
Programming Guide
This glossary defines many of the terms used in this book. It includes
terms and definitions from the IBM Dictionary of Computing, as well
as terms specific to the OS/2 operating system and the Presentation Manager.
It is not a complete glossary for the entire OS/2 operating system; nor is it
a complete dictionary of computer terms.
Other primary sources for these definitions are:
- The American National Standard
Dictionary for Information Systems ANSI X3.172-1990, copyrighted 1990 by the American National Standards
Institute, 11 West 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036. These definitions
are identified by the symbol (A) after the definition.
- The Information Technology
Vocabulary developed by Subcommittee 1, Joint Technical Committee 1, of the
International Organization for Standardization and the International
Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC JTC1/SC1). Definitions of published parts
of this vocabulary are identified by the symbol (I) after the definition;
definitions taken from draft international standards, committee drafts, and
working papers being developed by ISO/IEC JTC1/SC1 are identified by the
symbol (T) after the definition, indicating that final agreement has not yet
been reached among the participating National Bodies of SC1.
Glossary Listing
- A
- abstract class
- A class used only to derive other classes. An abstract class is never
instantiated. Contrast with concrete class.
- accelerator
- In SAA Common User Access architecture, a key or combination of keys that
invokes an application-defined function.
- accelerator table
- A table used to define which key strokes are treated as
accelerators and the commands they are translated into.
- action
- One of a set of defined tasks that a computer performs. Users request the
application to perform an action in several ways, such as typing a command,
pressing a function key, or selecting the action name from a menu bar or menu.
- action data
- Information stored in the undo object's action history that allows a
part to reverse the effects of an undoable action.
- action history
- The cumulative set of reversible actions available at any one time,
maintained by the undo object.
- action subhistory
- A subset of action data added to the undo object's action history by a
part in a modal state. The part can then remove the subhistory from the action
history without affecting earlier actions.
- action type
- A constant that defines whether an undoable action is a single-stage
action (such as a cut) or part of a two-stage action (such as a drag-move).
- activate
- (1) For a part, to make ready to receive the selection focus. A frame is
activated when a mouse-down event occurs within it. (2) For a window, to bring
it to the front by passing the cursor over it.
- active frame
- The frame that has the selection focus and usually the keyboard focus.
Editing takes place in the active frame; the selection or insertion point is
displayed within the frame. The active frame usually has the keystroke and
menu focuses, also.
- active part
- The part displayed in the active frame. The active part controls the
part-specific palettes and menus, and its content contains the selection or
insertion point. The active part can be displayed in one or more frames, only
one of which is the active frame.
- active program
- A program currently running on the computer. An active program can be
interactive (running and receiving input from the user) or noninteractive
(running but not receiving input from the user). See also interactive
program and noninteractive program.
- active shape
- A shape that describes the portion of a facet within which a part expects
to receive user events. If, for example, an embedded part's used shape and
active shape are identical, the containing part both draws and accepts events
in the unused areas within the embedded part's frame.
- active window
- The window with which the user is currently interacting.
- address space
- (1) The range of addresses available to a program. (A) (2)
The area of virtual storage available for a particular job.
- American National Standard Code for Information Interchange
- The standard code, using a coded character set consisting of 7-bit coded
characters (8 bits including parity check), that is used for information
interchange among data processing systems, data communication systems, and
associated equipment. The ASCII set consists of control characters and graphic
characters. (A)
Note:
IBM has defined an extension to ASCII code (characters 128-255).
- ancestor
- See superclass.
- anchor
- On the OS/2 platform,a window procedure that handles Presentation Manager*
message conversions between an icon procedure and an application.
- annotation
- A property in a part's storage unit that is separate from the
part's contents.
- ANSI
- American National Standards Institute.
- APA
- All points addressable.
- API
- Application programming interface.
- application
- A collection of software components used to perform specific types of
user-oriented work on a computer; for example, a payroll application, an
airline reservation application, a network application. See also
conventional application.
- application-modal
- Pertaining to a message box or dialog box for which processing must be
completed before further interaction with any other window owned by the same
application may take place.
- application object
- In SAA Advanced Common User Access architecture, a form that an
application provides for a user; for example, a spreadsheet form. Contrast
with user object.
- application programming interface (API)
- A functional interface supplied by the operating system or by a separately
orderable licensed program that allows an application program written in a
high-level language to use specific data or functions of the operating system
or the licensed program.
- application result handler
- A result handler that is associated with a particular application.
Contrast with system result handler.
- arbitrator
- An OpenDoc object that manages negotiation among parts about ownership of
shared resources. Examples of such resources are the menu focus, selection
focus, keystroke focus, and the serial ports.
- area
- In computer graphics, a filled shape such as a solid rectangle.
- ASCII
- American National Standard Code for Information Interchange.
- ASCIIZ
- A string of ASCII characters that is terminated with a byte containing the
value 0.
- aspect ratio
- In computer graphics, the width-to-height ratio of an area, symbol, or
shape.
- ASYNC
- Asynchronous.
- asynchronous (ASYNC)
- (1) Pertaining to two or more processes that do not depend upon the
occurrence of specific events such as common timing signals. (T)
(2) Without regular time relationship; unexpected or unpredictable with
respect to the execution of program instructions. See also
synchronous.
- atom
- A constant that represents a string. As soon as a string has been defined
as an atom, the atom can be used in place of the string to save space. Strings
are associated with their respective atoms in an atom table. See
integer atom.
- atom table
- A table used to relate atoms with the strings that they
represent. Also in the table is the mechanism by which the presence of a
string can be checked.
- attribute
- A characteristic or property that can be controlled, usually to obtain a
required appearance; for example, the color of a line. See also graphics
attributes and segment attributes.
- automatic link
- In Information Presentation Facility (IPF), a link that begins a chain
reaction at the primary window. When the user selects the primary window, an
automatic link is activated to display secondary windows.
- auxiliary storage unit
- An extra storage unit that a part uses to store its contents. Contrast
with main storage unit.
- B
- background
- (1) In multiprogramming, the conditions under which low-priority programs
are executed. Contrast with foreground. (2) An active session that
is not currently displayed on the screen.
- background color
- The color in which the background of a graphic primitive is drawn.
- base class
- See superclass.
- base draft
- The original draft of a document. Every OpenDoc document has a base draft,
from which all subsequent drafts are ultimately derived. See also current
draft.
- base menu bar
- The menu bar that contains the menus shared by all parts in a document.
The document shell installs the base menu bar; parts add their own menus and
items.
- base object
- The object whose interface is extended by an extension object.
- Bento
- A container suite that implements OpenDoc storage on OS/2, Windows, AIX,
and some other platforms.
- bias transform
- A transform that is applied to measurements in a part's coordinate
system to change them into platform-normal coordinates.
- binding
- (1) In programming, an association between a variable and a value for that
variable that holds within a defined scope. The scope may be that of a rule, a
function call or a procedure invocation. (2) In OpenDoc, the process of
selecting an executable code module based on type information. (3) In SOM, a
file enabling a compiler to match a method implementation with its
declaration. Also called a header file.
- bit map
- A representation in memory of the data displayed on an APA device, usually
the screen.
- block
- (1) A string of data elements recorded or transmitted as a unit. The
elements may be characters, words, or logical records. (T) (2)
To record data in a block. (3) A collection of contiguous records recorded as
a unit. Blocks are separated by interblock gaps and each block may contain one
or more records. (A)
- block device
- A storage device that performs I/O operations on blocks of data called
sectors. Data on block devices can be randomly accessed. Block
devices are designated by a drive letter (for example, C:).
- border
- (1) A visual indication (for example, a separator line or a background
color) of the boundaries of a window. (2) For OpenDoc, see frame
border.
- breakpoint
- (1) A point in a computer program where execution may be halted. A
breakpoint is usually at the beginning of an instruction where halts, caused
by external intervention, are convenient for resuming
execution. (T) (2) A place in a program, specified by a command
or a condition, where the system halts execution and gives control to the
workstation user or to a specified program.
- buffer
- (1) A portion of storage used to hold input or output data temporarily.
(2) To allocate and schedule the use of buffers. (A)
- bundled frame
- A frame whose contents do not respond to user events. For example, a mouse
click within a bundled frame selects but does not activate the frame.
- button
- A mechanism used to request or initiate an action. See also barrel
buttons, bezel buttons, mouse button, push
button, and radio button.
- byte stream
- Data that consists of an unbroken stream of bytes.
- C
- cache
- A high-speed buffer storage that contains frequently accessed instructions
and data; it is used to reduce access time.
- cached micro presentation space
- On the OS/2 platform, a presentation space from a
Presentation-Manager-owned store of micro presentation spaces. It can be used
for drawing to a window only, and must be returned to the store when the task
is complete.
- call
- (1) The action of bringing a computer program, a routine, or a subroutine
into effect, usually by specifying the entry conditions and jumping to an
entry point. (I) (A) (2) To transfer control to a
procedure, program, routine, or subroutine.
- calling sequence
- A sequence of instructions together with any associated data necessary to
execute a call. (T)
- Cancel
- An action that removes the current window or menu without processing it,
and returns the previous window.
