores the on screen window.
Menu Items - menus are usually found at the top of a window directly beneath the Title Bar. Selecting a menu item causes an event to occur such as closing a file or creating a new one. Sanction II menu choices are described in the main help file.
Control Box – many Title Bars also contain Control Boxes in the upper right and upper left corners. Control boxes allow the user to quickly close, minimize, maximize, resize, etc. with a single mouse click. Not all menu bars contain control boxes.
Buttons – buttons are probably the most common control found in a program. Buttons are used to begin operations, close programs, respond to questions, etc. Some common buttons are "OK", "Cancel" and "Help".
Function Keys – Function keys are the keys marked F1-F12 on your keyboard. These keys perform actions which vary from program to program, and not all Function keys always perform an action. The F1 key is most commonly used for launching a program’s Help file, however there is no standard applied to what each Function key should do. See the Sanction II main help file for a description Sanction II's Function key commands.
Hot Keys - Hot keys are similar to Function keys except they usually require a combination of keys. Menu items often have hot key combinations that can be recognized by the "_" character beneath one of the menu item's text. An underscore means that the menu item can be accessed by hitting the ALT key and the underscored letter. In multiple menus, you do not need to hold down the ALT key after the first selection.
Right Click – a term used to describe clicking on a mouse – different actions may occur when clicking with the right mouse button as opposed to the left. The most common use of the right mouse click is to pop up a list of selectable menu choices. In general, you "select" with the left mouse button and choose options with the right mouse button. Sanction II uses right clicks extensively throughout the program.
Pop Up Menu - a pop up menu is a list of menu items that "pops up" on screen after some event. Typically pop up menus come up on screen after a right mouse click. Sanction II makes extensive use of pop up menus throughout the program.
Drag and Drop – not a program element, but rather an action. To drag and drop, you select items (with a left mouse click) and then drag the items from their location to their destination. Note, to drag items you must depress the left mouse button and HOLD IT DOWN during the drag. You must also click on a highlighted area of the selection, or else all items will be de-selected. When you release the button the "drop" occurs. Sanction II uses drag and drop to add and manipulate items in the Tree and List Views.
Multi select – multi selecting is clicking on multiple items (commonly as part of a drag and drop). There are two ways to multi-select with the mouse. To select an entire range of consecutive items, hold down the SHIFT key and highlight the range of items. When all items have been highlighted, release the left mouse button and SHIFT key. To select multiple items that are not consecutive, Click on the items with the left mouse button while simultaneously holding down the Control key (Ctrl).
Some Advanced Terms
Here's a few terms that will make you a Window's expert when it comes time to explain what's happening on screen.
Modal Window – A modal window is one that appears on screen and forces the user to make some action before the window goes away. When a modal window is displayed, only items on that window can be accessed. Attempting to click outside the window causes the familiar "stop" error sound. The most common modal window is a Warning or Question box - The user must select OK, or Yes or No before returning control to the actual program. If a modal window becomes "trapped" behind another window, it may appear that your program has locked up. In reality, the modal window is just waiting for a response before releasing control. If you suspect a modal window is hidden, try hitting the Escape key or the Enter key. In most cases this will provide a response to close the modal window.
Focus – focus is the term used to describe what part of the program is currently active. When a user clicks on a Tree View item for example, the Tree View has "focus". Any keystrokes you make are intercepted by the tree and acted on (such as the up/down arrow keys). When a cursor flashes in a Text Box, the text box has "focus". Any keystrokes you type appear in the text box.
Always on Top – An always on top window is similar to a modal window, however it does not prohibit the user from using other program functions. When an Always on Top window is on screen, no matter where you click or what has focus, the Window remains "on top" . The most common use of an always on top window is to display "tools" that a program may use (such as an image editor’s lines, pens, erasers, etc.). This Help file is an always on top window.
Sanction II uses always on top windows for the magnify feature in Presentation Mode.