How to Present Error Messages

Because of the way message text is handled, users may not see messages from your application unless you display them in a dialog, footer, or elsewhere in the user interface.

In CDE, such messages are directed to log files that a casual user may not routinely examine. Use the following rules when deciding where to tell users about warnings, messages, and error conditions:

• If the message is informational, display the text in the message footer of the application; for example, "MyDoc file copied."

• If the message is about an error or serious warning--a problem where an operation important to the user has failed--display an error dialog or warning dialog.