Copyright: © 1992-1996 Summit Software Company


Contents

The following Help Topics are available:

Adding and Duplicating Controls

Displaying and Adjusting the Grid

Selecting Items

Displaying the Information Dialog Boxes

Attributes You Can Adjust with the Dialog Box Information Dialog Box

Attributes You Can Adjust with the Information Dialog Boxes for Controls

Repositioning Items

Resizing Items

Changing Titles and Labels

Assigning Accelerator Keys

Adding Pictures

Pasting Items into Dialog Editor

Capturing Standard Windows Dialog Boxes

Testing Your Dialog Boxes

Incorporating Dialog Boxes or Controls into Your Script

Menu Commands and Toolbar Tools

For Help on Help, Press F1

BasicScript Help Contents


Adding and Duplicating Controls

Adding Controls

Duplicating Controls


Displaying and Adjusting the Grid

Here's how to display the grid and adjust its X and Y settings, which can help you position controls more precisely within your dialog box.

To display and adjust the grid:

1.	Press Ctrl+G.

Dialog Editor displays the following dialog box:

2.	To display the grid in your dialog box, select the Show grid check box.

3.	To change the current X and Y settings, enter new values in the X and Y fields.

Note: The values of X and Y in the Grid dialog box determine the grid's spacing. Assigning smaller X and Y values produces a more closely spaced grid, which enables you to move the mouse pointer in smaller horizontal and vertical increments as you position controls. Assigning larger X and Y values produces the opposite effect on both the grid's spacing and the movement of the mouse pointer. The X and Y settings entered in the Grid dialog box remain in effect regardless of whether you choose to display the grid.

4.	Click the OK button or press Enter.

Dialog Editor displays the grid with the settings you specified. With the grid displayed, you can line up the crosshairs on the mouse pointer with the dots on the grid to position controls precisely and align them with respect to other controls.


Selecting Items

Selecting Controls

Selecting Dialog Boxes


Repositioning Items

Repositioning Items with the Mouse

Repositioning Items with the Arrow Keys

Repositioning Dialog Boxes with the Dialog Box Information Dialog Box

Repositioning Controls with the Information Dialog Box


Resizing Items

Resizing Items with the Mouse

Resizing Items with the Information Dialog Box

Resizing Selected Items Automatically


Changing Titles and Labels

Here's how to change the title of your dialog box as well as the labels of group boxes, option buttons, push buttons, text controls, and check boxes.

To change a dialog box title or a control label:

1.	Display the Information dialog box for the dialog box whose title you want to change or for the control whose label you want to change.

2.	Enter the new title or label in the Text$ field.

Note: Dialog box titles and control labels are optional. Therefore, you can leave the Text$ field blank.

3.	If the information in the Text$ field should be interpreted as a variable name rather than a literal string, select the Variable Name check box.

4.	Click the OK button or press Enter.

The new title or label is now displayed on the title bar or on the control.


Adding Controls

Here's how to add one or more controls to your dialog box using simple mouse and keyboard methods.

To add a control:

1.	From the toolbar, choose the tool corresponding to the type of control you want to add.

When you pass the mouse pointer over an area of the display where a control can be placed, the pointer becomes an image of the selected control with crosshairs (for positioning purposes) to its upper left. The name and position of the selected control appear on the status bar. When you you pass the pointer over an area of the display where a control cannot be placed, the pointer changes into a circle with a slash through it (the "prohibited" symbol).

Note: You can only insert a control within the borders of the dialog box you are creating. You cannot insert a control on the dialog box's title bar or outside its borders.

2.	Place the pointer where you want the control to be positioned and click the mouse button.

The control you just created appears at the specified location. (To be more specific, the upper left corner of the control will correspond to the position of the pointer's crosshairs at the moment you clicked the mouse button.) The control is surrounded by a thick frame, which means that it is selected, and it may also have a default label.

After the new control has appeared, the mouse pointer becomes an arrow, to indicate that the Pick tool is active and you can once again select any of the controls in your dialog box.

3.	To add another control of the same type as the one you just added, press Ctrl+D.

A duplicate copy of the control appears.

To add a different type of control, repeat steps 1 and 2.

4.	To reactivate the Pick tool, click the arrow-shaped tool on the toolbar.

-Or-

Place the mouse pointer on the title bar of the dialog box or outside the borders of the dialog box (that is, on any area where the mouse pointer turns into the "prohibited" symbol) and click the mouse button.


