Windows Conventions

Resource

Location

Function

Example

Toggle

Menus

Used to activate/de-activate a state. When the state is active, a check mark appears to the right of the selection.

Cascading Menu

Menus

Used when a selection gives a menu of additional options.

Item

Menus

Performs an action.

Dialog Selection

Menus

Displays a dialog.

Combo Box

Dialogs

A type of field. A Combo Box is used when a finite number of acceptable field entries exist.

List Box

Dialogs

Similar to Combo Box.

Check Box

Dialogs

Similar to toggle.

Radio Button

Dialogs

Radio buttons typically appear in a group of mutually exclusive options.

Color Menu

Dialogs

The rectangle to the example expands on left-mouse up, revealing a palette of colors.

Button

Dialogs

Performs an action.

Field

Dialogs

Displays an adjustable value.

Tree Control

Dialogs

Displays a hierarchy or structure. A parent element is preceded by a + or – sign inside a box. Click on the box to view or hide children. (If the parent’s children are invisible, the sign is +. If the parent’s children are visible, the sign is

–.)

Busy Cursor

Mouse

Indicates a worker thread, or busy system.

Re-Size Cursor

Mouse

Indicates that object re-sizing can occur.

Grab Cursor

Mouse

Indicates that an object can be moved.

Cross Hair Cursor

Mouse

Indicates that chart annotation can occur.

Pencil Cursor

Mouse

Indicates that trend line drawing can occur.

Drag Cursor

Mouse

Indicates that you have grabbed an object and are moving it to a drop target.

Can't Drop Cursor

Mouse

Indicates that the window you are over will not accept what you are dragging.