NAME
In-Progress Message — Reference
Description
An in-progress message is a message that informs the user
about the status of a task, such as copying a set of files. If you
normally use a separate window for an in-progress message, you can
also display an information message in that window.
When to Use
- Recommended
Display an in-progress message when the user would
benefit from knowing that a task is taking place and the status
of that task.
- Recommended
Display an in-progress message if a task is proceeding
normally and your application can monitor the completion status
of the task without interrupting it and the status can be displayed
visually.
- Recommended
When a wait pointer has been displayed for more
than an interval specified in the operating environment (typically
15 seconds), display an in-progress message in addition to the wait pointer.
Guidelines
- Required
An in-progress message in a secondary window should
contain at least a graphic image, a textual label or message, and
the OK and Close choices.
- Required
Do not interfere with the user's interaction with
an application just because an in-progress message is being displayed;
for example, normally make the in-progress message window a modeless
window.
- Required
Close an in-progress message window when a request
made by a user completes normally.
- Required
If information that would have been displayed in
an information message is displayed in an in-progress message, do
not close the window until the user explicitly requests to close
it, such as by activating the Close push button.
- Recommended
Show a gauge and continually update it to accurately
represent the known progress of a request made by a user.
- Recommended
Display the label for the gauge in an in-progress
message above or to the left of the gauge. For information on bidirectional
and vertical language support, see Chapter 11.
Providing Controls in In-Progress Messages
- Required
Provide a Close push button to allow a user to close
the in-progress message window without affecting the task.
- Recommended
Provide a Stop (or Cancel) push button to allow a user to
end the task and close the window.
- Recommended
Provide a Pause
push button that allows the user to suspend a task and a Resume
push button that allows a user to resume the task that has been
suspended. Display unavailable emphasis on one or the other, depending
on whether the task is running or has been suspended.
- Recommended
Provide a Help
push button to provide access to help information.
Visuals
- Required
Display the hourglass symbol at the left of an in-progress
message. For information on bidirectional and vertical language
support, see Chapter 11.
Essential Related Topics
For more information, see the Action Message, Gauge (Control), Information Message,
Message, Pointer (Predefined),
Push Button
(Predefined), and Warning Signal reference
pages.
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