Using a Dialog

The typical editor or dialog includes a title bar, menu bar, and toolbar, data entry boxes and/or a grid. Many dialogs include grids, which provide an easy way to review and enter specifications for various processing tasks. As shown in the following illustration, the grid is centered in the dialog above the message bar and status bar.

display of an editor panel, showing title bar, menu bar, toolbar, grid, message and status bars

Although details vary by editor or dialog, a typical dialog includes the following:

Title bar
Name of the object displayed in the dialog and the title of the dialog. For example, if you are using the Table Map Editor, the title bar shows the name of the Table Map you are editing.
Menu bar
Menus for the editor or dialog.
Toolbar
Buttons that represent menu commands. You can customize the toolbar in any editor or dialog. For details, refer to Customize the Toolbar.
Grid
Area for lists of items and attributes appropriate for the editor or dialog. You can modify grid details and display shortcut menus from grid headings or grid columns. Grids are described in more detail in Parts of a Grid.
Message bar
Area for information, warning, and error messages. The message bar is at the bottom of an editor or dialog directly above the status bar.

Optim displays messages when validating your entries, when you select save options, or when errors are detected. If an error is found, you can double-click the message bar to display the item in error.

Note: You can customize the font and color for each type of message, elect to hide the message bar when inactive, and personalize other message parameters by selecting Personal from the Options menu in the main window. Enter your preferences on the Errors tab.
Status bar
Area for messages about a specific command or the current action. The status bar is at the bottom of the main window, and each editor and dialog.

If Optim Security is initialized for the Optim Directory, the following icons are displayed:

locked icon showing an object that is secured The object is secured by an Access Control List.

unlocked icon showing an object that is not secured The object is not secured by an Access Control List.

Note: Objects secured by an Access Control List are protected by Optim Security only when Object Security is enabled.