Duplicating Controls

Here's how to use Dialog Editor's duplicating feature, which saves you the work of creating additional controls individually if you need one or more copies of a particular control.

To duplicate a control:

1.	Select the control that you want to duplicate.

2.	Press Ctrl+D.

A duplicate copy of the selected control appears in your dialog box.

3.	Repeat step 2 as many times as necessary to create the desired number of duplicate controls.


Selecting Controls

Here's how to select a control using either mouse or keyboard methods.

To select a control:

With the Pick tool active, place the mouse pointer on the desired control and click the mouse button.

-Or-

With the Pick tool active, press the Tab key repeatedly until the focus moves to the desired control.

The control is now surrounded by a thick frame to indicate that it is selected and you can edit it.


Selecting Dialog Boxes

Here's how to select the entire dialog box using either mouse or keyboard methods.

To select the dialog box:

With the Pick tool active, place the mouse pointer on the title bar of the dialog box or on an empty area within the borders of the dialog box (that is, on an area where there are no controls) and click the mouse button.

-Or-

With the Pick tool active, press the Tab key repeatedly until the focus moves to the dialog box.

The dialog box is now surrounded by a thick frame to indicate that it is selected and you can edit it.


Repositioning Items with the Mouse

Here's how to move a dialog box or control by dragging it with the mouse.

To reposition an item with the mouse:

1.	With the Pick tool active, place the mouse pointer on an empty area of the dialog box or on a control.

2.	Depress the mouse button and drag the dialog box or control to the desired location.

Note: The increments by which you can move a control with the mouse are governed by the grid setting. For example, if the grid's X setting is 4 and its Y setting is 6, you'll be able to move the control horizontally only in increments of 4 X units and vertically only in increments of 6 Y units. This feature is handy if you're trying to align controls in your dialog box. If you want to move controls in smaller or larger increments, press Ctrl+G to display the Grid dialog box and adjust the X and Y settings.


Repositioning Items with the Arrow Keys

Here's how to move a selected dialog box or control by pressing the arrow keys.

To reposition an item with the arrow keys:

1.	Select the dialog box or control that you want to move.

2.	Press an arrow key once to move the item by 1 X or Y unit in the desired direction.

-Or-

Depress an arrow key to "nudge" the item steadily along in the desired direction.

Note: When you reposition an item with the arrow keys, a faint, partial afterimage of the item may remain visible in the item's original position. These afterimages are rare and will disappear once you test your dialog box.


Repositioning Dialog Boxes with the Dialog Box Information Dialog Box

Here's how to move a selected dialog box by changing its coordinates in the Dialog Box Information dialog box.

To reposition a dialog box with the Dialog Box Information dialog box:

1.	Display the Dialog Box Information dialog box.

2.	Change the X and Y coordinates in the Position group box.

-Or-

Leave the X and/or Y coordinates blank.

3.	Click the OK button or press Enter.

If you specified X and Y coordinates, the dialog box moves to that position. If you left the X coordinate blank, the dialog box will be centered horizontally relative to the parent window of the dialog box when the dialog box is run. If you left the Y coordinate blank, the dialog box will be centered vertically relative to the parent window of the dialog box when the dialog box is run.


Repositioning Controls with the Information Dialog Box

Here's how to move a selected control by changing its coordinates in the Information dialog box for that control.

To reposition a control with the Information dialog box:

1.	Display the Information dialog box for the control that you want to move.

2.	Change the X and Y coordinates in the Position group box.

3.	Click the OK button or press Enter.

The control moves to the specified position.


Resizing Items with the Mouse

Here's how to change the size of a selected dialog box or control by dragging its borders or corners with the mouse.

To resize an item with the mouse:

1.	With the Pick tool active, select the dialog box or control that you want to resize.

2.	Place the mouse pointer over a border or corner of the item.

3.	Depress the mouse button and drag the border or corner until the item reaches the desired size.


Resizing Items with the Information Dialog Box

Here's how to change the size of a selected dialog box or control by changing its Width and/or Height settings in the Information dialog box.

To resize an item with the Information dialog box:

1.	Display the Information dialog box for the dialog box or control that you want to resize.

2.	Change the Width and Height settings in the Size group box.

3.	Click the OK button or press Enter.

The dialog box or control is resized to the dimensions you specified.