- canvas
- The platform-specific drawing environment on which frames are laid out.
Each printing device has one drawing canvas. See also static
canvas, dynamic canvas, and drawing canvas.
- canvas coordinate space
- The coordinate space of the canvas upon which a part's content is
drawn. It may or may not be equal to window coordinate space.
- cascaded menu
- A menu that appears when the arrow to the right of a cascading choice is
selected. It contains a set of choices that are related to the cascading
choice. Cascaded menus are used to reduce the length of a menu. See also
cascading choice.
- CASE statement
- In PM programming, provides the body of a window procedure. There is
usually one CASE statement for each message type supported by an application.
- category
- See part category.
- chained list
- A list in which the data elements may be dispersed but in which each data
element contains information for locating the
next. (T) Synonymous with linked list.
- change ID
- (1) A number used to identify a particular instance of clipboard contents.
(2) A number used to identify a particular instance of link source data.
- character
- A letter, digit, or other symbol.
- character box
- In computer graphics, the boundary that defines, in world coordinates, the
horizontal and vertical space occupied by a single character from a character
set. See also character mode. Contrast with character
cell.
- character cell
- The physical, rectangular space in which any single character is displayed
on a screen or printer device. Position is addressed by row and column
coordinates. Contrast with character box.
- character code
- The means of addressing a character in a character set, sometimes called
code point.
- character device
- A device that performs I/O operations on one character at a time. Because
character devices view data as a stream of bytes, character-device data cannot
be randomly accessed. Character devices include the keyboard, mouse, and
printer, and are referred to by name.
- character mode
- A mode that, in conjunction with the font type, determines the extent to
which graphics characters are affected by the character box, shear, and angle
attributes.
- character set
- (1) An ordered set of unique representations called characters; for
example, the 26 letters of English alphabet, Boolean 0 and 1, the set of
symbols in the Morse code, and the 128 ASCII characters. (A) (2)
All the valid characters for a programming language or for a computer system.
(3) A group of characters used for a specific reason; for example, the set of
characters a printer can print.
- check box
- A square box with associated text that represents a choice. When a user
selects a choice, a check mark (&check.) appears in the check box to indicate
that the choice is in effect. The user can clear the check box by selecting
the choice again. Contrast with radio button.
- check mark
- (1) A check mark (&check.) symbol that shows that a choice is currently in
effect. (2) The symbol that is used to indicate a selected item on a pull-down
menu.
- child class
- See subclass.
- child process
- A process started by another process, which is called the parent process.
Contrast with parent process.
- child window
- A window that appears within the border of its parent window (either a
primary window or another child window). When the parent window is resized,
moved, or destroyed, the child window also is resized, moved, or destroyed;
however, the child window can be moved or resized independently from the
parent window, within the boundaries of the parent window. Contrast with
parent window.
- choice
- An option that can be selected. The choice can be presented as text, as a
symbol (number or letter), or as an icon (a pictorial symbol).
- CI Labs
- Component Integration Laboratories.
- circular link
- A configuration of links in which changes to a lin's destination
directly or indirectly affect its source.
- class
- In object-oriented design or programming, a group of objects that share a
common definition and that therefore share common properties, operations, and
behavior. Members of the group are called instances of the class.
- class hierarchy
- The structure by which classes are related through inheritance.
- class method
- In System Object Model, an action that can be performed on a class object.
Synonymous with factory method.
- class object
- In System Object Model, the run-time implementation of a class.
- class style
- The set of properties that apply to every window in a window class.
- client
- (1) A functional unit that receives shared services from a
server. (T) (2) A user, as in a client process that uses a named
pipe or queue that is created and owned by a server process.
- client area
- The part of the window, inside the border, that is below the menu bar. It
is the user's work space, where a user types information and selects
choices from selection fields. In primary windows, it is where an application
programmer presents the objects that a user works on.
- client program
- An application that creates and manipulates instances of classes.
- client window
- The window in which the application displays output and receives input.
This window is located inside the frame window, under the window title bar and
any menu bar, and within any scroll bars.
- clip limits
- The area of the paper that can be reached by a printer or plotter.
- clip shape
- A shape that defines the limits of drawing within a facet.
- clipboard
- In SAA Common User Access architecture, an area of computer memory, or
storage, that temporarily holds data. Data in the clipboard is available to
other applications.
- clipboard focus
- In OpenDoc, a designation of ownership of access to the clipboard. The
part with the clipboard focus can read from and write to the clipboard.
- clipping
- In computer graphics, removing those parts of a display image that lie
outside a given boundary. (I) (A)
- clipping area
- The area in which the window can paint.
- clipping path
- A clipping boundary in world-coordinate space.
- clone
- To copy an object and all its referenced objects. When you clone an
object, that object plus all other objects to which there is a strong
persistent reference in the cloned object are copied.
- close
- For a frame, to remove from memory but not from storage. A closed frame is
not permanently removed from its document. Contrast with remove.
- code page
- An assignment of graphic characters and control-function meanings to all
code points.
- code point
- (1) Synonym for character code. (2) A 1-byte code representing
one of 256 potential characters.
- code segment
- An executable section of programming code within a load module.
- command
- The name and parameters associated with an action that a program can
perform.
- command area
- An area composed of a command field prompt and a command entry field.
- command entry field
- An entry field in which users type commands.
- command ID
- A position-independent identifier for a menu command. See also
synthetic command ID.
- command line
- On a display screen, a display line, sometimes at the bottom of the
screen, in which only commands can be entered.
- command mode
- A state of a system or device in which the user can enter commands.
- command prompt
- A field prompt showing the location of the command entry field in a panel.
- Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA)
- A standard promulgated by the Object Management Group industry consortium
for defining interactions among objects.
- Common User Access (CUA) architecture
- Guidelines for the dialog between a human and a workstation or terminal.
One of the three SAA architectural areas. See also Common Programming
Interface.
- compile
- To translate a program written in a higher-level
- component
- (1) Hardware or software that is part of a functional unit. A functional
part of an operating system; for example, the scheduler or supervisor. (2) A
set of modules that performs a major function within a system; for example, a
compiler or a master scheduler. (3) A software product that functions in the
OpenDoc environment. Part editors, part viewers, and services are examples of
components. See also application component, service component.
- Component Integration Laboratories (CI Labs)
- A consortium of platform and application vendors that oversees the
development and distribution of OpenDoc technology.
- composite window
- A window composed of other windows (such as a frame window, frame-control
windows, and a client window) that are kept together as a unit and that
interact with each other.
- compound document
- A single document containing multiple, heterogeneous data types, each
created, presented and edited by its own software. A compound document is made
up of parts.
- concrete class
- A class designed to be instantiated. Contrast with abstract
class.
- connect or reconnect
- For a frame object, to reestablish its connection to the part it displays.
Reconnecting a frame may involve recreating it from storage.
- connectable part
- A part that can report events.
- container
- (1) An object that holds other objects. A folder is an example of a
container object. (2) A holder of persistent data (documents); part of the
OpenDoc container suite. (3) A container is specified in an object
specifier record by a keyword-specified descriptor record with the keyword
keyAEContainer. The keyword-specified descriptor record is usually another
object specifier record. It can also be a null descriptor record. The objects
a container contains can be either elements or properties.
- container part
- A part that can embed other parts within its content. A container part is
capable of being a containing part. Contrast with simple
part and noncontainer part. See also container
application.
- containing frame
- The display frame of an embedded frame's containing part. Each
embedded frame has one containing frame; each containing frame has one or more
embedded frames.
- containing part
- The part that immediately contains an embedded part. Each embedded part
has one containing part; each containing part has one or more embedded parts.
- container suite
- A document storage architecture, built on top of a platform's native
file system, that allows for the creation, storage, and retrieval of compound
documents. A container suite is implemented as a set of OpenDoc classes:
containers, documents, drafts, and storage units. See also Bento.
- containment
- A relationship between objects wherein an object of one class contains a
reference to an object of another class. Contrast with inheritance.
- content
- See part content.
- content area
- The potentially visible area of a part as viewed in a frame or window. If
the content area is greater than the area of the frame or window, only a
portion of the part can be viewed at a time.
- content coordinate space
- The coordinate space defined by applying the internal transform of a frame
to a point in frame coordinate space.
- content element
- A data item that can be seen by the user and is presented by a part's
content model. Content elements can be manipulated through the graphical
interface to a part.
- content extent
- The vertical dimension of the content area of a part in a frame. Content
extent is used to calculate bias transforms.
- content model
- The specification of a part's contents (the data types of its content
elements) and its content operations (the actions that can be performed on it
and the interactions among its content elements).
- content operation
- A user action that manipulates a content element.
- content property
- A visual or behavioral characteristic of a containing part, such as its
text font, that it makes available for embedded parts to adopt. Embedded parts
can adopt the content properties of their containing parts, thus giving a more
uniform appearance to a set of parts. Contrast with property and
Info property.
- content storage unit
- The main storage unit of the Clipboard, drag-and-drop object, link source
object, or link object.
- content transform
- The composite transform that converts from a part's content
coordinates to its canvas coordinates.
- content view type
- See frame view type.
