User Guide

CHAPTER 2

Container Views

Auxiliary Views 2-25

Figure 2-23 A palette provides handy access to useful settings

A palette has a Close box, or a large Close box if a text or picture button is

adjacent, but the user may leave the palette open indefinitely. This has several

ramifications, one being that a user must be able to move the palette to get at

whatever it is covering. In addition, changes a user makes in a palette should

take effect right away. Immediate feedback lets the user see that the input had

the desired effect. If your application doesn’t respond immediately to new

settings of checkboxes, radio buttons, and other controls, it’s less clear to the

user when the input goes into effect. (For descriptions of close boxes, radio

buttons, checkboxes, and other controls, see Chapter 3, “Controls.”)

Palettes that remain open take up screen space, a valuable commodity on

smaller screens. Therefore, use palettes sparingly. Don’t use a palette where

you can use a slip instead (such as in situations where the user can make the

appropriate settings and then close the slip). Don’t use a palette in place of

controls in the status bar.

alette