Property Window Usage Patterns
Property Window Usage Patterns
Property Windows
Property Window Design Concepts
Property windows have several usage patterns.
| Property sheets Properties for a single object are displayed in a modeless dialog box. |
A property sheet is modal with respect to objects—users can't change the properties' object without closing and redisplaying the dialog box. Property sheets use a delayed commit: changes take effect only when users click OK or Apply.
In this example, the properties of a single object are displayed in a modeless dialog box. |
| Multiple-object property sheets Properties for multiple objects are displayed in a modeless dialog box. |
This is like a normal property sheet, but it displays only those properties that are meaningful to the collection of objects. Any setting changes are applied to all the underlying objects.
In this example, the property sheet displays properties of multiple objects. The mixed-state check box indicates that some but not all of the selected files are read-only. Changes to this attribute would be applied to all the underlying files. |
| Effective settings property sheets The effective properties for a single object are displayed in a modeless dialog box. |
This can be used when an object's actual properties are determined not only by the object's direct settings, but also by all its parent objects' settings (for example, this is the case for Group Policy). The controls are disabled because users cannot change them.
In this example, the property sheet displays the effective Group Policy, which is determined by the object's properties and the properties of all its parents. |
| Options dialog boxes Properties for an application are displayed in a modal dialog box. |
Like property sheets, options dialog boxes use a delayed commit, so changes take effect only when users click OK. Unlike property sheets, options dialog boxes:
In this example, an application's options are displayed in a dialog box. |
| Property inspectors Properties for the current selection (a single object or group of objects) are displayed in a modeless window pane or undocked window. |
Unlike property sheets, property inspectors display the properties of the currently selected objects. They use an immediate commit (properties are changes as soon as users make changes), so OK, Cancel, and Apply buttons aren't needed.
In this example from Microsoft® Visual Studio®, an object's properties are displayed in a grid within a modeless window pane.
In this example, a picture's properties are displayed in a modeless window pane. All the properties except for Size can be changed by the user. |