- contiguous
- Touching or joining at a common edge or boundary, for example, an unbroken
consecutive series of storage locations.
- control
- A a component of the user interface that allows a user to select choices
or type information; for example, a check box, an entry field, a radio button.
- control area
- A storage area used by a computer program to hold control
information. (I) (A)
- Control Program
- (1) The basic functions of the operating system, including DOS emulation
and the support for keyboard, mouse, and video input/output. (2) On the
OS/2 platform, a computer program designed to schedule and to supervise the
execution of programs of a computer system. (I) (A)
- control window
- A window that is used as part of a composite window to perform simple
input and output tasks. Radio buttons and check boxes are examples.
- control word
- An instruction within a document that identifies its parts or indicates
how to format the document.
- conventional application
- An application that directly handles events, opens documents, and is
wholly responsible for manipulating, storing, and retrieving all of the data
in its documents. Contrast with application component.
- coordinate bias
- The difference between a given coordinate system and platform-normal
coordinates. Coordinate bias typically involves both a change in axis
polarity and an offset.
- coordinate space
- A two-dimensional set of points used to generate output on a video display
of printer.
- Copy
- A choice that places onto the clipboard, a copy of what the user has
selected. See also Cut and Paste.
- CORBA
- See Common Object Request Broker Architecture.
- correlation
- The action of determining which element or object within a picture is at a
given position on the display. This follows a pick operation.
- CUA architecture
- Common User Access architecture.
- current draft
- The most recent draft of an OpenDoc document. Only the current draft can
be edited.
- current frame
- During drawing, the frame that is being drawn or within which editing is
occurring.
- current position
- In computer graphics, the position, in user coordinates, that becomes the
starting point for the next graphics routine, if that routine does not
explicitly specify a starting point.
- cursor
- A symbol displayed on the screen and associated with an input device. The
cursor indicates where input from the device will be placed. Types of cursors
include text cursors, graphics cursors, and selection cursors. Contrast with
pointer and input focus.
- Cut
- In SAA Common User Access architecture, a choice that removes a selected
object, or a part of an object, to the clipboard, usually compressing the
space it occupied in a window. See also Copy and Paste.
- D
- data structure
- The syntactic structure of symbolic expressions and their
storage-allocation characteristics. (T)
- data transfer
- The movement of data from one object to another by way of the clipboard or
by direct manipulation.
- DBCS
- Double-byte character set.
- DDE
- Dynamic data exchange.
- debug
- To detect, diagnose, and eliminate errors in programs. (T)
- default container
- The outermost container in an application's container hierarchy;
usually the application itself. See also container hierarchy.
- default editor for kind
- A user-specified choice of part editor to use with parts whose
preferred editor is not present.
- default object accessors
- Object accessors provided by OpenDoc that can be used to resolve content
objects or properties of parts that do not themselves support scripting.
Default accessors can return tokens representing an embedded frame, a standard
Info property of a part, or a context switch (swap token).
- default procedure
- On the OS/2 platform, a function provided by the Presentation Manager
Interface and a function of the Windows platform, that may be used to process
standard messages from dialogs or windows.
- default value
- A value assumed when no value has been specified. Synonymous with assumed
value. For example, in the graphics programming interface, the default
line-type is 'solid'.
- definition list
- A type of list that pairs a term and its description.
- delta
- An application-defined threshold, or number of container items, from
either end of the list.
- derived class
- See subclass.
- descendant
- See child process and subclass.
- descriptive text
- Text used in addition to a field prompt to give more information about a
field.
- descriptor list
- A descriptor record of data type AEDescList whose data handle refers to a
list of descriptor records.
- descriptor type
- An identifier for the type of data referred to by the handle in a
descriptor record.
- Deselect all
- A choice that cancels the selection of all of the objects that have been
selected in that window.
- desktop window
- The window, corresponding to the physical device, against which all other
types of windows are established.
- destination content
- The content at the destination of a link. It is a copy of the source
content.
- destination part
- For a link, the part that displays the information copied from the source
of the link. Contrast with source part.
- device context
- A logical description of a data destination such as memory, metafile,
display, printer, or plotter. See also direct device context,
information device context, memory device context,
metafile device context, queued device context, and
screen device context.
- device driver
- A file that contains the code needed to attach and use a device such as a
display, printer, or plotter.
- device space
- (1) On the OS/2 platform, coordinate space in which graphics are assembled
after all GPI transformations have been applied. Device space is defined in
device-specific units. (2) In computer graphics, a space defined by the
complete set of addressable points of a display device. (A)
- dialog
- The interchange of information between a computer and its user through a
sequence of requests by the user and the presentation of responses by the
computer.
- dialog box
- In SAA Advanced Common User Access architecture, a movable window, fixed
in size, containing controls that a user uses to provide information required
by an application so that it can continue to process a user request. See also
message box, primary window, secondary window. Also known as a
pop-up window.
- Dialog Box Editor
- On the OS/2 platform, a WYSIWYG editor that creates dialog
boxes for communicating with the application user.
- dialog item
- A component (for example, a menu or a button) of a dialog box. Dialog
items are also used when creating dialog templates.
- dialog procedure
- A dialog window that is controlled by a window procedure. It is
responsible for responding to all messages sent to the dialog window.
- dialog template
- The definition of a dialog box, which contains details of its position,
appearance, and window ID, and the window ID of each of its child windows.
- direct device context
- A logical description of a data destination that is a device other than
the screen (for example, a printer or plotter), and where the output is not to
go through the spooler. Its purpose is to satisfy queries. See also
device context.
- direct manipulation
- The user's ability to interact with an object by using the mouse,
typically by dragging an object around on the Desktop and dropping it on other
objects.
- direct memory access (DMA)
- A technique for moving data directly between main storage and peripheral
equipment without requiring processing of the data by the processing
unit.(T)
- directory
- A type of file containing the names and controlling information for other
files or other directories.
- dispatch module
- An OpenDoc object used by the dispatcher to dispatch events of a certain
type to part editors.
- display frame
- A frame in which a part is displayed. A part's display frames are
created by and embedded in its containing part. Contrast with embedded
frame.
- display-frames list
- A part's list of all the frames in which it is displayed. If a part is
displayed in only one frame, it has only one element in this list.
- display point
- Synonym for pel.
- display property
- A visual characteristic of a containing part, such as its text font, that
it makes available for embedded parts to adopt. Embedded parts can adopt the
display characteristics of their containing parts that they understand, thus
giving a more uniform appearance to a set of parts. Display properties are
stored as properties in a storage unit passed from containing part to embedded
part.
- Distributed SOM (DSOM)
- Distributed System Object Model. A version of SOM that provides remote
access to SOM objects in a transparent way that insulates client programmers
from having to know the location or platform type where a target object will
be instantiated. DSOM allows programmers to use the same object model
independently of whether the objects they access are in the same process, in
another process on the same machine, or across distributed networks.
- DMA
- Direct memory access.
- document
- In OpenDoc, a user-organized collection of parts, all stored together.
- document part
- See part.
- document process
- A thread of execution that runs the document shell program. The document
process provides the interface between the operating system and part editors.
It accepts events from the operating system, provides the address space into
which parts are loaded, and provides access to the window system and other
features.
- document shell
- A program that provides an environment for all the parts in a document.
The shell maintains the major document global databases: storage, window
state, arbitrator, and dispatcher. This code also provides basic document
behavior such as document creation, opening, saving, printing, and closing.
OpenDoc provides a default document shell for each platform.
- document window
- A window that displays an OpenDoc document. The edges of the content area
of the window represent the frame border of the document's root part. The
OpenDoc document shell manages opening and closing of document windows.
Contrast with part window.
- double-byte character set (DBCS)
- A set of characters in which each character is represented by two bytes.
Languages such as Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, which contain more characters
than can be represented by 256 code points, require double-byte character
sets. Since each character requires two bytes, the entering, displaying, and
printing of DBCS characters requires hardware and software that can support
DBCS.
- draft
- A configuration of a document, defined at a certain point in time by the
user. A document is made up of a set of drafts.
- draft key
- A number that identifies a specific cloning transaction.
- draft permissions
- A specification of the class of read/write access that a part editor has
to a draft.
- drag
- In SAA Common User Access, to use a pointing device to move an object; for
example, clicking on a window border, and dragging it to make the window
larger.
- drag and drop
- A facility of OpenDoc that allows users to move or copy data through
direct manipulation.
- drag-copy
- A drag-and-drop operation in which the dragged data remains at the source,
and a copy is inserted at the destination.
- drag-move
- A drag-and-drop operation in which the dragged data is deleted from the
source and inserted at the destination.
- dragging
- (1) In computer graphics, moving an object on the display screen as if it
were attached to the pointer. (2) In computer graphics, moving one or more
segments on a display surface by translating. (I) (A)
- drawing canvas
- The platform-specific drawing environment on which frames are laid out.
See also canvas, static canvas, and dynamic
canvas.
- drawing chain
- See segment chain.
- drop
- To fix the position of an object that is being dragged, by releasing the
select button of the pointing device. See also drag.
- DSOM
- Distributed System Object Model. A version of SOM that works transparently
over a network.
