turning a list into something more complex

[Stephen Barncard]

Checkboxes are a pain to implement in a scrolling field. And users 
are presented with a bewildering array of checkboxes.

Why don't you just have the number of checkboxes you need for one 
line off to the side or top of a scrolling field. They could set the 
delimited data line selection to one's or checkmarks (in the line) 
without having to implement check boxes on each line.

In other words, the list, when clicked, would put the data on that 
selection line into one special line of checkboxes and fields for 
data entry and an 'enter' button, which then puts the data back on 
the selection line.

THis is the classic 'list' and 'detail' views of a database.

A popup menu or menus can also be used to alter data in a line.


>I asked:
>======
>
>I'm writing a program that will eventually create a tabbed line, 
>multiple lines
>in a field.
>
>Is there any way I can display each line (or a subsection thereof) and place
>beside it a series of check boxes or pull down boxes.
>
>peptide 1 1234.5  [chk1]  [..]   [..]  pulldowncolour  pulldownstyle
>peptide 2 2334.5  [chk2]  [..]   [..]  pulldowncolour  pulldownstyle
>
>Say I was drawing a graphic controlled by the list, and I wanted to use check
>boxes to say "display this" or "Colour this red/green/blue (pulldown)". I have
>tried to think this through, but I can't see an easy way at all. The number of
>items in the list are such as to require that I can scroll through the items.
>

-- 
stephen barncard
s a n  f r a n c i s c o
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