Text Boxes

Text Boxes

Description:

A control, usually rectangular in shape, in which:

·        Text may be entered or edited.

·        Text may be displayed for read-only purposes.

Usually possesses a caption describing the kind of information contained within it.

An outline field border:

·        Is included for enterable/editable text boxes.

·        Is not included for read-only text boxes.

Two types exist:

·        Single line.

·        Multiple line.

When first displayed, the box may be blank or contain an initial value.

Purpose:

To permit the display, entering, or editing of textual information.

To display read-only information.

Advantages:

Very flexible.

Familiar.

Consumes little screen space.

Disadvantages:

Requires use of typewriter keyboard.

Requires user to remember what must be keyed.

Proper usage:

Most useful for data that is:

·        Unlimited in scope.

·        Difficult to categorize.

·        Of a variety of different lengths.

When using a selection list is not possible.

Types of text box

Two types of text boxes exist. One consists of a rectangular box into which information is typed. It may also be referred to as an edit control.

The second is also rectangular in shape but contains text displayed purely for read-only purposes. The former type has historically been referred to as an entry field, the latter as an inquiry or display field.

Two forms of Text Box

Single-Line and Multiple-Line Text Boxes

Single line:

Description:

A control consisting of no more than one line of text.

Purpose:

To make textual entries when the information can be contained within

one line of the screen.

Typical uses:

Typing the name of a file to save.

Typing the path of a file to copy.

Typing variable data on a form.

Typing a command.

Multiple line:

Description:

A control consisting of a multiline rectangular box for multiple lines of

text.

Purpose:

To type, edit, and read passages of text.

Typical uses:

Creating or reading an electronic mail message.

Displaying and editing text files.

Captions

Structure and size:

Provide a descriptive caption to identify the kind of information to be typed, or contained within, the text box.

Use a mixed-case font.

Display the caption in normal intensity or in a color of moderate brightness.

Formatting:

Single fields:

Position the field caption to the left of the text box.

·        Place a colon (:) immediately following the caption.

·        Separate the colon from the text box by one space.

Alternately, the caption may be placed above the text box.

·        Place a colon (:) immediately following the caption.

·        Position above the upper-left corner of the box, flush with the left edge.

·        Multiple occurrence fields:

For entry/modification text boxes:

—   Position the caption left-justified one line above the column of entry fields.

For display/read-only boxes:

—   If the data field is long and fixed-length, or the displayed data is about the same length, center the caption above the displayed text box data.

—   If the data displayed is alphanumeric, short, or quite variable in length, left-justify the caption above the displayed text box data.

—   If the data field is numeric and variable in length, right-justify the caption above the displayed text box data.

Fields

Structure:

Identify entry/modification text boxes with a line border or reverse polarity

rectangular box.

To visually indicate that it is an enterable field, present the box in a

recessed manner.

Present display/read-only text boxes on the window background.

Break up long text boxes through incorporation of slashes ( / ), dashes (-), spaces, or other common delimiters.

Size:

Size to indicate the approximate length of the field.

Text boxes for fixed-length data must be large enough to contain the entire entry.

Text boxes for variable-length data must be large enough to contain the majority of the entries.

Where entries may be larger than the entry field, scrolling must be provided to permit keying into, or viewing, the entire field.

Employ word wrapping for continuous text in multiple-line text boxes.

Highlighting:

Call attention to text box data through a highlighting technique.

Higher intensity.

If  color  is  used,  choose  one  that  both  complements  the  screen

background and contrasts well with it.

Unavailable fields:

Gray-out temporarily unavailable text boxes.

Fonts:

To support multiple fonts, use a Rich-Text Box.