How to Use the Checklist

You certify your own application by comparing its behavior with that specified in the checklist. For each checklist item, check Yes only if your application performs exactly as described for that item. If you have not implemented a specified type of behavior in any manner anywhere in your application, check N/A (not applicable) for the items pertaining to that behavior.

The checklist describes keys using a model keyboard mechanism. Wherever keyboard input is specified, the keys are indicated by the engravings that they have on the OSF/Motif model keyboard. Mouse buttons are described using a virtual button mechanism to better describe behavior independent from the number of buttons on the mouse. For more information on the model keyboard and virtual button mechanisms, consult the Preface and Section 2.2.1, "Pointing Devices" of the OSF/Motif Style Guide, Revision 1.2.

This checklist uses Common Desktop Environment typographical conventions for keyboard and mouse inputs. These conventions differ from those used in the OSF/Motif Style Guide, Revision 1.2. For information, see "What Typographic Conventions Mean".

By default, this checklist assumes that your application is being designed for a left-to-right language environment in an English-language locale. Some sections of the checklist may require appropriate changes for other locales.

As you compare the behavior of your application to the requirements in the checklist, we recommend that you follow along in the OSF/Motif Style Guide, Revision 1.2. Each item in this checklist contains the corresponding section number from the OSF/Motif checklist, if the item came from that list. Each item in the checklist is also followed by a brief explanation or justification. If you do not understand a particular item, refer to the appropriate section in the OSF/Motif guide and check the glossary for any terms that are unclear.

The headings used in this checklist correspond to the headings in the OSF/Motif Style Guide, Revision 1.2 and the checklist items are labeled with the numbers used in that book. The Common Desktop Environment-specific additions are labeled with alphabetic identifiers.

Each checklist item also has a priority label: Required, Recommended, or Optional. The Required items must be followed for an application to be Common Desktop Environment compliant. Recommended items should be followed where feasible. Optional items are alternative implementations which the interface designer can choose.