- dynamic canvas
- A drawing canvas that can potentially be changed, such as a window, that
can be scrolled or paged to display different portions of a part's data.
Contrast with static canvas.
- dynamic data exchange (DDE)
- On the OS/2 platform, a message protocol used to communicate between
applications that share data. The protocol uses shared memory as the means of
exchanging data between applications.
- dynamic data formatting
- A formatting procedure that enables you to incorporate text, bit maps or
metafiles in an IPF window at execution time.
- dynamic link library
- A collection of executable programming code and data that is bound to an
application at load time or run time, rather than during linking. The
programming code and data in a dynamic link library can be shared by several
applications simultaneously.
- dynamic linking
- The process of resolving external references in a program module at load
time or run time rather than during linking.
- dynamic segments
- Graphics segments drawn in exclusive-or mix mode so that they can be moved
from one screen position to another without affecting the rest of the
displayed picture.
- dynamic storage
- (1) A device that stores data in a manner that permits the data to move or
vary with time such that the specified data is not always available for
recovery. (A) (2) A storage in which the cells require
repetitive application of control signals in order to retain stored data. Such
repetitive application of the control signals is called a refresh operation. A
dynamic storage may use static addressing or sensing
circuits. (A) (3) See also static storage.
- dynamic time slicing
- Varies the size of the time slice depending on system load and paging
activity.
- dynamic-link module
- A module that is linked at load time or run time.
- E
- editor of last resort
- The part editor that displays any part for which there is no available
part editor on the system. The editor of last resort typically displays a gray
rectangle representing the part's frame.
- editor properties
- A notebook, accessed through the Edit menu, in which the user
can view and change properties for the part editor of the currently active
part.
- embed
- To display one part in a frame within another part. The embedded part
retains its identity as a separate part from the containing part. Contrast
with incorporate.
- embedded content
- Content displayed in an embedded frame. A containing part editor does not
directly manipulate embedded content. Contrast with intrinsic
content.
- embedded frame
- A frame that displays an embedded part. The embedded frame itself is
considered intrinsic content of the containing part; the part displayed within
the frame is not.
- embedded-frames list
- A containing part's private list of all the frames embedded within it.
- embedded part
- A part displayed in an embedded frame. The data for an embedded part is
stored within the same draft as its containing part. An embedded part is
copied during a duplication of its containing part. An embedded part may
itself be a containing part, unless it is a noncontainer part.
- embedding part
- A part that is capable of embedding other parts within its content; that
is, it is capable of being a containing part. See also container
part. Contrast with nonembedding part.
- EMS
- Expanded memory specification.
- entry field
- In SAA Common User Access architecture, an area where a user types
information. Its boundaries are usually indicated. See also selection
field.
- entry-field control
- The component of a user interface that provides the means by which the
application receives data entered by the user in an entry field. When it has
the input focus, the entry field displays a flashing pointer at the position
where the next typed character will go.
- entry panel
- A defined panel type containing one or more entry fields and protected
information such as headings, prompts, and explanatory text.
- environment parameter
- A parameter used by all methods of SOM objects to pass exceptions.
- environment segment
- The list of environment variables and their values for a process.
- environment strings
- ASCII text strings that define the value of environment variables.
- environment variables
- On the OS/2 platform, variables that describe the execution environment of
a process. These variables are named by the operating system or by the
application. Environment variables named by the operating system are PATH,
DPATH, INCLUDE, INIT, LIB, PROMPT, and TEMP. The values of environment
variables are defined by the user in the CONFIG.SYS file, or by using the SET
command at the OS/2 command prompt.
- error message
- An indication that an error has been detected. (A)
- event
- See user event.
- event consumer
- The receiver of an event notification.
- event handler
- (1) A routine that executes in response to receiving a user event. (2) See
semantic-event handler.
- event-info structure
- A data structure that carries information about an OpenDoc user event in
addition to that provided by the event structure.
- Event Manager
- The collection of routines that an application can use to receive
information about actions performed by the user, to receive notice of changes
in the processing status of the application, and to communicate with other
applications.
- event semaphore
- A semaphore that enables a thread to signal a waiting thread or threads
that an event has occurred or that a task has been completed. The waiting
threads can then perform an action that is dependent on the completion of the
signaled event.
- event source
- The sender of an event notification, must be a connectable part.
- event structure
- A platform-specific structure that carries information about an OpenDoc
user event.
- exception
- In programming languages, an abnormal situation that may arise during
execution, that may cause a deviation from the normal execution sequence, and
for which facilities exist in a programming language to define, raise,
recognize, ignore, and handle it.
- exclusive focus
- A focus that can be owned by only one frame at a time. The selection
focus, for example, is exclusive; the user can edit within only one frame at a
time. Contrast with non-exclusive focus.
- exclusive system semaphore
- A system semaphore that can be modified only by threads within the same
process.
- executable file
- (1) A file that contains programs or commands that perform operations or
actions to be taken. (2) A collection of related data records that execute
programs.
- exit
- To execute an instruction within a portion of a computer program in order
to terminate the execution of that portion. Such portions of computer programs
include loops, subroutines, modules, and so on. (T) Repeated
exit requests return the user to the point from which all functions provided
to the system are accessible. Contrast with cancel.
- expanded memory specification (EMS)
- On the OS/2 platform, enables DOS applications to access memory above the
1MB re al mode addressing limit.
- extended attribute
- On the OS/2 platform, an additional piece of information about a file
object, such as its data format or category. It consists of a name and a
value. A file object may have more than one extended attribute associated with
it.
- extended-choice selection
- A mode that allows the user to select more than one item from a window.
Not all windows allow extended choice selection.
- extension
- An OpenDoc object that extends the programming interface of another
OpenDoc object. Part editors, for example, can provide additional interfaces
through extensions. An object class that duplicates all the characteristics of
an object class of the same name and adds some of its own. Like a word in a
dictionary, a single object class ID can have several related definitions.
- extent
- Continuous space on a disk or diskette that is occupied by or reserved for
a particular data set, data space, or file.
- external link
- On the OS/2 platform, in Information Presentation Facility, a link that
connects external online document files.
- external transform
- A transform that is applied to a facet to position, scale, or otherwise
transform the facet and the image drawn within it. The external transform
loates the facet in the coordinate space of the frame's containing part.
Contrast with internal transform.
- externalize
- For a part or other OpenDoc object, to transform its in-memory
representation into a persistent form in a storage unit. See also
write. Contrast with internalize.
- extracted draft
- A draft that is extracted from a document into a new document.
- F
- facet
- An object that describes where a frame is displayed on a canvas.
- factory method
- A method in one class that creates an instance of another class.
- fidelity
- The faithfulness of translation attained (or attainable) between data of
different part kinds. For a given part kind, other part kinds are ranked in
fidelity by the level at which their editors can translate its data without
loss.
- file
- A named set of records stored or processed as a unit. (T)
- file specification
- The full identifier for a file, which includes its drive designation,
path, file name, and extension.
- file system
- The combination of software and hardware that supports storing information
on a storage device.
- flag
- (1) An indicator or parameter that shows the setting of a switch. (2) A
character that signals the occurrence of some condition, such as the end of a
word. (A) (3) A characteristic of a file or directory that
enables it to be used in certain ways. and read-only flag.
- focus
- A designation of ownership of a shared resource such as menus, selection,
keystrokes, and serial ports. The part that owns a focus has use of that
shared resource.
- focus module
- An OpenDoc object used by the arbitrator to assign an owner or owners to a
given focus type.
- focus set
- A group of focuses requested as a unit.
- folder
- A container used to organize objects.
- font
- A particular size and style of typeface that contains definitions of
character sets, marker sets, and pattern sets.
- frame
- (1) The part of a window that can contain several different visual
elements specified by the application, but drawn and controlled by the
operating system. (2) In OpenDoc, a bounded portion of the content area of a
part, defining the location of an embedded part. The edge of a frame marks the
boundary between intrinsic content and embedded content. A frame can be a
rectangle or any other, even irregular, shape.
- frame border
- A visual indication of the boundary of a frame. The appearance of the
frame border indicates the state of the frame (active, inactive, or selected).
The frame border is drawn and manipulated by the containing part or by
OpenDoc, not by the part within the frame.
- frame coordinate space
- The coordinate space in which a part's frame shape, used shape, active
shape, and clip shape are defined. Contrast with content coordinate
space. See also window coordinate space, canvas
coordinate space.
- frame group
- A set of embedded frames that a containing part designates as related, for
purposes such as flowing content from one frame to another. Each frame group
has its own group ID; frames within a frame group have a frame
sequence.
- frame negotiation
- The process of adjusting the size and shape of an embedded frame. Embedded
parts can request changes to their frames, but the containing parts control
the changes that occur.
- frame sequence
- The order of frames in a frame group.
- frame shape
- A shape that defines a frame and its border, expressed in terms of the
frame's local coordinate space.
- frame styles
- On the OS/2 platform, standard window layouts provided by the Presentation
Manager.
