
	The headus GUI

All tools developed by headus share a common graphical user interface (GUI) style. This distinctive style is also applied, as much as possible, across the IRIX, Windows and Linux versions. In the following pages the particulars of this GUI style are described.

The GUI on SGI IRIX and Linux systems has been built using the OSF/Motif toolkit. There's nothing unusual about interface; buttons look like buttons, and you click on them with the left mouse button to get them to do something. Those wanting to know more should have a look at the "OSF/Motif User's Guide", published by Prentice-Hall, Inc. (ISBN 0-13-640509-6).

Under Windows the GUI has been built using the Tcl/Tk toolkit, with Tix extensions; the final result is very close to that produced by the Motif toolkit. In some respects this GUI style is very different from your typical Windows application, in particular the File Selection window; the the File Selection chapter for details.

Opening, Closing and Moving Windows

Right arrows are usually a means to opening another window. Click on the right arrow to open the new window, and click on it again to close the window. In the new window will be a red left arrow, or a red Dismiss button, which you can also use to close the window.

Figure 1. Opening and Closing Windows

Windows can be moved with a <LMB> drag of the blue title bar (e.g. CyPie Controls in Figure 1).

Push Buttons

The color of buttons follows this rough convention: blue for some general sort of action, green for some action that creates something new, and red to delete something or cancel some action.

Figure 2. Push Buttons

Choices

The Choice element is similar to the standard Motif Option button in that it presents you with a range of options to choose from. Point at the choice you wish to pick with the mouse pointer, and click the left mouse button once to select it.

Figure 3. Choices

Text Input

Unlike the default for Motif, text input fields automatically grab focus when the mouse pointer enters them.

Figure 4. Text Input in the GUI

In some situations, where you want the new value to take effect immediately, you will need to hit <Enter> after changing the value.

Lists

Lists behave exactly the same as the default Motif ones. However, not everyone is familiar with the full functionality of the Motif Lists, and so Figure 5 is included here.

Figure 5. Lists