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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide Reference
Gauge (Control)
Reference
Description
A gauge is a graphical display, generally used for values that the user
cannot directly change. For example, you can use a gauge to display the
percent complete in an in-progress message. The gauge has the same required
and optional elements as a slider.
Figure 29. Gauge.
When to Use
- Recommended
- Use a gauge in an in-progress message to show the degree to which a task
is completed. For example, use a gauge to indicate how many files have been
copied relative to the number that remain to be copied.
- Recommended
- Use a gauge when it is useful to show the user a value relative to a range
of possible values but when the value cannot be changed.
- Recommended
- Use a gauge whose value can be shown when the displacement of the value
from the minimum value is more important than the value itself.
Guidelines
- Required
- When the value of the gauge cannot be directly changed, use a zero-width
slider arm. Fill the track between the position of the minimum value and the
current value to achieve a thermometer-like effect.
- Required
- When the value of the gauge can be directly changed, do the
following:
- Use a slider arm whose appearance provides some indication (such as
a thumb or handle) that it can be manipulated.
- Fill the track between the position of the minimum value and the
slider arm to achieve a thermometer-like effect.
- Use the same pattern or color in the trough as in the slider arm
so that they appear to be one continuous whole.
- Place the slider arm so that the edge opposite to the filled area
is at the position of the current value.
- Required
- Do not display arrow buttons in a gauge if the value in the gauge cannot
be changed.
- Required
- All appropriate guidelines that apply to sliders apply to gauges whose
values can be directly changed by the user.
Essential Related Topics
For more information, see the In-Progress Message, Scroll Bar
(Control), and Slider (Control) reference pages.
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