- frame transform
- The composite transform that converts from a part's frame coordinates
to its canvas coordinates
- frame view type
- A view type in which all or a portion of a part's contents is
displayed within a frame, the border of which is visible when the part is
active or selected. Other possible view types for displaying a part include
large icon, small icon, and thumbnail. Frame view type is sometimes called
content view type.
- function
- (1) In a programming language, a block, with or without formal parameters,
whose execution is invoked by means of a call. (2) A set of related control
statements that cause one or more programs to be performed.
- function key
- A key that causes a specified sequence of operations to be performed when
it is pressed, for example, F1 and Alt-K.
- function key area
- The area at the bottom of a window that contains function key assignments
such as F1=Help.
- G
- GPI
- On the OS/2 platform, Graphics programming interface.
- graphic primitive
- In computer graphics, a basic element, such as an arc or a line, that is
not made up of smaller parts and that is used to create diagrams and pictures.
See also graphics segment.
- graphics
- (1) A picture defined in terms of graphic primitives and graphics
attributes. (2) The making of charts and pictures. (3) Pertaining to charts,
tables, and their creation. (4) See computer graphics, coordinate
graphics, fixed-image graphics, interactive graphics, passive graphics, raster
graphics.
- graphics attributes
- Attributes that apply to graphic primitives. Examples are color, line
type, and shading-pattern definition. See also segment attributes.
- graphics field
- The clipping boundary that defines the visible part of the
presentation-page contents.
- graphics mode
- One of several states of a display. The mode determines the resolution and
color content of the screen.
- graphics model space
- On the OS/2 platform, the conceptual coordinate space in which a picture
is constructed after any model transforms have been applied. Also known as
model space.
- Graphics programming interface
- On the OS/2 platform, the formally defined programming language that is
between an IBM graphics program and the user of the program.
- graphics segment
- On the OS/2 platform, a sequence of related graphic primitives and
graphics attributes. See also graphic primitive.
- graphics system
- A specific drawing architecture. Some graphics systems (such as Display
PostScript) are available on more than one platform; some platforms support
more than one graphics system.
- group
- A collection of logically connected controls. For example, the buttons
controlling paper size for a printer could be called a group. See also
program group.
- group ID
- In OpenDoc, a number that identifies a frame group, assigned by the
group's containing part.
- H
- handle
- (1) An identifier that represents an object, such as a device or window,
to the Presentation Interface. (2) In the Advanced DOS and OS/2 operating
systems, a binary value created by the system that identifies a drive,
directory, and file so that the file can be found and opened.
- header
- (1) System-defined control information that precedes user data. (2) The
portion of a message that contains control information for the message, such
as one or more destination fields, name of the originating station, input
sequence number, character string indicating the type of message, and priority
level for the message.
- heap
- An area of free storage available for dynamic allocation by an
application. Its size varies according to the storage requirements of the
application.
- help function
- (1) A function that provides information about a specific field, an
application panel, or information about the help facility. (2) One or more
display images that describe how to use application software or how to do a
system operation.
- Help index
- On the OS/2 platform, a help action that provides an index of the help
information available for an application.
- help panel
- A panel with information to assist users that is displayed in response to
a help request from the user.
- help window
- On the OS/2 platform, a secondary window that displays information when
the user requests help.
- hierarchical inheritance
- The relationship between parent and child classes. An object that is lower
in the inheritance hierarchy than another object, inherits all the
characteristics and behaviors of the objects above it in the hierarchy.
- hierarchy
- A tree of segments beginning with the root segment and proceeding downward
to dependent segment types.
- hit testing
- The means of identifying which window is associated with which input
device event.
- hook
- A point in a system-defined function where an application can supply
additional code that the system processes as though it were part of the
function.
- hook chain
- A sequence of hook procedures that are "chained" together so that
each event is passed, in turn, to each procedure in the chain.
- hot part
- A part, such as a control, that performs an action rather than activating
itself, when it receives a mouse click.
- hot spot
- The part of the pointer that must touch an object before it can be
selected. This is usually the tip of the pointer.
- I
- I/O operation
- An input operation to, or output operation from a device attached to a
computer.
- IAC
- Interapplication communication
- icon
- (1) A graphical representation of an object, consisting of an image, image
background, and a label. Icons can represent items (such as a document file)
that the user wants to work on, and actions that the user wants to perform. On
the OS/2 platform, in the Presentation Manager, icons are used for data
objects, system actions, and minimized programs. (2) In OpenDoc, a small,
type-specific picture with a name. Possible iconic view types for displaying a
part include as a (standard) large icon, small icon, or
thumbnail; the other possible view type is in a frame.
- icon area
- On the OS/2 platform, in the Presentation Manager, the area at the bottom
of the screen that is normally used to display the icons for minimized
programs.
- Icon Editor
- On the OS/2 platform, the Presentation Manager-provided tool for creating
icons.
- identity transform
- A transform that has no effect on points to which it is applied.
- IDL
- Interface Definition Language.
- inactive frame
- A frame that does not have the selection focus.
- inactive part
- A part that has no active display frames.
- incorporate
- To merge the data from one part into the contents of another part so that
the merged data retains no separate identity as a part. Contrast with
embed.
- Information Presentation Facility (IPF)
- A facility provided by the OS/2 operating system, by which application
developers can produce online documentation and context-sensitive online help
panels for their applications.
- inheritance
- The passing of class resources or attributes from a parent class
downstream in the class hierarchy to a child class. The new class inherits all
the data and methods of the parent class without having to redefine them.
- in-place editing
- User manipulation of data in an embedded part without leaving the context
of the document in which the part is displayed (for example, without opening a
new window for the part).
- input focus
- (1) The area of a window where user interaction is possible using an input
device, such as a mouse or the keyboard. (2) The position in the active
window where a user's normal interaction with the keyboard will
appear.
- input/output control
- A device-specific command that requests a function of a device driver.
- inside-out activation
- A mode of user interaction in which a mouse click anywhere in a document
activates the smallest possible enclosing frame and performs the appropriate
selection action on the content element at the click location. OpenDoc uses
inside-out selection. Contrast with outside-in activation.
- inside-out selection
- A mode of user interaction in which a mouse click anywhere in a document
activates the smallest possible enclosing frame and performs the appropriate
selection action on the content element at the click location. OpenDoc uses
inside-out selection. Contrast with outside-in selection.
- instance
- A single occurrence of an object class that has a particular behavior. See
also object.
- instantiate
- (1) To make an instance of; to replicate. (2) In object-oriented
programming, to represent a class abstraction with a concrete instance of the
class.
- instruction pointer
- A pointer that provides addressability for a machine interface instruction
in a program.
- integer atom
- An atom that represents a predefined system constant and
carries no storage overhead. For example, names of window classes provided by
Presentation Manager are expressed as integer atoms.
- interactive graphics
- Graphics that can be moved or manipulated by a user at a terminal.
- interactive program
- (1) A program that is running (active) and is ready to receive (or is
receiving) input from a user. (2) A running program that can receive input
from the keyboard or another input device. Contrast with active
program and noninteractive program.
Also known as a foreground program.
- interapplication communication (IAC) architecture
- A standard and extensible mechanism for communication among applications.
- interchange file
- A file containing data that can be sent from one application to another.
- Interface Definition Language (IDL)
- Language-neutral syntax created by IBM to describe the interface of
classes that can be compiled by the SOM compiler.
- internal transform
- A transform that positions, scales, or otherwise transforms the image of a
part drawn within a frame. Contrast with external transform.
- internalize
- For a part or other OpenDoc object, to transform its persistent form in a
storage unit into an appropriate in-memory representation. Contrast with
externalize. See also read.
- interoperability
- Access to an OpenDoc part or document from different platforms or with
different software systems.
- intrinsic content
- The content elements native to a particular part, as opposed to other
parts embedded in it. Contrast with embedded content.
- invalid shape
- The area of a frame, facet, or canvas that needs redrawing. Update events
cause redrawing of the invalid area.
- invalidate
- To mark an area of a canvas (or facet, or frame) as in need of redrawing.
- invariant
- An aspect of the internal state of an object that must be maintained for
the object to behave properly according to its design.
- IPF
- On the OS/2 platform, Information Presentation Facility.
- IPF compiler
- On the OS/2 platform, a text compiler that interpret tags in a source file
and converts the information into the specified format.
- IPF tag language
- On the OS/2 platform, a markup language that provides the instructions for
displaying online information.
- ISO string
- A null-terminated 7-bit ASCII string.
- item
- A data object that can be passed in a DDE transaction.
- iterator
- A class or object that provides sequential access to a collection of
objects of another class. A part's embedded-frames iterator, for example,
provides access to all of the part's embedded frames.
- K
- kerning
- The design of graphics characters so that their character boxes overlap.
Used to space text proportionally.
- keyboard accelerator
- A keystroke that generates a command message for an application.
- keyboard augmentation
- A function that enables a user to press a keyboard key while pressing a
mouse button.
- keyboard focus
- A temporary attribute of a window. The window that has a keyboard focus
receives all keyboard input until the focus changes to a different window.
- keystroke focus
- A designation of ownership of keystroke events. The part whose frame has
the keystroke focus receives keystroke events. See also selection
focus.
