Data Transfer

Allow any selectable element to be transferred.

Provide support for users to transfer large labels that they might want to copy by using keyboard or mouse-based transfer. For example, a user might want to copy a complex icon or logo.

A copy operation should transfer the source elements to the target without affecting the original source element in any way.

A move operation should transfer the source elements to the target and then remove them from the source.

A link transfer operation should do one of the following:

The insertion point for an operation that transfers data into a selection scope is determined as follows:

If the insertion position is not on an object, then do one of the following:

If the insertion point is on a selection, but not on an object, a transfer operation into the scope should have one of the following effects:

If the insertion point is neither on a selection nor on an object, a transfer operation should insert the transferred data or link at the insertion point.

If the elements are laid out in a linear manner, insert elements immediately prior to the insertion point.

If the insertion point is on an unselected object, transfer data into that object (in an object-specific way; for example, if the object is text-based, append text to the end of the object).

If the insertion point is on a selected object, transfer data into all the objects selected in the scope. However, issue a warning message instead if all selected elements in the scope are not objects.

If the target insertion point is within the region of the source elements, do not perform the transfer; instead, issue a warning signal.

If an operation that transfers data into a scope is selected from a menu popped up (via the MENU button) on neither an object nor a selection, issue a warning message if the insertion point is on an object.

If a scope has elements selected, and a transfer operation uses an insertion point based on the position of the cursor (rather than the pointer) that is not within the selection, issue a warning message.

When an object is moved or copied, transfer the contents of the object along with the object itself.

When a move operation is performed, remove the source elements only if the data transfer has completed successfully. If the data transfer operation has been canceled or it has failed, do not remove the source elements.

Do not select data transferred to a target as a result of a link or copy operation.

If the source elements used in a data transfer operation are selected, do not deselect them as a result of the operation.

Do not change the source elements used as the source of a copy or link operation.

When transferred data is inserted into a selection scope (not into objects within the scope) by using normal mode at a position disjoint from a selection, deselect the selected elements.

Inserting or pasting elements at a location disjoint from the selection should have no effect on the selection in add mode.

If a transfer operation uses an insertion point based on the position of the pointer (rather than the cursor), place the cursor at the pointer position used.

When a data transfer operation inserts multiple elements into a selection scope (except when a selection is being copied by primary or drag-and-drop transfer within the same scope), place the selection anchor at the opposite end of the area or range so that Shift Select Shift Space or Shift Ctrl Space in text can be used to select it when following is true:

If a selection scope contains only objects, then transferring nonobject data to the scope should encapsulate the data into an object and include the object in the scope.

When a list displays names of objects or files, provide an icon that represents the objects or files selected (or their contents) adjacent to the list, allowing the selected list elements to be treated as strings.

Display a message asking the user to choose the desired result if the source elements of a data transfer represent files or objects and the user could be confused that more than one of the following could be inserted:

During a transfer operation, allow the data transferred to change its appearance or representation to suit the requirements of the target.

If a source cannot transfer data in the format preferred by the target, provide a warning message and allow the user to cancel the operation.

On a move transfer operation, notify the user of possible loss of data if the target element indicates that data may be lost due to conversion of the format of the transferred data. Ask the user to confirm the action before proceeding. For example, if the user moves an ASCII file and the target element will not accept ASCII files without losing data, display a message to request confirmation.

If you provide a choice of the exact representation of data to be transferred, notify the user which representation the application will use. Alternatively, display a secondary window that allows the user to choose the representation.

A transfer well is a special field similar to a clipboard with option buttons that represent transferred elements.

Provide a transfer well adjacent to the control that can take focus if a selection scope containing objects does either of the following:

Transferring objects to the target well includes them in the scope.

Use data transferred to transfer wells associated with selection scopes that consist primarily of text or graphics to replace the contents of the scope, or as input to operations that manipulate the contents of the scope.

If your application supports transfer to a transfer well as a means of loading a file into the application, design the application to respond to this operation as if the operation had occurred through more conventional means, such as when the user chooses Open from the File menu. That is, provide the same kind of feedback and behavior for data transfer loading of files as when the Open choice is used. For example, if changes to a currently loaded file have not been saved, display a message asking whether the changes should be saved before loading the new file.

If a group of elements cannot all be transferred successfully, and the destination can determine this before any transfers are performed, allow the user to set a property that determines which of the following actions to take:

If a group of elements cannot all be transferred successfully, but the destination cannot determine this before at least one transfer has been performed, allow the user to set a property that determines which of the following actions to take:

Allow the user to override the default operation of a TRANSFER button-based data transfer operation by using a modifier key. Table 12 “TRANSFER Button Overrides” lists these operations and overrides.