CHAPTER 2 Using the Motif Graphical User Interface

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Table of Contents

The Mouse
BACKUP.UNET Dialog Components
Default Selections
Types of Dialogs
Modal Dialog Buttons
Modeless Dialog Buttons
Unavailable Selections
Help Dialogs
Accessing a Help Dialog
Exiting a Help Dialog

The BACKUP.UNET GUI is based on X Windows and Motif Graphical User Interface (GUI). This chapter provides a brief description of the Motif GUI as it is used with BACKUP.UNET; it does not describe the look and feel of the complete Motif GUI. It assumes a basic familiarity with Motif and graphical user interfaces in general. Refer to the documentation accompanying your operating system for detailed instructions.

The Mouse

The Motif GUI is designed to be used with a pointing device, usually a three button mouse. BACKUP.UNET functions use only the SELECT button. For information on how to use a mouse with the Motif GUI, see the OSF/Motif User's Guide (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Prentice Hall, 1990).

BACKUP.UNET Dialog Components

A dialog box (or dialog) is any window that solicits or displays information or instructions. In BACKUP.UNET virtually all the windows are dialog boxes. Figure 2 1 shows the components of BACKUP.UNET windows or dialog boxes.

• Title bar---The title bar displays the title of the application (BACKUP.UNET) and includes the window menu button on the left and the minimize and maximize buttons on the right.
  

• Menu bar---The menu bar contains names of menu selections. Click on a menu name to display a pull down menu. The name of the current host is also displayed in the menu bar.
  

• Minimize---Click the Minimize button to shrink the BACKUP.UNET main dialog to an icon.
  

• Maximize---Click the Maximize button to enlarge the BACKUP.UNET main dialog to its maximum size.
  

• List box---Displays a list of items. When the list of items is larger or longer than the box, scroll bars are displayed along the right edge and the bottom edge of the box.
  

• Pushbuttons---Pushbuttons activate BACKUP.UNET commands.
  

• Radio buttons---Displayed as small buttons. Radio buttons are either selected or not selected. They represent a single setting or a group of settings from which only one button can be selected at a time.
  

Graphic: Figure 2-1. BACKUP.UNET Dialog Components

• Check boxes---Displayed as small square buttons. Check boxes are either selected or not selected. They represent a group of settings that you can set in any combination.
  

• Window menu---The window menu contains important Motif window management functions. To open the window menu, click the box.
  

Graphic: Figure 2-2. Motif Window Menu

Default Selections

Every BACKUP.UNET dialog has pushbuttons. Many dialogs have one pushbutton with a square frame around it. This is the default selection. Instead of placing the mouse pointer inside the button and clicking to activate the button, you can press ENTER on your keyboard.

Types of Dialogs

BACKUP.UNET Motif GUI dialogs are either modal or modeless. Modal dialogs are used to enter information. Modeless dialogs display information. Modal---You cannot access any other window until this window is removed from the screen by clicking OK or Cancel. Used to enter information into BACKUP.UNET.
Modeless---These dialog types can stay on screen as long as necessary.

Modal Dialog Buttons

Modeless Dialog Buttons

Unavailable Selections

The labels for selections that are not currently available are grayed/dimmed.

Help Dialogs

Regardless of where you are in the Motif GUI, you can open a Help dialog, which briefly explains the current window.

Accessing a Help Dialog

To access a Help dialog, click the Help button on the current window. A dialog box is displayed, containing usage information about the current window.

Exiting a Help Dialog

To exit a Help dialog, click the Dismiss button. The Help dialog box disappears and you may continue working.