Resizing Selected Items Automatically

Here's how to adjust the borders of certain controls automatically to fit the text displayed on them.

To resize selected controls automatically:

1.	With the Pick tool active, select the option button, text control, push button, check box, or text box that you want to resize.

2.	Press F2.

The borders of the control will expand or contract to fit the text displayed on it.


Assigning Accelerator Keys

Here's how to designate a letter from a control's label to serve as the accelerator key for that control.

To assign an accelerator key:

1.	Display the Information dialog box for the control to which you want to assign an accelerator key.

2.	In the Text$ field, type an ampersand (&) before the letter you want to designate as the accelerator key.

3.	Click the OK button or press Enter.

The letter you designated is now underlined on the control's label, and users will be able to access the control by pressing Alt + the underlined letter.


Adding Pictures

Specifying Pictures from Files

Specifying Pictures from Picture Libraries


Pasting Items into Dialog Editor

Pasting Existing Dialog Boxes into Dialog Editor

Pasting One or More Controls from Existing Dialog Boxes into Dialog Editor


Capturing Standard Windows Dialog Boxes

Here's how to capture the standard Windows controls from any standard Windows dialog box in another application and insert those controls into Dialog Editor for editing.

To capture an existing standard Windows dialog box:

1.	Display the dialog box you want to capture.

2.	Open Dialog Editor.

3.	Choose the Capture Dialog command from the File menu.

Dialog Editor displays a dialog box that lists all open dialog boxes that it is able to capture:

4.	Select the dialog box that you want to capture, then click OK.

Note: Dialog Editor only supports standard Windows controls and standard Windows dialog boxes. Therefore, if the target dialog box contains both standard Windows controls and custom controls, only the standard Windows controls will appear in Dialog Editor's application window. If the target dialog box is not a standard Windows dialog box, you will be unable to capture the dialog box or any of its controls.


Specifying Pictures from Files

Here's how to display a Windows bitmap or metafile from a file on a picture control or picture button control by using the control's Information dialog box to indicate the file in which the picture is contained.

To specify a picture from a file:

1.	Display the Information dialog box for the picture control or picture button control whose picture you want to specify.

2.	In the Picture source option button group, select File.

3.	In the Name$ field, enter the name of the file containing the picture you want to display in the picture control or picture button control.

Note: By clicking the Browse button, you can display the Select a Picture File dialog box and use it to find the file.

4.	Click the OK button or press Enter.

The picture control or picture button control now displays the picture you specified.


Specifying Pictures from Picture Libraries

Here's how to display a Windows bitmap or metafile from a file on a picture control or picture button control by using the control's Information dialog box to indicate the file in which the picture is contained.

To specify a picture from a file:

1.	Display the Information dialog box for the picture control or picture button control whose picture you want to specify.

2.	In the Picture source option button group, select File.

3.	In the Name$ field, enter the name of the file containing the picture you want to display in the picture control or picture button control.

Note: By clicking the Browse button, you can display the Select a Picture File dialog box and use it to find the file.

4.	Click the OK button or press Enter.

The picture control or picture button control now displays the picture you specified.


Pasting Existing Dialog Boxes into Dialog Editor

If you want to modify a BasicScript dialog box template contained in your script, here's how to select the template and paste it into Dialog Editor for editing.

To paste an existing dialog box into Dialog Editor:

1.	Copy the entire BasicScript dialog box template (from the Begin Dialog instruction to the End Dialog instruction) from your script to the Clipboard.

2.	Open Dialog Editor.

3.	Press Ctrl+V.

4.	When Dialog Editor asks whether you want to replace the existing dialog box, click the Yes button.

Dialog Editor creates a new dialog box corresponding to the template contained on the Clipboard.


Pasting One or More Controls from Existing Dialog Boxes into Dialog Editor

If you want to modify the BasicScript statements in your script that correspond to one or more dialog box controls, here's how to select the statements and paste them into Dialog Editor for editing.

To paste one or more controls from an existing dialog box into Dialog Editor:

1.	Copy the BasicScript description of the control(s) from your script to the Clipboard.

2.	Open Dialog Editor.

3.	Press Ctrl+V.

Dialog Editor adds to your current dialog box one or more controls corresponding to the description contained on the Clipboard.


