Push button

Source: Motif; Windows; CUA
Aliases: Button
Related: Command
SCO Visual Tcl commands: VtPushButton

A push button is a graphic object labeled with text, graphics, or both. Placing the cursor on the button and clicking the mouse button once performs the choice described by the label on the button.

• A push button contains a label that indicates the operation of the button.

• The behavior of a button can be an action, or a routing (i.e. Send).

• For applications where there are no menu bars, use buttons for all action or routing choices.

• Do not place settings choices in buttons (font size for example).

• Use ellipsis (...) after button text when it brings up a dialog box for further information.

• If one button is used most often by users, make that the default button, unless it is a destructive action.

• Identify default buttons with a bold outline. In the above example, OK is the default.

• Assign each button a unique mnemonic, unless it has a specific keyboard-access mechanism such as <Esc> for Cancel. Underline the mnemonic (see Help above).

• Do not dynamically change the label or function of a push button as the result of an action.

• Use buttons that duplicate menu choices if the push button identifies a frequently used choice. For example, in a e-mail application, putting a Deliver button on a New Message window makes it easy for users to send a new message.

• Dim (stipple) buttons that are unavailable.