y 

n/a 

n 

Recommended 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gc: 

Messages displayed by your application do not assume that the user has any expert knowledge about computer systems in general, or the UNIX system in particular. 

It is appropriate to assume that the user has knowledge about basic terms used within the desktop, such as files or programs. Such knowledge can be assumed to have been learned by the user through Tutorials, online help, and user documentation. However, terminology that is typically understood only by an expert or frequent computer user should be avoided unless the application is specifically targeted at computer professionals. Likewise, messages returned to your application by the underlying operating system should not be passed through to the user, but instead, should be "translated" into language that can be understood by the novice user. 

Recommended 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gd: 

Error messages displayed by your application indicate the possible cause of the error and indicate the possible actions the user can take in response. 

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

ge: 

Your application uses audio feedback, in addition to any messages displayed, to signal error conditions and events. 

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gf: 

Don't rely on error messages from the kernel and library routines. Error messages from kernel and library routines are normally not seen by the user, and even when the user does see them, they are usually too low-level and cryptic to be understood by nonprogrammers. Applications should check for error conditions and use an error dialog box to present an appropriate error message in terms of the user's actions and intentions. 

Recommended 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gg: 

Your application displays a confirmation or warning message dialog box to the user when an action instigated by the user will be irreversible and potentially destructive with respect to the information stored within the system or the operation of the system or desktop environment. 

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gh: 

Urgent conditions that require immediate attention by the user, no matter which application or desktop service the user is currently accessing, are brought to the user's attention using audiovisual notification. The alarm is signaled in the current workspace regardless of the workspace in which the application resides. 

Some applications, such as network monitors or stock watch programs, may need to grab the user's immediate attention to some event. Both visual and audio alarms should be used to signal the user. The user should be able to acknowledge the alarm and cause it to cease. 

Recommended 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gi: 

Your application uses footer messages only to communicate status, progress, or information (help) messages. It does not use the footer to present error messages. 

The footer is a good location for prompt messages that help the user to determine how to choose options within a window or fill out a particular field. It should not be used to present error messages to the user or informational messages that are important for the user to notice. These should be presented in the appropriate style message dialog box. 

Recommended 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gj: 

Your application provides a Help button in all message dialog boxes, except those that contain self-explanatory messages. 

Applications should be designed with both the expert and novice user in mind. The novice user must be able to access additional information clarifying the message, the circumstances under which it might have been displayed, and what the user should do in response to the message. 

Recommended 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gk: 

Your application uses the appropriate style dialog box for the display of messages to the user. 

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gl: 

An information dialog box is used to display status, completion of activity, or other informative types of messages to which the user need not necessarily respond other than to acknowledge having read the message. 

Minimally, information dialog boxes should have an OK button so that the user can dismiss the dialog box. If there is additional information available about the situations under which the message is displayed or other references for the topic to which the message relates, then a Help button should be included. 

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gm: 

An error dialog box is used to display error messages to the user. The error dialog box displayed states what the error is and specifies why it occurred. The error dialog box contains a Help button so that the user may get additional information, unless the message is self-explanatory. The error dialog box contains an OK button that dismisses the dialog box. 

A Cancel button is not required for error dialog boxes unless the error resulted in the suspension of an activity that was in progress. In this case, the message should indicate whether the user has the option to continue the activity or stop it, and the buttons for the dialog box should be Continue, Cancel, and Help. In general, error dialog boxes should not be modal unless it is critical that the user not continue interacting with the application until the user has acknowledged having read the error message. 

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gn: 

A question dialog box is used to ask questions of the user. The question is clearly worded to indicate what a Yes response or a No response means. The buttons displayed are Yes, No, and Help. Help provides additional information as to what the application will do in response to a Yes or No choice. 

Where possible, you should extend the label for the Yes and No buttons to make it clear what action will be performed as a result of choosing either option. For example, if the user has made changes to a document and has not saved these but has chosen the application's Exit option, you might display a question dialog box that asks "Changes have not been saved. Do you want to save these before exiting?" The buttons should be Save, Discard, Cancel, and Help. These labels allow the more experienced user to click the correct button without having to carefully read the question and relate it to the button labels. 

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

go: 

A warning dialog box is used to communicate the consequences of an action requested by the user that may result in the loss of data, system or application accessibility, or some other undesirable event. The dialog box is presented before the action is performed and offers the user the opportunity to cancel the requested operation. The buttons displayed are Yes, No, and Help, or Continue, Cancel, and Help. Help provides additional information on the consequences of performing the action requested. 

The use of Yes and No, or Continue and Cancel, depends on the wording of your message. The labels for Yes and No should be extended as suggested previously. Continue may be replaced with a label more specific to the action that will be performed. 

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gp: 

A working dialog box is used to display in-progress information to the user when this information is not displayed in the footer of your application's window. The dialog box contains a Stop button that allows the user to terminate the activity. The operation is terminated at the next appropriate breakpoint, and a confirmation might be displayed asking whether the user really wants to stop the activity. The confirmation message might state the consequences of stopping the action. 

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gq: 

Your application writes error messages to the Common Desktop Environment error log when it is not appropriate to display these to the user in a message dialog box, but when the message may nevertheless be useful in diagnosing problems. 

You might also write error messages that are displayed to the user in the error log if it would be valuable to the user or an administrator to refer to these messages at some later time. Messages written to the error log should provide additional information about the error and should state the context in which the error occurred. 

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gr: 

Informational messages should be left aligned and displayed in a light font in keeping with their unobtrusive nature. Note that the margin where informational messages are displayed should not accept mouse focus.

Optional 

_ 

_ 

_ 

gs: 

Progress messages should normally be displayed only while the operation is in progress. Notices and other information that is no longer valid should be removed within a few seconds to avoid confusion about whether or not the information is current.