Topic       : TOS - The Operating System
Author      : 
Version     : tos.hyp (December 19, 2008)
Subject     : Programmieren/Atari
Nodes       : 3010
Index Size  : 93790
HCP-Version : 5
Compiled on : Atari
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View Ref-File8.9.14  The components of a window                                 TOS

The following illustration shows the window of a GEM text editor, and 
describes the most important components of this window.




Note that the clickable 'buttons' use characters from the system font, 
and may look different if a substitute system font is in use.

When the Closer of an application window is clicked on, the window 
will close and its contents will be discarded; if it allows user input 
(text editors, graphics programs, spreadsheets ...), any changes made 
to the contents since the last 'Save' operation are lost. Most well- 
behaved applications warn the user with an alert about this and give a 
final opportunity to save the changed contents.

When the Closer of a desktop window is clicked on in TOS, it will 
display the next-higher directory level, or, if already showing the 
root directory, close the window; some alternative desktops such as 
MAGXDESK, Jinnee and Thing offer the option to either behave in the 
same way, or can be set for the Closer to shut the window immediately 
from any directory level - they use a 'parent' widget at the top of 
the window to move to the next-higher level.

The Title-bar shows the full path to the current directory (in a 
desktop window) or to the current file (in an application's window). 
It may also show other details, such as the current cursor position 
etc. (if the window does not have an info-line).

The Mover allows the whole window to be moved by clicking and holding 
down the left mouse button while dragging the outline of the window to 
a new position.

The Backdrop button is only present in MagiC and similar system 
extensions. If several windows are open, clicking on it places the 
window at the bottom of the 'stack', permitting rapid cycling through 
the windows.

The Iconifier button is only present as of AES Version 4.1 and later 
MagiC versions. When clicked on, the window is shrunk to a large icon 
at the bottom left of the screen, carrying a suitable identity label. 
If several windows are iconified, their icons will be ranged next to 
each other. A double-click on the icon will restore the window to its 
former position and size.

Clicking on the Fuller enlarges the window to fill the screen. A 
second click restores the former size.

The Info-line provides various items of information about the window's 
contents. In applications it is optional and must be provided by the 
running program. This also applies to the menu-line (may be scrollable 
if too long to fit the window) and the toolbar.

When one of the four arrows is clicked on, it scrolls the contents in 
the appropriate direction by one line or column if the contents exceed 
the current width and/or height of the window. This action repeats if 
the mouse button is held down.

The width of the sliders indicate what portion of the total contents 
is being displayed on the screen in comparison with the shaded area in 
the two elevators representing the off-screen portions. Holding down 
the left mouse button and dragging the slider allows the window's 
contents to be scrolled quickly in the relevant direction.

Clicking in the elevator area scrolls the contents by one screen 
height or width; this too repeats if the button is held down.

Clicking on the Sizer and holding down the left mouse button allows 
dragging the window to a new size. During this the outline of the 
window appears dotted as an aid to placement. The top left corner 
remains in position.

See Also: Window library