Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition

Chapter 3. The User Interface

One of the responsibilities of a graphical operating system like Windows XP is to provide a common set of interface controls not only for itself, but for all the applications that run on it. This chapter provides an alphabetical reference to the elements of the Windows XP user interface, how they’re used, and what tricks can be performed with them. Also included are some of the building blocks of the Windows XP shell (commonly known as Explorer), such as the Desktop and the various toolbars. Chapter 4 provides a similar alphabetical reference to the individual programs and utilities that make up Windows, whether they are accessible through the graphical user interface or the command line. The alphabetical reference entries in this chapter are as follows:.

Address Bar	Labels	Shortcuts
Buttons	Listboxes	Shut Down
Checkboxes	Log Off	Start Menu
Clipboard	Menus	Status Bar
Combo Boxes	My Computer	System Tray
Context Menus	My Network Places	Tabbed Dialogs
Control Menus	Notification Area	Taskbar
Desktop	Progress Indicators	Text Boxes
Details	Properties	Title Bars
Dialog Boxes	Radio Buttons	Toolbars
Drop-Down Listboxes	Recycle Bin	Tray
File Open/Save Dialogs	Run	Trees
Icons	Scroll Bars	Turn Off Computer
Input Fields	Send To	Windows

In addition to imposing a certain level of user interface consistency, these common elements allow programmers to quickly piece together the interfaces for their applications with a “toolbox” ...