- keystroke focus frame
- The frame to which keystroke events are to be sent.
- keyword
- A four-character code that uniquely identifies a descriptor record inside
another descriptor record.
- kind
- See part kind.
- L
- label
- In a graphics segment, an identifier of one or more elements that is used
when editing the segment.
- LAN
- local area network.
- large icon view type
- On the OS/2 platform, a view type in which a part is represented by a 32
by 32-pixel bitmap image. Other possible view types for displaying a part
include small icon, thumbnail, and frame.
- layout
- The process of arranging frames and content elements in a document for
drawing.
- lazy instantiation
- The process of creating objects (such as embedded frames) in memory only
when they are needed for display, such as when the user scrolls them into
view. Lazy instantiation can help minimize the memory requirements of your
parts.
- LDT
- Local Descriptor Table.
- link
- (1) A persistent reference to a part or to a set of content elements of a
part. (2) An OpenDoc object that represents a link destination.
- link destination
- The portion of a part's content area that represents the destination
of a link.
- link key
- A number that identifies a specific transaction to access a link object or
link-source object.
- link manager
- An OpenDoc object that coordinates cross-document links.
- link source
- The portion of a part's content area that represents the source of a
link.
- link specification
- An object, placed on the clipboard or in a drag-and-drop object, from
which the source part (the part that placed the data) can construct a link if
necessary.
- link status
- The link-related state (in a link source, in a link destination, or not in
a link) of a frame.
- linked list
- Synonym for chained list.
- linked part
- A part (or a portion of a part's content data) that appears to the
user to be embedded in one part, but it is actually embedded in a different
part. Linked data is not copied when the link's containing part is
duplicated; a new link is created instead.
- list box
- A control that contains scrollable choices from which a user can select
one choice.
Note:
In CUA architecture, this is a programmer term.
The end user term is selection list.
- list button
- A button labeled with an underlined down-arrow that presents a list of
valid objects or choices that can be selected for that field.
- load
- For a part editor, to transform the persistent form of a part in a draft
into an appropriate in-memory representation, which can be a representation of
the complete part or only a subset, depending on the current display
requirements of the document. Contrast with save.
- Local Descriptor Table (LDT)
- On the OS/2 platform, defines code and data segments specific to a single
task.
- lock
- A serialization mechanism by means of which a resource is restricted for
use by the holder of the lock.
- M
- main storage unit
- The storage unit that holds the contents property (kODPropContents) of a
part. A part's main storage unit, plus possibly other auxiliary storage
units referenced from it, holds all of a part's content.
- map
- (1) A set of values having a defined correspondence with the quantities or
values of another set. (I) (A) (2) To establish a set of values
having a defined correspondence with the quantities or values of another set.
(I)
- maximize
- To enlarge a window to its largest possible size.
- memory block
- Part memory within a heap.
- memory management
- A feature of the operating system for allocating, sharing, and freeing
main storage.
- memory object
- Logical unit of memory requested by an application, which forms the
granular unit of memory manipulation from the application viewpoint.
- menu
- An extension of the menu bar that displays a list of choices available for
a selected choice in the menu bar. After a user selects a choice in menu bar,
the corresponding menu appears. Additional pop-up windows can appear from menu
choices.
- menu bar
- The area near the top of a window, below the title bar and above the rest
of the window, that contains choices that provide access to other menus.
- menu button
- The button on a pointing device that a user presses to view a pop-up menu
associated with an object.
- message
- (1) On the OS/2 platform, in the Presentation Manager, a packet of data
used for communication between the Presentation Manager interface and
Presentation Manager applications (2) In a user interface, information not
requested by users but presented to users by the computer in response to a
user action or internal process.
- message block
- A byte stream that an open application uses to send data to and receive
data from another open application (which can be located on the same computer
or across a network).
- message box
- (1) A dialog window predefined by the system and used as a simple
interface for applications, without the necessity of creating dialog-template
resources or dialog procedures. (2) On the OS/2 platform, a type of window
that shows messages to users. See also dialog box, primary window,
secondary window.
- message filter
- The means of selecting which messages from a specific window will be
handled by the application.
- message queue
- A sequenced collection of messages to be read by the application.
- message stream mode
- A method of operation in which data is treated as a stream of messages.
Contrast with byte stream.
- metaclass
- The conjunction of an object and its class information; that is, the
information pertaining to the class as a whole, rather than to a single
instance of the class. Each class is itself an object, which is an instance of
the metaclass.
- metafile
- A file containing a series of attributes that set color, shape and size,
usually of a picture or a drawing. Using a program that can interpret these
attributes, a user can view the assembled image.
- metafile device context
- A logical description of a data destination that is a metafile, which is
used for graphics interchange. See also device context.
- method
- A function that manipulates the data of a particular class of objects.
- method override
- The replacement, by a child class, of the implementation of a method
inherited from a parent and an ancestor class.
- minimize
- To remove from the screen all windows associated with an application and
replace them with an icon that represents the application.
- modal dialog box
- In SAA Advanced Common User Access architecture, a type of movable window,
fixed in size, that requires a user to enter information before continuing to
work in the application window from which it was displayed. Contrast with
modeless dialog box. Also known as a serial dialog box.
Contrast with parallel dialog box.
Note:
In CUA architecture, this is a programmer term.
The end user term is pop-up window.
- modal focus
- A designation of ownership of the right to display modal dialog boxes. A
part displaying a modal dialog must first acquire the modal focus, so that
other parts cannot do the same until the first part is finished.
- modeless dialog box
- In SAA Advanced Common User Access architecture, a type of movable window,
fixed in size, that allows users to continue their dialog with the application
without entering information in the dialog box. Also known as a parallel
dialog box. Contrast with modal dialog box.
Note:
In CUA architecture, this is a programmer term.
The end user term is pop-up window.
- module definition file
- On the OS/2 platform, a file that describes the code segments within a
load module. For example, it indicates whether a code segment is loadable
before module execution begins (preload), or loadable only when referred to at
run time (load-on-call).
- monitor
- A special use of a dispatch module, in which it is installed in order to
be notified of events, but does not dispatch them.
- monolithic application
- See conventional application.
- mouse
- A device that a user moves on a flat surface to position a pointer on the
screen. It allows a user to select a choice o function to be performed or to
perform operations on the screen, such as dragging or drawing lines from one
position to another.
- mouse region
- An area (by default a size of 1 pixel square) within which the user can
move the mouse pointer without triggering an event.
- multitasking
- The concurrent processing of applications or parts of applications. A
running application and its data are protected from other concurrently running
applications.
- N
- name space
- An object consisting of a set of text strings used to identify kinds of
objects or classes of behavior, for registration purposes. For example,
OpenDoc uses name spaces to identify part kinds and categories for binding.
- name-space manager
- An OpenDoc object that creates and deletes name spaces.
- named pipe
- A named buffer that provides client-to-server, server-to-client, or full
duplex communication between unrelated processes. Contrast with unnamed
pipe.
- noncontainer part
- A part that cannot itself contain embedded parts. A noncontainer part can
never be a containing part. Contrast with container
part.
- nonpersistent frame
- A frame that exists as an object in memory, but has no storage unit and is
not stored persistently.
- NUL
- Null character.
- null character (NUL)
- (1) Character-device name reserved for a nonexistent (dummy) device. (2) A
control character that is used to accomplish media-fill or time-fill and that
may be inserted into or removed from a sequence of characters without
affecting the meaning of the sequence; however, the control of equipment or
the format may be affected by this character. (I) (A)
- null descriptor record
- A descriptor record whose descriptor type is typeNull and whose data
handle is NIL.
- null-terminated string
- A string of (n+1) characters where the (n+1)th character is the
'null' character (0x00) Also known as 'zero-terminated' string
and 'ASCIIZ' string.
- O
- object
- A programming entity, existing in memory at run time, that is an
individual instantiation of a particular class.
- object accessor
- A function called by the name resolver to resolve semantic-event object
specifiers.
- Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
- An application protocol developed by Microsoft Corporation that allows
objects created by one application to be linked to or embedded in objects
created by another application.
- Object Management Group (OMG)
- An industry consortium that promulgates standards for object programming.
- ODF
- OpenDoc Development Framework
- OLE
- Object Linking and Embedding.
- OLE interoperability
- A technology that enables seamless interoperability between OpenDoc and
Microsoft Corporation's Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology for
interapplication communication. It allows OLE objects to function
automatically as parts in OpenDoc documents, and OpenDoc parts to function
automatically as OLE objects in OLE containers.
- OMG
- Object Management Group.
- OpenDoc
- A multiplatform technology, implemented as a set of shared libraries, that
uses component software to facilitate the construction and sharing of compound
documents.
- OpenDoc Development Framework (ODF)
- A part-editor framework that facilitates creation of OpenDoc parts.
- ordered list
- Vertical arrangements of items, with each item in the list preceded by a
number or letter.
- outside-in activation
- A mode of user interaction in which a mouse click anywhere in a document
activates the largest possible enclosing frame that is not already active.
Contrast with inside-out activation.
- outside-in selection
- A mode of user interaction in which a mouse click anywhere in a document
activates the largest possible enclosing frame that is not already active.
