Pop-Up Menus
In previous versions of system software, pop-up menus did not look
sufficiently different from other Macintosh interface elements. The 1- pixel
drop shadow that differentiated pop-up menus from editable text boxes was not
a strong visual cue that indicated a menu existed. This section presents the new
standard appearance for pop-up menus that includes additional graphical
feedback. It also describes how the new appearance enables some uses that
were previously im possible.
Standard Pop-Up Menus
The new standard pop-up menu adds a downward- pointing triangle identical to
the triangle used to indicate that a menu is too long to fit on the screen and
must scroll. All pop-up menus should add this triangle. The Figure below shows
a simple pop-up menu in the new style.
The appearance of a system 7.0 pop-up menu
When the user presses the mouse button while the pointer is over the pop-up
menu or its label text, the triangle disappears. When the mouse button is
released, the triangle reappears. The Figure below shows this behavior.
An open system 7.0 pop-up menu
standard pop-up menu in your application.
Type-In Pop-Up Menus
Sometimes it is useful to display a list of choices but still allow the user to
type in a choice that the application did not know in advance. Keep in mind that
users should be able to see and point; they should never have to remember and
type. The type-in option should be an additional choice when appropriate, not a
requirement. If the user types in an item that is already in the menu, place a
checkmark next to the menu item. The menu always highlights the item that
corresponds to the value in the text box. Your application also needs to
highlight the value in the text box. This behavior prevents a quick click in the
menu from accidentally wiping out the previous value. It also reinforces the
idea that choosing a different value in the menu changes the value in the text
box. You do not need to invert the menu's label in this situation. The new
standard pop-up menu lends itself readily to this use, as shown in the Figure
below.
A type-in pop-up menu
If the value typed into the text box does not match any of the items in the
pop-up menu, the menu should add the type-in value as the first item and
separate it from the rest of the standard values by a gray line, as shown in the
Figure below. This appearance makes a clean distinction between common items
that are always available and the typed-in value, which is only temporary.
A type-in pop-up menu with user's choice added
new standard pop-up menu in your application.