Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Path: utzoo!utgpu!cunews!bnrgate!bmers95!bmerh563!slang
From: slang@bmerh563.bnr.ca (Steven Langlois)
Subject: Questions about the Notification Manager
Message-ID: <1991Mar15.145625.352@bmers95.bnr.ca>
Keywords: AppleTalk
Sender: usenet@bmers95.bnr.ca
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
References: <2859@sparko.gwu.edu>
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 91 14:56:25 GMT


Typically the Notification Manager is used to notify the user
that a background program wants to come to the foreground because
something has happened which requires a user interaction. In
particular, the Notification Manager will present a SICN alternating
with the Apple symbol in the menu bar. What if the foreground
application wants to do present the same interface for some action?
For example, QuickKeys 2 will alternate the Apple symbol with
a microphone SICN when recording a script. Does it follow the Mac
interface guidelines to do this and if so does it use the Notification
Manager. I have a similar need in my program where the user can
record a script and play it back. I want to indicate the fact
that a script is being recorded or played through the user interface.
I want to use a similar technique but only if it follows the
interface guidelines. If it does not, what is an alternative?
Is the Notification Manager available when running Finder and
not MultiFinder?

I guess to summarize my questions, I want to know

1) Is the Notification Manager available when running Finder?

2) Is it OK for the foreground application to use the Notification
   Manager to alternate a SICN with the Apple symbol in the menu bar?

3) If the answer to question 2 is NO then what alternative would
   follow the Mac Interface guidelines?

Thanks, Steven Langlois
        ISDN Basic Rate Access
        BNR, a subsidiary of Northern Telecom

Bitnet: slang@bnr.ca
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