Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac.system:662 comp.sys.mac.programmer:15594
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!apple!lsr
From: lsr@Apple.COM (Larry Rosenstein)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: HIF suggestions desired
Message-ID: <8894@goofy.Apple.COM>
Date: 27 Jun 90 22:17:03 GMT
References: <1134@tardis.Tymnet.COM> <383@three.MV.COM> <42419@apple.Apple.COM>
Distribution: na
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.
Lines: 28

In article <42419@apple.Apple.COM> marc@Apple.COM (Mark Dawson) writes:

>has come up with is to "beep" at the user (and put up an explanitory dialog)
>when s/he tries to deselect the last checkbox.
>
>Problem: I don't like beeping at users.  I would much rather somehow visually
>show that the last checkbox can't be deselected.  Greying out the last checkbox

If this is some kind of modal dialog (or a modeless dialog in which there is
an Apply button), then I would gray out the OK/Apply button.  This prevents
the user from selecting an invalid set of options, but doesn't prevent the
user from temporarily making an invalid selection.

If the user has 1 checkbox checked and wants to change the selection then
with your interface s/he must select the new checkbox before deselecting the
old.  With my suggestion, s/he can make the changes in either order,
provided s/he makes both changes.

If you think disabling OK/Apply is not explicit, you can add an explanation
to the botton of the dialog.  This won't be annoying to an experienced user,
and will help explain things to the new user.  (In System 7, you could use
the Help Manager to explain why the button was disabled.)

-- 
		 Larry Rosenstein,  Object Specialist
 Apple Computer, Inc.  20525 Mariani Ave, MS 46-B  Cupertino, CA 95014
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