The Windows Interface
A Summary of GUI Guidelines

There are three types of windows: application windows; document windows; dialog boxes. (Dialog boxes differ from other types of windows in several ways and are discussed in a separate major section.)

Application windows are the basic visual framework for data and commands in an application. Virtually all activity in an application occurs within the application window with three exceptions. The exceptions are as follows.

1) If the application window has been resized so that one of its dialog or menu drop-down boxes will not fit inside it, the dialog or drop-down box may appear partially outside the window.

2) Movable dialog boxes may be moved outside the application.

3) The Help window may be moved outside the primary application window. The Help window is actually an independent application window.

Application windows are movable and sizable. They should always include a sizable frame and title bar that contains at least the following: the title of the application; a Control-menu box; Minimize and Restore (or Maximize) buttons. Application windows may include other components.

A multiple document interface (MDI) allows an application to manage multiple documents or multiple views of a document in the main application window or application workspace. (A single document interface permits only one view or document at a time.) The multiple views or documents are displayed in document windows. A document window may be referred to by a name that describes its contents (e.g., the directory window in Windows File Manager).

A document window can be manipulated in the same way as an application window. It is movable and sizable. All document windows must appear within the borders of the application window. If the user reduces the application window to a size smaller than a document window, the document window should be clipped.

A document window has a

Title bar of a document window should contain a

The title bar of the application window should identify the application name and current document name if the document window is maximized. If the document window is minimized, the current document name should not appear on application window title bar.

Optionally, a minimize button may appear on the title bar to the left of the maximize button, if the application allows document windows to be minimized. A minimized document window is represented as an icon. The application should define a default location within the application window (typically the bottom) for a minimized document windows. The user may be allowed to move an iconized document window elsewhere.

The Control menu for a document window parallels the Control menu for the application window. alt+hypen or alt,hypen accesses the document window Control menu.

Document windows share the application’s menu bar and any application controls that apply to all document windows (e.g., ribbons or toolboxes). Scroll bars are not. A document window should have a scroll bar if iconized document windows are hidden below the bottom of the application window, or if the maximized document window requires scrolling to view its contents.

Maximization has the following effects.

1) The contents of the document window is displayed in the application window.

2) The document window and all associated controls (except the document window Control menu box) disappear. The Control menu box is displayed to the left of the first menu in the application window menu bar.

3) The document title is placed in the application window title bar after the application name with a hyphen separator.

4) A Restore button for the document window is added at the extreme right of the menu bar.

If the user maximizes one document window and then switches to another, the second document window should also be maximized. Similarly, when one document window is restored to its pre-maximized size and location, the others should be restored also.

Please see the Microsoft Design Guide for a discussion of saving window configurations, launching files associated with MDI applications, and "always on top" windows.

In many current Windows applications, modal dialog boxes do not include title bars, but the Microsoft Design Guide recommends adding title bars all dialogs.

In addition, windows may include some or all of the following: menu bar, scroll bar, message bar, status bar, and control bars.

The frame defines the window boundary and distinguishes one window from others that overlap it. All windows have frames except when they are maximized and fill the entire screen. Note: Please see the Microsoft Design Guide for details.

The title is a unique label that identifies the application window. The title should contain the name of the application with the first letter capitalized. The title may also contain additional text such as the current file in use (in upper case letters with file extension). The additional text should follow the application name with a hyphen separator. (Please see the Microsoft Design Guide for details.)

If a dialog box opens as a direct result of a command, its title should match the command name, unless the command name does not contain enough information to identify it. the dialog box is opened from another dialog box, the application is identified in the title of the dialog.

Note: Please see the Microsoft Design Guide for details about control menus, title bars, and minimize, maximize, and restore button.

A menu bar gives the user access to the commands available in an application. Document and dialog windows do not generally have menu bars. When used, the menu bar should be placed directly under the title bar of the application window. The menu bar contains the names of application menus. Each menu contains items representing commands. Applications that support more than one document type may replace one menu bar with another according to the type of document that is displayed in the active window. (Please see Section 4 on Menus or Chapter 4 of the Microsoft Design Guide.)

All windows with contents exceeding the window size should have scroll bars. A window can have a vertical scroll bar, a horizontal scroll bar, or both. If a scroll bar is not needed to view the contents of a window, omit it. When a window with a scroll bar becomes inactive, the scroll bar should remain in tact.

Note: Please see the Microsoft Design Guide for details about scroll arrows, scroll boxes, split boxes, and split bars.

The message bar is optional. The standard placement is at the bottom of a window. Applications may allow users to select another location. Because the message bar takes up space that could be used to display data, the application should give the user the option of suppressing the message bar display. Do not use the message bar to display essential information or messages requiring acknowledgment from the user. The message bar can be used to display status information about a selection, command, or process; or to explain a selected menu and control bar item. Messages longer than the message bar should be displayed in message dialogs.

The status bar is optional. The status bar may include brief messages, information such as the current cursor location, and any current keyboard-initiated modes for selection and typing. (Please see the Microsoft Design Guide for details about mode indicators in the status bar.) Because the status bar takes up space that could be used to display data, the application should give the user the option of suppressing the status bar display. Do not use the status bar to display essential information or messages requiring acknowledgment from the user. Applications with a View menu should include a Status Bar toggle item.

Control bars may be implemented to give the user convenient access to frequently used options and commands. Control bars may occupy a fixed position in the application window or may be movable.

A movable control bar is always in front of the window to which it applies; it is never hidden by its associated parent window. Commands for movable control bars should appear on the Window menu. A movable control bar should include a title bar to allow the user to drag the control bar to a new location and Control menu box. The title bar need not contain a title.

Commands for fixed-position control bars that are part of the main application window should appear on the View menu.

The Control menu should contain the Move command. The Control menu may also include the Close command. Control menus for control bars typically do not contain any other commands. The application should give the user the option of suppressing the display of control bars.

Note: Please see the Microsoft Design Guide for details about windows operations.