Incorporating Dialog Boxes or Controls into Your Script

Dialog boxes and dialog box controls are communicated between Dialog Editor and your script via the Clipboard, where they are represented as BasicScript statements. Here's how to copy a dialog box or control and paste it into your script.

To incorporate a dialog box or control into your script:

1.	Select the dialog box or control that you want to incorporate into your script.

2.	Press Ctrl+C.

3.	Open your script and paste in the contents of the Clipboard at the desired point.

The dialog box template or control is now described in BasicScript statements in your script, as shown in the following example.


Displaying the Information Dialog Boxes

Displaying the Dialog Box Information Dialog Box

Displaying the Information Dialog Boxes for Controls


Attributes You Can Adjust with the Dialog Box Information Dialog Box

The Dialog Box Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes, which pertain to the dialog box as a whole.

Position (optional): X and Y coordinates on the display, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the dialog box, in dialog units

Style (optional): options that allow you to determine whether the close box and title bar are displayed

Text$ (optional): text displayed on the title bar of the dialog box

Name (mandatory): name by which you refer to this dialog box template in your BasicScript code

Function (optional): name of a BasicScript function in your dialog box

Picture Library (optional): picture library from which one or more pictures in the dialog box are obtained


Attributes You Can Adjust with the Information Dialog Boxes for Controls

Default OK Button Information Dialog Box

Default Cancel Button Information Dialog Box

Help Button Information Dialog Box

Push Button Information Dialog Box

Option Button Information Dialog Box

Check Box Information Dialog Box

Group Box Information Dialog Box

Text Information Dialog Box

Text Box Information Dialog Box

List Box Information Dialog Box

Combo Box Information Dialog Box

Drop List Box Information Dialog Box

Picture Information Dialog Box

Picture Button Information Dialog Box


Displaying the Dialog Box Information Dialog Box

Here's how to use the Dialog Box Information dialog box to check and adjust attributes that pertain to the dialog box as a whole.

To display the Information dialog box for a dialog box:

With the Pick tool active, place the mouse pointer on an area of the dialog box where there are no controls and double-click the mouse button.

-Or-

With the Pick tool active, select the dialog box and either click the Information tool on the toolbar, press Enter, or press Ctrl+I.

Dialog Editor displays the Dialog Box Information dialog box:


Displaying the Information Dialog Boxes for Controls

Here's how to use the Information dialog box for a control to check and adjust attributes that pertain to that particular control.

To display the Information dialog box for a control:

With the Pick tool active, place the mouse pointer on the desired control and double-click the mouse button.

-Or-

With the Pick tool active, select the control and either click the Information tool on the toolbar, press Enter, or press Ctrl+I.

Dialog Editor displays an Information dialog box corresponding to the control you selected. Here is an example:


Default OK Button Information Dialog Box

The Default OK Button Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

.Identifier (optional): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code


Default Cancel Button Information Dialog Box

The Default Cancel Button Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

.Identifier (optional): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code


Help Button Information Dialog Box

The Help Button Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

FileName$ (optional): Name of the help file that you want to invoke.

Context& (mandatory): The context ID specifying which help topic to jump to.

.Identifier (optional): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code


Push Button Information Dialog Box

The Push Button Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

Text$ (optional): text displayed on a control

.Identifier (optional): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code


Option Button Information Dialog Box

The Option Button Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

Text$ (optional): text displayed on a control

.Identifier (optional): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code

.Option Group (mandatory): name by which you refer to a group of option buttons in your BasicScript code


Check Box Information Dialog Box

The Check Box Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

Text$ (optional): text displayed on a control

.Identifier (mandatory): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code; also contains the result of the control after the dialog box has been processed


Group Box Information Dialog Box

The Group Box Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

Text$ (optional): text displayed on a control

.Identifier (optional): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code


Text Information Dialog Box

The Text Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

Text$ (optional): text displayed on a control

Font (optional): font in which text is displayed

.Identifier (optional): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code


Text Box Information Dialog Box

The Text Box Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

Multiline (optional): option that allows you to determine whether users can enter a single line of text or multiple lines

.Identifier (mandatory): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code; also contains the result of the control after the dialog box has been processed


List Box Information Dialog Box

The List Box Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

.Identifier (mandatory): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code; also contains the result of the control after the dialog box has been processed

