InformIT: Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional in 10 Minutes

Using the Components of a Dialog Box

Dialog boxes vary in complexity depending on the program, the procedure, and the number of options in the actual box. Some simply ask you to confirm an operation before it is executed; others ask you to choose, for example, a drive, folder, file name, file type, network path, or any of numerous other options.

The following list briefly explains the components of a dialog box. Not all dialog boxes contain all components. The dialog box in Figure 5.1 is a dialog box from the Microsoft Word program. We chose this box for our example as it contains many of the components that can be found in dialog boxes, and to represent the fact that dialog boxes are found in Windows applications as well as in Windows 2000 itself.

Figure 5.1 The components of a dialog box: not all dialog boxes contain all components.

Text box: A text box provides a place to type an entry, such as a file name, path (drive and directory), font, or measurement.
List box: A list box presents a slate of possible options from which you can choose. Scroll bars often accompany a list box, so you can view the items on the list. In addition, a text box is sometimes associated with a list box; you can either choose from the list or type the selection yourself.
Drop-down list box: This box is a single-line list box with a drop-down arrow button to the right of it. When you click the arrow, the drop-down list box opens to display a list of choices. You can often scroll through a drop-down list as you do a list box.
Option buttons: Option buttons present a group of related choices from which you can choose only one. Click the option button you want to select and all others become deselected.
Check box: A check box enables you to turn an option on or off. You might find a single check box or a group of related check boxes. A check mark appears in the box next to any option that is active (turned on). In a group of check boxes, you can choose none, one, or any number of the options.
What's This?: The What's This? feature provides a handy way for you to get more information about dialog box options. You activate this feature by selecting the ? icon that appears at the right end of the title bar in some (but not all) Windows dialog boxes.

Tip
Dialog Box Options Round circles, such as those found in Option buttons, are often referred to as radio buttons. When a dialog box presents radio buttons, you can select only one choice. Check boxes are square and when they appear in dialog boxes, you may choose none, any, or all of the selections. This applies to all of Windows 2000 and programs designed to run under Windows.
Command button: When selected, a command button carries out the command displayed on the button (Open, Help, Quit, Cancel, or OK, for example). If there is an ellipsis on the button (as in Option…), choosing it will open another dialog box.
Tabs: Tabs represent multiple sections, or pages, of a dialog box. Only one tab is displayed at a time, and each tab contains related options. Choosing a tab changes the options that appear in the dialog box.

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