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List:       kde-devel
Subject:    Re: Pop-up windows always on top?
From:       Thomas <zander () xs4all ! nl>
Date:       2000-05-01 22:46:32
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> 
> On Mon, May 01, 2000 at 10:12:01PM +0200, Thomas wrote:
> > > 
> > > Shouldn't non-modeless windows of an application always be on top of any
> > > other windows of the application?
> > > 
> > Yes it should.
> > 
> > on a related issue, selecting an icon for an kdesktop.desktop entry (in the 
> > properties dialog) a window comes up which is modeless. I believe this one
> > should be non-modeless.
> 
> Hmm, I made it the way it is (I'm confused by the naming. modeless ==
> has a parent window ?) following to a user's report... He "lost the window",
> much the way described at the beginning of the thread.

THe naming:
Modeless: a dialog which opens and does not allow input into parent window
  while open.
non-Modeless: a dialog which opens and alows you to use the parent window  
  while the dialog is not open.

Most dialogs should be Modeless.

> 
> I am a bit... unsure about when to use modeless and non-modeless windows,
> in fact. When a parent is given (i.e. modeless I suppose), then you can't
> do anything in the parent window - which is often annoying, and when
> it is created without a parent (i.e. non-modeless?), then it can
> "disappear" under the other windows. That's life I suppose... no perfect solution...

From a usebility perspective all windows that require you to enter info and are
closed afterwards should be non-modeless (ie have a parent)

The problem described in the origional thread where the window disappears is
a more real-life problem then you might imagine. 

Consider this: 
- with a small dialog and a window-to-front mouse setting any modeless dialog
will be lost in no time.
- dialogs often have no taskbar entry, which makes them impossible to access.

Hope this will convince you, if not please read the styleguide as well!

Thanx
--
Thomas Zander                                              zander@earthling.net
History repeats itself, it has to nobody ever listens.         gpg-key:  0588D5

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