Array$ (mandatory): name of an array variable in your BasicScript code


Combo Box Information Dialog Box

The Combo Box Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

.Identifier (mandatory): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code; also contains the result of the control after the dialog box has been processed

Array$ (mandatory): name of an array variable in your BasicScript code


Drop List Box Information Dialog Box

The Drop List Box Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

.Identifier (mandatory): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code; also contains the result of the control after the dialog box has been processed

Array$ (mandatory): name of an array variable in your BasicScript code


Picture Information Dialog Box

The Picture Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

.Identifier (optional): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code

.Identifier (optional): name of the file containing a picture that you want to display or the name of a picture that you want to display from a specified picture library

Frame (optional): option that allows you to display a 3-D frame


Picture Button Information Dialog Box

The Default OK Button Information dialog box can be used to to check and adjust the following attributes:

Position (mandatory): X and Y coordinates within the dialog box, in dialog units

Size (mandatory): width and height of the control, in dialog units

.Identifier (optional): name by which you refer to a control in your BasicScript code

.Identifier (optional): name of the file containing a picture that you want to display or the name of a picture that you want to display from a specified picture library


Menu Commands and Toolbar Tools

File Menu

Edit Menu

Controls Menu/Tools

Help Menu

Pick Tool


File Menu

New

Creates a new dialog box. Dialog Editor prompts you before diacarding any changes you have made to your current dialog box.

Open...

Displays the Open Dialog File dialog box, which you can use to open an existing dialog box template. Dialog Editor prompts you before diacarding any changes you have made to your current dialog box.

Save

If you have already created a file for the current dialog box template, saves the template to that file.

If you have not yet created a file for the current dialog box template, displays the Save Dialog File dialog box, which you can use to specify the file to which you want to save the current template.

Save As...

Displays the Save Dialog File dialog box, which you can use to save the current dialog box template in a file under a new name.

    Test Dialog    F5

Toggles between the run mode (in which the dialog box "comes alive" for testing purposes) and the edit mode (in which you can make changes to the dialog box).

Capture Dialog

Captures the standard Windows controls from a standard Windows dialog box in another Windows application.

Exit    Alt+F4

Closes Dialog Editor. Dialog Editor prompts you before diacarding any changes you have made to your current dialog box.

Exit & Return    Alt+F4

Closes Dialog Editor and returns you to the host application. Dialog Editor prompts you before diacarding any changes you have made to your current dialog box.


Edit Menu

Undo    Ctrl+Z

Allows you to undo up to 10 preceding operations. The Undo command continually indicates the next operation you can undo by selecting it and grays out when there are no more operations that can be undone.

Cut    Ctrl+X

Removes the selected dialog box or control from Dialog Editor's application window and places it on the Clipboard.

Copy    Ctrl+C

Copies the selected dialog box or control, without removing it from Dialog Editor's application window, and places it on the Clipboard.

Paste    Ctrl+V

Inserts the contents of the Clipboard into Dialog Editor.

If the Clipboard contains BasicScript statements describing one or more controls, then those controls are added to the current dialog box. If the Clipboard contains the BasicScript template for an entire dialog box, then Dialog Editor creates a new dialog box from the statements in the template.

If the BasicScript statements contain errors, Dialog Editor displays the Dialog Translation Errors dialog box, which helps you pinpoint the location and nature of the errors.

Clear    Del

Removes the selected dialog box or control from Dialog Editor's application window without placing it on the Clipboard. If you have selected the dialog box and it contains more than one control, Dialog Editor prompts you before removing all the controls from it.

Duplicate    Ctrl+D

Creates a duplicate copy of the selected control.

Size to Text    F3

Adjusts the borders of certain controls to fit the text displayed on them.

    Info...    Ctrl+I

Displays the Information dialog box for the selected dialog box or control. You can use this dialog box to check and adjust various attributes of controls and dialog boxes.

Grid...    Ctrl+G

Displays the Grid dialog box, which you can use to display or turn off the grid and adjust the grid's spacing.


Controls Menu/Tools

    OK button

Adds a default OK button to your dialog box. An OK button is a special type of push, or command, button.

    Cancel button

Adds a default Cancel button to your dialog box. A Cancel button is a special type of push, or command, button.

    Help button

Adds a Help button to your dialog box. A Help button is a special type of push, or command, button.

    Push button

Adds a push, or command, button to your dialog box.

