The Essential Guide to User Interface Design: An Introduction to GUI Design Principles and Techniques, 3rd Edition

STEP 5

Select the Proper Kinds of Windows

A window is an area of the screen, usually rectangular in shape, defined by a border that contains a particular view of some area of the computer or some portion of a person's dialog with the computer. It can be moved and rendered independently on the screen. A window may be small, containing a short message or a single field, or it may be large, consuming most or all of the available display space. A display may contain one, two, or more windows within its boundaries. In this step the following is addressed:

• A window's characteristics.
• A window's components.
• A window's presentation styles.
• The types of windows available.
• Organizing window system functions.
• A window's operations.
• Web system frames and pop-up windows.

Window Characteristics

A window is seen to possess the following characteristics:

• A name or title, allowing it to be identified.
• A size in height and width (which can vary).
• A state, accessible or active, or not accessible. (Only active windows can have their contents altered.)
• Visibility — the portion that can be seen. (A window may be partially or fully hidden behind another window, or the information within a window may extend beyond the window's display area.)
• A location, relative to the display boundary.
• Presentation, that is, its arrangement in relation to other windows. It may be tiled, overlapping, or cascading.
• Management capabilities, methods for manipulation of the window on the screen.
• Its highlight, that is, ...