[comp.sys.mac.programmer] Advice needed on selections in a list box

john@basho.uucp (John Lacey) (05/25/91)

I have a list box in a modeless dialog which is grossly similar to
that in the Open and Save As dialogs.  There is, however, only one
level in the popup.  Basically, I have 7 different lists, and the
popup controls which one appears in the list box.  The items in the
list are documents (but not files).

This dialog has controls for opening, exporting as a text file,
deleting, and getting complete information on these documents.

Shift-extended selections are not allowed, but adding to the
selections with command-clicks is allowed.

The issue I am wrestling with is whether to allow selections is
multiple lists, so that even if another list is currently displayed,
selections in another list remain intact (not visually!).  This would
treat the lists as one big list.  Whether command-clicks would be
necessary to extend the selection is up in the air (I think they
should be necessary).

If this wasn't done, switching to another list via the popup would
deselect all of the current selections.

If I do allow such selections, should I provide some visual clue that
there are current selections in other list?  Something like a static
text item giving the number of selections in the current list, and in
all other lists.

Confusedly yours,

-- 
John Lacey,  Schemer, TeXnician, and MacHacker
"It's hard to tell you how I feel without hurting you."	--Soho