    Option button

Adds an option button to your dialog box. An option button is one of a group of two or more linked buttons that let users select only one from a group of mutually exclusive choices.

    Check box

Adds a check box to your dialog box. Users can check or clear a check box to indicate their preference regarding the alternative specified on the check box label.

    Group box

Adds a group box to your dialog box. A group box is a rectangular design element used to enclose a group of related controls. You can use the optional group box label to display a title for the controls in the box.

    Text

Adds a text control to your dialog box. A text control is a field containing text that you want to display for the users' information. The text in this field wraps, and the field can contain a maximum of 255 characters. Text controls can either display stand-alone text or be used as labels for text boxes, list boxes, combo boxes, drop list boxes, pictures, and picture buttons. You can choose the font in which the text appears.

    Text box

Adds a text box to your dialog box. A text box is a field into which users can enter text (potentially, as much as 32K). By default, this field holds a single line of nonwrapping text. If you choose the Multiline setting in the Text Box Information dialog box, this field will hold multiple lines of wrapping text.

    List box

Adds a list box to your dialog box. A list box is a displayed, scrollable list from which users can select one item. The currently selected item is highlighted on the list.

    Combo box

Adds a combo box to your dialog box. A combo box consists of a text field with a displayed, scrollable list beneath it. Users can either select an item from the list or enter the name of the desired item in the text field. The currently selected item is displayed in the text field. If the item was selected from the scrolling list, it is highlighted there as well.

    Drop list box

Adds a drop list box to your dialog box. A drop list box consists of a field that displays the currently selected item, followed by a downward-pointing arrow, which users can click to temporarily display a scrolling list of items. Once they select an item from the list, the list disappears and the newly selected item is displayed in the field.

    Picture

Adds a picture to your dialog box. A picture is a field used to display a Windows bitmap or metafile.

    Picture button

Adds a picture button to your dialog box. A picture button is a special type of push, or command, button on which a Windows bitmap or metafile appears.


Help Menu

Contents    F1

Presents a list of major topics in the Help system. By clicking a topic on the list, you can display the available Help information about that topic.

Search for Help On...

Displays a dialog box that allows users to search for Help topics containing specific keywords.

About Dialog Editor...

Displays the About Dialog Editor dialog box, which indicates application name, version number, copyright statement, and icon, as well as additional information such as amount of available memory and disk space.


Pick Tool

Lets you select, move, and resize items and control the insertion point.


Testing Your Dialog Boxes

Dialog Editor lets you run your edited dialog box purposes.  When you click the Test tool, you dialog box comes alive, which gives you an opportunity to make sure it functions properly and fix any problems before you incorporate the dialog box template into your script.

Before you run your dialog box, take a moment to look it over for basic problems such as the following.

Does the dialog box contain a command button—that is, a default OK or Cancel button, a push button, or a picture button?

Does the dialog box contain all the necessary push buttons?

Does the dialog box contain a Help button if one is needed?

Are the controls aligned and sized properly?

If there is a text control, is its font set properly?

Are the close box and title bar displayed (or hidden) as you intended?

Are the control labels and dialog box title spelled and capitalized correctly?

Do all the controls fit within the borders of the dialog box?

Could you improve the design of the dialog box by adding one or more group boxes to set off groups of related controls?

Could you clarify the purpose of any unlabeled control (such as a text box, list box, combo box, drop list box, picture, or picture button) by adding a text control to serve as a de facto label for it?

Have you made all the necessary accelerator key assignments.

After you’ve fixed any elementary problems, you’re ready to run your dialog box so you can check for problems that don’t become apparent until a dialog box is activated.

Testing your dialog box is an iterative process that involves running the dialog box to see how well it works, identifying problems, stopping the test and fixing those problems, then running the dialog box again to make sure the problems are fixed and to identify any additional problems, and so forth—until the dialog box functions the way you intend. Here’s how to test your dialog box and fine-tune its performance.

To test your dialog box:

1.	Click the Run tool on the toolbar.

-Or-

Press F5.

The dialog box becomes operational, and you can check how it functions.

2.	To stop the test, click the Run tool, press F5, or double-click the dialog box's close box (if it has one).

3.	Make any necessary adjustments to the dialog box.

4.	Repeat steps 1--3 as many times as you need in order to get the dialog box working properly.