Contrast with inside-out selection.
- override
- To replace a method belonging to a superclass with a method of the same
name in a subclass, in order to modify its behavior.
- owner
- For a canvas, the part that created the canvas and attached it to a facet.
The owner is responsible for transferring the results of drawing on the canvas
to its parent canvas.
- ownership
- The determination of how windows communicate using messages.
- P
- page
- (1) A 4KB segment of contiguous physical memory. (2) A defined unit of
space on a storage medium.
- paint
- (1) The action of drawing or redrawing the contents of a window. (2) In
computer graphics, to shade an area of a display image; for example, with
crosshatching or color.
- panel
- In SAA Basic Common User Access architecture, a particular arrangement of
information that is presented in a window or pop-up. If some of the
information is not visible, a user can scroll through the information.
- panel area
- An area within a panel that contains related information. The three major
Common User Access-defined panel areas are the action bar, the function key
area, and the panel body.
- panel area separator
- In SAA Basic Common User Access architecture, a solid, dashed, or blank
line that provides a visual distinction between two adjacent areas of a panel.
- parent canvas
- The canvas closest above a canvas in the facet hierarchy. If, for example,
there is a single offscreen canvas attached to an embedded facet in a window,
the window canvas (attached to the root facet) is the parent of the offscreen
canvas.
- parent class
- See superclass.
- parent process
- A process that creates other processes. Contrast with child
process.
- parent window
- A window that creates a child window. The child window is drawn within the
parent window. If the parent window is moved, resized, or destroyed, the child
window also will be moved, resized, or destroyed. However, the child window
can be moved and resized independently from the parent window, within the
boundaries of the parent window. Contrast with child window.
- part
- A portion of a compound document. It consists of document content, plus,
at run time, a part editor that manipulates that content. The content is data
of a given structure or type, such as text, graphics, or video. The code is a
part editor. In programming terms, a part is an object, an instantiation of a
subclass of the class ODPart. To a user, a part is a single set of information
displayed and manipulated in one or more frames or windows. Synonymous with
document part.
- part category
- A general classification of the format of data handled by a part editor.
Categories are broad classes of data format, meaningful to end-users, such as
"text", "graphics", or "table". Contrast with
part kind.
- part container
- See container part.
- part content
- The portion of a part that describes its data. In programming terms, the
part content is represented by the instance variables of the part object; it
is the state of the part and is the portion of it that is stored persistently.
To the user, there is no distinction between part and part content; the user
considers both the part content alone, and the content plus its part editor,
as a part. Contrast with part editorand part. See also
intrinsic content and embedded content.
- part editor
- An application component that can display and change the data of a part.
It is the executable code that provides the behavior for the part. Contrast
with part content, part viewer.
- part ID
- An identifier that uniquely names a part within the context of a document.
This ID represents a storage unit ID within a particular draft of a document.
- part info
- (1) Part-specific data, of any type or size, used by a part editor to
identify what should be displayed in a particular frame or facet and how it
should be displayed. (2) Information about a given part that can be seen by
the user and is displayed in the Part Info dialog box.
- part kind
- A specific classification of the format of data handled by a part editor.
A kind specifies the specific data format handled by, and possibly native to,
a part editor. Kinds are meaningful to end-users and have designations such as
such as "MyEditor 2.0" or "MyEditor 1.0". Contrast with
part category.
- part property
- A user-accessible characteristic of a part or a portion of its content.
The user can modify some properties, such as the name of a part; the user
cannot modify some other properties, such as its part category. See also
property.
- part registry
- The mechanism by which the document shell maps parts to part editors
according to their part kind.
- part table
- A list of all the parts contained within a document and a list of
associated data.
- part viewer
- An application component that can display, but not change, the data of a
part. Contrast with part editor.
- part window
- A window that displays an embedded part by itself, for easier viewing or
editing. Any part that is embedded in another part can be opened up into its
own part window. The part window is separate from and has a slightly different
appearance than the document window that displays the entire
document in which the part is embedded.
- part-wrapper object
- A private OpenDoc object that is used to reference a part.
- partition
- (1) A fixed-size division of storage. (2) On an IBM personal computer
fixed disk, one of four possible storage areas of variable size; one may be
accessed by DOS, and each of the others may be assigned to another operating
system.
- Paste
- A choice in the Edit pull-down that a user selects to move the
contents of the clipboard into a preselected location. See also
Copy and Cut.
- Paste As
- A choice in the Edit pull-down that a user selects to move the
contents of the clipboard into a preselected location by means of a dialog box
allowing the user to specify the format of the data. See also Copy
and Cut.
- path
- The route used to locate files; the storage location of a file. A
fully qualified path lists the drive identifier, directory name, subdirectory
name (if any), and file name with the associated extension.
- pel
- (1) The smallest area of a display screen capable of being addressed and
switched between visible and invisible states. Synonym for display
point, pixel, and picture element. (2) Picture
element.
- persistence
- The quality of an entity such as a part, link, or object, that allows it
to span separate document launches and transport to different computers. For
example, a part unloaded to persistent storage is typically written to a hard
disk.
- persistent object
- An object whose instance data and state are preserved between system
shutdown and system startup.
- persistent reference
- A number, stored somewhere within a storage unit, that refers to another
storage unit in the same document. Persistent references permit complex
runtime object relationships to be stored externally, and later reconstructed.
- pick
- To select part of a displayed object using the pointer.
- pixel
- (1) Synonym for pel. (2) Picture element.
- platform
- The operating system environment in which a program runs. For example,
OpenDoc is implemented on the OS/2, Windows, AIX, and the Macintosh platforms.
- platform-normal coordinates
- The native coordinate system for a particular platform. OpenDoc performs
all layout and drawing in platform-normal coordinates; to convert from another
coordinate system to platform- normal coordinates requires application of a
bias transform.
- PM
- Presentation Manager.
- pointer
- (1) The symbol displayed on the screen that is moved by a pointing device,
such as a mouse. The pointer is used to point at items that users
can select. Contrast with cursor. (2) A data element that indicates
the location of another data element. (T)
- pointing device
- In SAA Advanced Common User Access architecture, an instrument, such as a
mouse, trackball, or joystick, used to move a pointer on the screen.
- polygon
- One or more closed figures that can be drawn filled, outlined, or filled
and outlined.
- polyline
- A sequence of adjoining lines.
- pop
- To retrieve an item from a last-in-first-out stack of items. Contrast with
push.
- pop-up menu
- A menu that lists the actions that a user can perform on an object. The
contents of the pop-up menu can vary depending on the context, or state, of
the object.
- pop-up window
- (1) A window that appears on top of another window in a dialog. Each
pop-up window must be completed before returning to the underlying window. (2)
In SAA Advanced Common User Access architecture, a movable window, fixed in
size, in which a user provides information required by an application so that
it can continue to process a user request.
- port
- (1) A connection between the CPU and main memory or a device (such as a
terminal) for transferring data. (2) A socket on the back panel of a computer
where you plug in a cable for connection to a network or a peripheral device.
- position code
- A parameter (to a storage unit's Focus method) with which you specify
the desired property or value to access.
- preferences
- The mechanism through which the user assigns a part editor to a given part
kind.
- preferred editor
- The part editor that last edited a part, or for whom the part's data
was just translated. If a part's preferred editor is not present, OpenDoc
attempts to bind the part to the user's default editor for kind
or default editor for category.
- preferred kind
- The part kind that a part specifies as its highest-fidelity, preferred
format for editing. It is the part kind stored as the first value in the
contents property of the part's storage unit, unless the storage unit also
contains a property of type kODPropPreferredKind specifying another value as
the preferred kind.
- presentation
- A particular style of display for a part's content. For example, an
outline or expanded style for text, or a wire-frame or solid style for graphic
objects. A part can have multiple presentations, each with its own rendering,
layout, and user-interface behavior. Contrast with view type.
- presentation drivers
- On the OS/2 platform, special purpose I/O routines that handle field
device-independent I/O requests from the PM and its applications.
- Presentation Manager (PM)
- The interface of the OS/2 operating system that presents, in windows a
graphics-based interface to applications and files installed and running under
the OS/2 operating system.
- presentation page
- The coordinate space in which a picture is assembled for display.
- presentation space (PS)
- (1) On the OS/2 platform, contains the device-independent definition of a
picture. (2) The display space on a display device.
- print job
- The result of sending a document or picture to be printed.
- privilege level
- A protection level imposed by the hardware architecture of the IBM
personal computer. There are four privilege levels (number 0 through 3). Only
certain types of programs are allowed to execute at each privilege level. See
also IOPL code segment.
- process
- An instance of an executing application and the resources it is using.
- program
- A sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute.
- program details
- On the OS/2 platform, information about a program that is specified in the
Program Manager window and is used when the program is started.
- program group
- On the OS/2 platform, in the Presentation Manager, several programs that
can be acted upon as a single entity.
- program name
- The full file specification of a program. Contrast with program
title.
- program title
- On the OS/2 platform, the name of a program as it is listed in the
Program Manager window. Contrast with program name.
