VA Smalltalk user interface parts

When constructing user interfaces, it is difficult to determine exactly which controls best fit your needs. The following list describes all of the visual parts you can use, from the parts palette, to lay out a graphical user interface.

Note:

A number of additional VA Smalltalk parts are available. Only those parts that are used for the basic construction of an application user interface are listed here.

Buttons category  

	Push Button Provides a choice that is activated when a user selects it.
	Toggle Button Provides a properties choice with two clearly distringuishable states from which a user can select. This is also known as a check box.
	Radio Button Set Provides a set of mutually exclusive choices from which a user can select only one.
	Scale Provides a continuous range of values from which a user can select.
	Slider Provides a continuous range of values from which a user can select along with displaying multiple scales.
	Hot Spot Provides an invisible push button that you can place over images on forms. In Windows, Hot Spots can also be placed over other visual parts in your user interface.
	Progress Indicator Provides the means to graphically depict the progress of an operation by filling a progress area with small, solid rectangles.

Data Entry category   

	Text Provides a field that enables a user to type a single line of text. This is also known as an entry field.
	Formatted Text Provides a field that enables a user to type a single line of text in a specified format.
	Multi-line Edit Provides a field that enables a user to type multiple lines of text. This is also known as a multiple-line entry field.
	Label Displays static text or graphic information.
	Form Input Checker Provides a nonvisual part that can be used to validate user input.
	Spin Button Provides a field where a user can either type a value in the field or scroll through a pre-determined set of values.

Lists category   

	List Provides a list of items from which a user can select only a single item.
	Multiple Select List Provides a list of items from which a user can select one or more items.
	Drop-down List Provides a hidden list that lets the user select an item.
	Combo Box Provides a text field and a hidden list. The text field lets a user type a value, and the hidden list lets the user select an item.
	Spin Button Provides a field where a user can either type a value in the field or scroll through a predetermined set of vaues.
	Container Icon Area Provides a container in which users can manipulate objects that are displayed in no particular order or position.
	Container Icon List Provides a container in which users can manipulate objects that are displayed in a single list format.
	Container Flowed Icon List Provides a container in which users can manipulate objects that are displayed in a flowed icon list format.
	Container Icon Tree Provides a container in which users can manipulate objects that are displayed in a tree format.
	Container Details Provides a container in which users can manipulate objects that are displayed in a format that shows multiple columns of information for each object.
	Container Details Tree Provides a container in which users can manipulate objects that are displayed in a format that shows multiple columns of information for each object and is displayed in a tree format.
	Packeting Container Details Provides a container in which users can manipulate objects that are displayed in a format that shows multiple columns of information for each object. If database packeting is enabled, packeting container details is used to assist in the management of packets of information resulting from a database query.
	Container Details Column Provides a column that you can add to either the Container Details or Container Details Tree parts.

Menus category  

	Menu Bar Provides a menu bar to contain menu bar items.
	Menu Bar Item Provides a menu bar choice that displays a pull-down menu when the user selects it.
	Popup Menu Provides a pop-up menu or a pull-down menu that you can associate with a part, a menu bar Item, or a Menu Cascade part.
	Menu Choice Provides a menu choice for either a pop-up menu or Menu Bar.
	Menu Cascade Provides a menu choice that displays a cascaded menu when a user selects it. This is also known as a cascading menu choice.
	Menu Toggle Provides a menu choice with two clearly distinguishable states from which a user can select. This is also known as a checkable menu choice.
	Separator Displays a graphical line for separating menu choices. This part can also be used to display horizontal or vertical lines within your user interface.

Canvas category  

	Window Provides a window with a frame border that can contain other visual parts.
	Form Provides an area that can contain other visual parts, but has no frame border. It can be embedded in a Window part.
	Group Box Provides an area that displays a rectangular box for grouping related visual parts.
	Scrolled Window Provides an area that can be scrolled by the user and can contain one visual part, typically a Form part.
	PM Notebook Provides an area that resembles a bound notebook and consists of pages that can contain other visual parts. It has the same appearance as an OS/2 Presentation Manager notebook.
	Windows Notebook Provides an area that resembles a bound notebook and consists of pages that can contain other visual parts. It has the same appearance as a Windows notebook.
	Notebook Page Provides a notebook page that you can add to either of the notebook parts.

Win32 Common Controls  

The Windows versions of VA Smalltalk include a category for platform specific controls. These controls should not be used if you must achieve application portability between Windows and other platforms supported by VA Smalltalk such as any UNIX platform.

Note:

The Win32 Common Controls are only supported on the Windows platforms.

 

	Track Bar Provides the user with the ability to select a discrete value or a set of consecutive values within a range.
	Date and Time Picker Provides the user with the ability to select date and time.
	Calendar Provides the user with the ability to select a date.
	Progress Bar Provides the means to graphically depict the progress of an operation by filling a progress area with small, solid rectangles.
	Tab Strip Provides the capability to create tabbed dialog boxes when used in conjunction with the Tab control.
	Tab Is used as a component of the Tab Strip to create tabbed dialog boxes.
	Tree View Provides the capability to display information as a hierarchy.
	Tool Bar Provides the capability to create a tool bar when used in conjunction with the Tool Button.
	Tool Button Is used as a component of the Tool Bar to create a tool bar.
	Tool Separator Button Separates tool buttons when used in conjunction with the Tool Bar and Tool Button controls.
	Status Bar Provides the capability to create a status bar that can be used to display various kinds of status information. A status bar may contain a maximum of sixteen Status Panes.
	Status Panel Is used in conjunction with the Status Bar to display various kinds of status information and messages such as those related to the state of your application.
	Rebar Provides the capability to create a rebar when used in conjunction with the Band.
	Band Is used as a component of the Rebar to create a rebar.

Prompters category  

	Message Prompter Provides a dialog to display information or to obtain confirmation from a user.
	Text Prompter Provides a dialog to solicit text information from the user that can be returned to the VA Smalltalk application.
	File Selection Prompter Provides a ready-made file open or save dialog that can be used to access the operating environment file system.

OS/2 and Windows categories

The OS/2 version of VA Smalltalk and the Windows version of VA Smalltalk include a category for platform specific controls. We recommend that you use the appropriate part from the other categories (the notebook parts from the Canvas category).

OS/2-Windows Notebook Provides an area that resembles a bound notebook and consists of pages that can contain other visual parts. It has the same appearance as an OS/2 notebook. This is only available in the OS/2 category in the OS/2 versions of VA Smalltalk.