Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pt.cs.cmu.edu!henry!hairston From: hairston@henry.ece.cmu.edu (David Hairston) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer Subject: Re: MultiFinder vs WDEF Message-ID: Date: 4 Jan 91 17:41:44 GMT References: <47731@apple.Apple.COM> <1991Jan4.150838.13108@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> Organization: Gaia II Lines: 39 In-reply-to: dorner@pequod.cso.uiuc.edu's message of 4 Jan 91 15:08:38 GMT [stevec@Apple.COM (Steve Christensen) writes:] [] It won't let you switch because the standard WDEF (ID=0) varCode 1 is the [] modal dialog window. Normally if a modal dialog is the front-most window, [] you don't want to allow switching because a critical operation needs to be [] completed. [dorner@pequod.cso.uiuc.edu (Steve Dorner) writes:] [] I wonder about that. When I put up a modal, I'm usually trying to inform [] the user that has happened, or trying to get some piece of [] information my program needs before it can do what the user has asked it [] to do. [] ... {stuff deleted} [] I see no reason in any of these cases NOT to allow switching. In fact, I [] can't think of a SINGLE SPOT in my program where it would hurt the user to [] switch, and several where it could be beneficial. [] [] So I've hacked (and I mean hacked) my filterProc to always allow switching. [] [] I can hear some of your knees jerking out "you shouldn't use modals!" [] I'm afraid I can't agree. Users expect them for error conditions, and it [] also makes perfectly good sense to use them for obtaining vital info. [] [] I would like to see the "don't switch on modals" restriction simply [] REMOVED. it seems your trying to blur the valid distinction between modal and modeless dialogs (valid, in my opinion). my knee jerk reaction is to suggest that you try other varcodes if simply want the modeless behavior. i'm not aware that the user is so discriminating that a similar appearing window, in this case, will lead to disaster. better yet, since you hack extensively, blow off WDEF 0 and roll your own! this eventually will make better use of your extensive hacking ... hmmm, seems like one of those ;-) thingies might be appropriate here. -dave- "it's all in your mind ..." hairston@henry.ece.cmu.edu