Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!usc!jarthur!ucivax!orion.oac.uci.edu!ucsd!pacbell.com!pacbell!sactoh0!csusac!unify!openlook!openlook-request From: kk@shasta.tivoli.com (Kerry Kimbrough) Newsgroups: comp.windows.open-look Subject: Searching a scrolling list Message-ID: Date: 10 May 91 20:29:18 GMT Lines: 18 Here's a little question for all you OPEN LOOK style guide gurus. Also, for all you OPEN LOOK toolkit implementors. The UI problem involves selecting something from a large, indefinitely long list of choices. For this, the scrolling list is perhaps the best OL control. If you're not quite sure which item you want, the scrolling list lets you browse the possibilities and pick one. However, if you know exactly which item you want, then most people will prefer to just type in the name, rather than scroll through a long list. The question is this: according to OPEN LOOK style, what is the best way to present both access methods --- type-in and list selection --- so that users can use either one or both, as suits them? Toolkit implementors: the ideal would be a scrolling list that would scroll as you typed, much like Emacs incremental search: Hit 'F' and the first item beginning with 'F' is highlighted, etc.