[kepler-dev] [Bug 2035] - use checkboxes and radio buttons correctly

[bugzilla-daemon at ecoinformatics.org]

http://bugzilla.ecoinformatics.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2035





------- Additional Comments From ldowney at lternet.edu  2005-03-18 08:22 -------
I just downloaded the latest build of Kepler and it is still showing a radio 
button for "Synchronize to realtime".  And radio buttons are still showing for 
the non-mutually exclusive items on the right of the plot coniguration dialog 
also.  So I'm not sure what you mean when you say you verified that checkboxes 
were being used in some places where previously there were radio buttons.

In addition, besides using the appropriate widget, labels for checkboxes and 
radio buttons should be placed to the right of the radio button or checkbox 
(as was done in the "Marks" section in the Plot Format dialog.  The only 
exception to that is when a checkbox is used within a table like we are doing 
in the ports dialog, in that case the checkboxes are correct and the labels 
are the column headings.

Radio buttons are designed to be used in mutually exclusive situations where 
one choice is allowed from a group of choices.  Checkboxes are used when there 
is one choice (toggle) or when multiple choices are allowed from a group of 
choices.  Users recognize them and expect them to be used in the standard 
manner with the standard behavior.

There are several other places within the UI where checkboxes and radiobuttons 
are used incorrectly.  Matt has mentioned a few.  As I discover more I will 
add them to the list. 

Other dialogs include:

Configure/Rename dialog (single radio button should be a checkbox) 
Edit Preferences dialog (single radio button should be a checkbox)
Run Window (single radio buttons should be checkboxes)
Configure breakpoints dialog (single radio buttons should be checkboxes)