Control

A visual user-interface component that allows a user to interact with data. Controls are usually identified by text; for example, headings, labels in push buttons, field prompts, and titles in windows.

[ Guidelines | Supplemental Related Topics ]

When To Use

Provide a control in a window to allow a user to interact with information.

Guidelines

	Identify each control or field of controls with a field prompt, a column heading, or a window title, whichever is most appropriate.
	Use a label that clearly indicates the control's function.
	Use the controls provided by the operating environment rather than creating new ones.
	Avoid changing the function, interaction technique, or appearance of controls provided by the operating environment.
	When a window is sized, adjust the size of the controls. For example, make the entry fields longer or shorter as the window is sized larger or smaller. At some minimal useful size, clip the controls instead of adjusting the size.

*Figure 3 Recommended Usage of Text-Entry Controls*
Control	Number of Selectable Choices	Length of Entry Field (characters)	Types of Selectable Choices	Shown As	Relative Space Used	Selection Type Supported
Entry field (single line)	None	60 or fewer	None	Alphanumeric	Low	Text
Entry field (multiple-line)	None	Any	None	Alphanumeric	Medium - high	Text
Combination box	Any number	60 or fewer	Variable settings choices or objects	Alphanumeric	High	Single choice in list and text in entry field
Drop-down combination box	Any number	60 or fewer	Variable settings choices or objects	Alphanumeric	Low	Single choice in list and text in entry field

*Figure 4 Recommended Usage of Non-Text Entry Controls*
Control	Number of Selectable Choices	Types of Choices	Shown As	Relative Space Used	Selection Type Supported
Push button	1 for each push button, 6 or fewer per field	Fixed action or routing choices	Alphanumeric, Graphic	Low	Single
Radio button	1 for each radio button, 6 or fewer per field	Fixed setting choices	Alphanumeric	Medium	Single
Value set	20 or fewer	Fixed settings choices	Short alphabetic, Numeric, Graphic	Medium	Single
List box	Any number	Variable settings choices or objects	Alphanumeric, Graphic	Medium - High	Single, Multiple
Drop-down list	Any number	Variable settings choices or objects	Alphanumeric, Graphic	Low	Single
Check box	1 for each check box, 6 or fewer per field	Fixed settings choices	Alphanumeric, Graphic	Medium	Multiple
Menu bar	10 or fewer	Fixed routing choices	Alphabetic, Graphic	Low	Single
Pull-down menu	15 or fewer	Fixed action or routing choices	Alphanumeric, Graphic	Low	Single
Cascaded menu	15 or fewer	Fixed action or routing choices	Alphanumeric, Graphic	Low	Single
Pop-up menu	15 or fewer	Fixed action or routing choices	Alphanumeric, Graphic	Low	Single
Container	Any number	Objects	Alphanumeric, Graphic	Low	Single

*Figure 5 Recommended Usage of Tab Control*
Control	Number of Objects and Controls	Types of Objects and Controls	Shown As	Relative Space Used	Selection Type Supported
Tab	Any number	Any (except another Tab)	Alphanumeric, Graphic	Medium - high	As appropriate for each object or control

Supplemental Related Topics

Check Box (Control)
Choice
Column Heading
Combination Box (Control)
Default Action
Descriptive Text
Drop-Down Combination Box (Control)
Drop-Down List (Control)
Entry Field (Control)
Field Prompt
Group Box
List Box (Control)
Menu (Control)
Push Button (Control)
Radio Button (Control)
Separator
Tab (Control)
Value Set (Control)
Window
Window Design
Window Layout
Window Navigation
Window Title

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