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Sample Programs from NeXSTEP 3.3

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Controls are graphical objects that users manipulate with the keyboard and mouse to give instructions to an application.  They're patterned after familiar control devices from everyday life-switches, knobs, forms, gauges, and the like-and perform analogous functions.  Like the dials and levers on a machine, graphical control objects let the user �operate� an application.\
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Every control responds visually to direct manipulation by the user-a dial turns, a button pushes in or highlights, the knob of a slider slides.  Controls go beyond this direct response, however, to cause the application to do something.  They, in effect, translate the user's direct manipulation into an instruction for the application.  A button sets a state or initiates a program action, a slider sets a value, a menu item sends a command, and so on.\
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The Application Kit defines five canonical controls:\
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\pard\tx680\tx1920\tx2880\tx3840\tx4800\tx5760\tx6720\tx7680\tx8640\tx9600\fi420\li40 �	Sliders \
�	Buttons \
�	Menu commands \
�	Text fields \
�	Scrollers\

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You can also design your own controls-the Application Kit makes this relatively easy-but they should adhere to these basic design principles:\
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\pard\tx220\tx1920\tx2880\tx3840\tx4800\tx5760\tx6720\tx7680\tx8640\tx9600\fi-220\li240 �	Every control must provide immediate feedback to let the user know that an action has �taken.�  Just as users can look at a dial on a stove to see whether it has been turned, a graphical control must alter its appearance in response to user actions.  It shouldn't depend on a reaction elsewhere in the application to give the user feedback.\

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\pard\tx220\tx1920\tx2880\tx3840\tx4800\tx5760\tx6720\tx7680\tx8640\tx9600\fi-220\li240 �	Every control should have a distinctive appearance and behavior.  Don't design controls that look so similar to the canonical controls that users will confuse one with the other.\
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�	The behavior of a control should be apparent from its appearance.  After a bit of familiarity with the NeXT Computer, users should be able to easily recognize a control object and know almost instinctively how to operate it.
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