Guidelines for Common Print Dialog Functions

Applications are expected to provide many different types of printing functions and capabilities. This section provides guidelines for the most commonly used types of print options so that appearance and behavior for these items is consistent across applications. These common items are grouped into a common area that is located in the top portion of the print dialog. Figure 7-5 shows a typical print dialog. The common area is the area above the separator line.

Figure 7-5 A basic print dialog. box

The common area contains the following components:

• Dialog Title: Print

• File: this is a noneditable field. It displays the file name (if available). If the user is printing a nonfile object, this field should display the object type if possible (for example, mail message, calendar appointment).

• Printer: A combination box; could also be a text field. It contains the name of the printer destination. The default entry is labeled Default, that is, whatever printer is the default destination. The user may select or type any other valid printer name. If it is a combination box, the list of printers could reflect what is appropriate for that printing job. The dialog should retain the last user entry or selection made.

• Copies: A spin box (numeric widget) where the user selects or types the number of output copies desired. Optionally, this could be a text field.

• Banner Page Title: A text field where the user may enter the text the user wants to appear on the banner page (that is, cover page) of their output. This field should pick up the default banner title if the user has set it elsewhere. Optionally, you could add a check box to turn the banner page off completely.

• Separator lines: Used between the common fields, the application-specific fields, and the buttons.

• The print dialog contains the following standard buttons:

  • Print: Accepts the user's choices in the dialog, prints the selected objects, and exits the dialog.

  • Cancel: Ignores the user's choices in the dialog, prints nothing, and exits the dialog.

  • Help: Brings up an associated Help window.

  • Optional buttons could include Reset, Print Preview.