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Dialogs are modal windows. Modal means that focus cannot be changed to
another window (or dialog) until the window (dialog) with focus is closed.
Tabs are placed on panels. A tab panel holds a window (not modal) and
provides the tab control. Tabs are controls not dialogs or windows.
Of course, panels lead to a discussion of panes vs. panels. Panels have a
fixed size. Panes can be dynamically resized. I might have it backwards.
Which leads to the only advise I can offer -- be consistent.
Realize that MS did not invent the names of these things. These things have
been around for a long time (i.e. Macintosh). A consortium with IBM
underwriting it created an ISO standard. Try to find a reference to those
standards in Human Factors or Interface Design books. I don't have any
references on hand. GUI's usually support this standard.
David Locke
David Locke Locke -at- sugar-land -dot- anadrill -dot- slb -dot- com
Engineering - Drilling Information Products
200 Gillingham Ln. Voice: 713 275 4722
Sugar Land, TX 77487 Fax: 713 275 8098
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