Windows and Dialogs

For BBj-specific information, see Windows and Dialogs in BBj.

Traditionally, there are two distinct types of graphical windows: the window and the dialog (sometimes known as a dialog box). Each has its own capabilities:

Window Capabilities	Dialog Capabilities
Can be drawn or plotted into.	Can be navigated from the keyboard.
Can have menus.	Can have hot keys.
Can accept keyboard characters as input.	Can be modal (whole application pauses until user responds).
Can use the mouse outside of operating controls.	Can stay on top (immune to being obscured by other windows).
Can be set to be resized by the user.	Can have a distinctive frame style.

While it is always a good idea to know how graphical systems generally work, BASIS has tried to avoid imposing these rules on the user. Our SYSGUI device opens one type of item, a 'WINDOW', which can possess almost any combination of the above attributes. Note that this is not to be confused with PRO/5 terminal screens, which are also created with 'WINDOW', but on a different type of device. Simply decide how the window will work and then create it as such. It is also possible to draw in a dialog, or have hot keys where there is no keyboard navigation.