- promise
- A specification of data to be transferred at a future time. If a data
transfer involves a very large amount of data, the source part can choose to
put out a promise instead of actually writing the data to a storage unit.
- prompt
- A displayed symbol or message that requests input from the user or gives
operational information; for example, on the display screen of an IBM personal
computer, the DOS A> prompt. The user must respond to the prompt in order
to proceed.
- Properties notebook
- A control window that is used to display the properties for a part and to
enable the user to change them.
- property
- In the OpenDoc storage subsystem, a component of a storage unit. A
property defines a kind of information (such as "name" or
"contents") and contains one or more data streams, called
values, that consist of information of that kind. Properties in a
stored part are accessible without the assistance of a part editor. Contrast
with content property and Info property. See also
display property, and user property,.
- protocol
- (1) A set of semantic and syntactic rules that determines the behavior of
functional units in achieving communication. (I) (2) The
programming interface through which a specific task or set of related tasks is
performed. The drag-and-drop protocol, for example, is the set of calls that a
part editor makes (and responds to) in order to support the dragging of items
into or out of its content.
- proxy
- A special type of content element in a containing part, a proxy is the
site of an embedded part. A proxy holds a frame that has a reference to an
embedded part or linked part.
- proxy content
- Data, associated with a single embedded frame written to the Clipboard (or
drag-and-drop object or link-source object), that the frame's original
containing part wanted associated with the frame, such as a drop shadow or
other visual adornment. Proxy content is absent if intrinsic content as well
as an embedded frame was written.
- PS
- Presentation space.
- pull-down
- (1) An action bar extension that displays a list of choices
available for a selected action bar choice. After users select an action bar
choice, the pull-down appears with the list of choices. Additional pop-up
windows may appear from pull-down choices to further extend the actions
available to users. (2) In SAA Common User Access architecture, pertaining to
a choice in an action bar pull-down.
- purge
- To free noncritical memory, usually by writing or releasing cached data.
In low-memory situations, OpenDoc can ask a part editor or other objects to
purge memory.
- push
- To add an item to a last-in-first-out stack of items. Contrast with
pop.
- push button
- A rectangle with text inside. Push buttons are used in windows for actions
that occur immediately when the push button is selected.
- R
- radio button
- (1) A control window, shaped like a round button on the screen, that can
be in a checked or unchecked state. It is used to select a single item from a
list. Contrast with check box. (2) A circle with text beside it.
Radio buttons are combined to show a user a fixed set of choices from which
only one can be selected. The circle is partially filled when a choice is
selected.
- read-only file
- A file that can be read from but not written to.
- realize
- To cause the system to ensure, wherever possible, that the physical color
table of a device is set to the closest possible match in the logical color
table.
- reentrant
- The attribute of a program or routine that allows the same copy of the
program or routine to be used concurrently by two or more tasks.
- reference
- A pointer to (or other representation of) an object, used to gain access
to the object when needed.
- reference count
- The number of references to an object. Objects that are reference-counted,
such as windows and parts, cannot be deleted from memory unless their
reference counts are zero.
- reference counted object
- An object that maintains a reference count. All classes descended from
ODRefCntObject are reference-counted.
- reference phrase
- (1) A word or phrase that is emphasized in a device-dependent manner to
inform the user that additional information for the word or phrase is
available. (2) In hypertext, text that is highlighted and preceded by a
single-character input field used to signify the existence of a hypertext
link.
- reference phrase help
- On the OS/2 platform, highlighted words or phrases within help information
that a user selects to get additional information.
- refresh
- To update a window, with changed information, to its current status.
- region
- A clipping boundary in device space.
- register
- A part of internal storage having a specified storage capacity and usually
intended for a specific purpose. (T)
- registry
- A dictionary that lists executable code modules and associated data by
which they can be selected. Examples of a registry are part
registry and scripting component registry.
- release
- To delete a reference to an object. For a reference-counted object,
releasing it decrements its reference count.
- remote file system
- A file-system driver that gains access to a remote system without a block
device driver.
- remove
- To delete an object (such as a frame) permanently from its draft, as well
as from memory. Contrast with close.
- resource
- On the OS/2 platform and on the Windows platform, the means of providing
extra information used in the definition of a window. A resource can contain
definitions of fonts, templates, accelerators, and mnemonics; the definitions
are held in a resource file.
- resource file
- On the OS/2 platform and on the Windows platform, a file containing
information used in the definition of a window. Definitions can be of fonts,
templates, accelerators, and mnemonics.
- restore
- To return a window to its original size or position following a sizing or
moving action.
- return code
- (1) A value returned to a program to indicate the results of an operation
requested by that program. (2) A code used to influence the execution of
succeeding instructions.(A)
- revert
- To return a draft to the state it had just after its last save.
- RGB
- (1) Color coding in which the brightness of the additive primary colors of
light, red, green, and blue, are specified as three distinct values of white
light. (2) Pertaining to a color display that accepts signals representing
red, green, and blue.
- roman
- Relating to a type style with upright characters.
- root facet
- The facet that displays the root frame in a document window.
- root frame
- The frame in which the root part of a document is displayed. The root
frame shape is the same as the content area of the document window.
- root part
- The part that forms the base of a document and establishes its basic
editing, embedding, and printing behavior. A document has only one root part,
which can contain content elements and perhaps other, embedded parts. Any part
can be a root part.
- root segment
- In a hierarchical database, the highest segment in the tree structure.
- root storage unit
- See content storage unit.
- root window
- See document window.
- run time
- (1) Any instant at which the execution of a particular computer program
takes place. (T) (2) The amount of time needed for the execution
of a particular computer program. (T) (3) The time during which
an instruction in an instruction register is decoded and performed. Synonym
for execution time.
- S
- SAA
- See Systems Application Architecture.
- save
- To write all the data of all parts of a document (draft) to persistent
storage.
- SBCS
- Single-byte character set.
- scope
- The range of a cloning operation, limiting which objects are to be copied.
Scope is expressed in terms of a frame object or its storage unit.
- screen
- The physical surface of a display device upon which information is shown
to a user.
- screen device context
- A logical description of a data destination that is a particular window on
the screen. See also device context.
- scripting language
- A logic used for OpenDoc direct scripting as opposed to the logic used for
programming languages such as C and C++.
- scroll bar
- a part of a window, associated with a scrollable area, that a user
interacts with to see information that is not currently allows visible.
- scrollable entry field
- An entry field larger than the visible field.
- scrollable selection field
- A selection field that contains more choices than are visible.
- scrolling
- Moving a display image vertically or horizontally in a manner such that
new data appears at one edge, as existing data disappears at the opposite
edge.
- secondary window
- A window that contains information that is dependent on information in a
primary window and is used to supplement the interaction in the primary
window.
- segment
- See graphics segment.
- segment attributes
- Attributes that apply to the segment as an entity, as opposed to the
individual primitives within the segment. For example, the visibility or
detectability of a segment.
- segment chain
- All segments in a graphics presentation space that are defined with the
'chained' attribute. Synonym for picture chain.
- segment priority
- The order in which segments are drawn.
- segment store
- An area in a normal graphics presentation space where retained graphics
segments are stored.
- select
- (1) To mark or choose an item. Note that select means to mark
or type in a choice on the screen; enter means to send all selected
choices to the computer for processing. (2) In OpenDoc, to designate as the
focus of subsequent editing operations. If the user selects an embedded part,
that part's frame border takes on an appearance that designates it as
selected. The embedded part's container is activated.
- selection cursor
- A visual indication that a user has selected a choice. It is represented
by outlining the choice with a dotted box. See also text cursor.
- selection field
- (1) On the OS/2 platform, a set of related choices. See also entry
field. (2) An area of a panel that cannot be scrolled and contains a
fixed number of choices.
- selection focus
- The location of editing activity. The part whose frame has the selection
focus is the active part, and has the selection or insertion point. See also
keystroke focus.
- semaphore
- An object used by applications for signalling purposes and for controlling
access to serially reusable resources.
- separator
- A line or color boundary that provides a visual distinction between two
adjacent areas.
- sequence number
- A number that defines the position of a frame in its frame
group.
- serial dialog box
- See modal dialog box.
- service
- An OpenDoc component that, unlike a part editor, is not primarily
concerned with editing and displaying parts. Instead, it provides a service to
parts or documents, using the OpenDoc extension mechanism. Spelling checkers
or database-access tools, for example, can be implemented as services.
- session
- (1) A routing mechanism for user interaction via the console; a complete
environment that determines how an application runs and how users interact
with the application. OS/2 can manage more than one session at a time,
and more than one process can run in a session. Each session has its own set
of environment variables that determine where OS/2 looks for
dynamic-link libraries and other important files. (2) In the OS/2 operating
system, one instance of a started program or command prompt. Each session is
separate from all other sessions that might be running on the computer. The
operating system is responsible for coordinating the resources that each
session uses, such as computer memory, allocation of processor time, and
windows on the screen. (3) A logical connection between two entities (such as
an OS/2 program and a database server) that facilitates the transmission of
information between the two entities. An application has the option to accept
or reject a session request. Authentication of the requesting user may be
required before a session can commence. See also authentication,
message block, port.
- session ID
- A number that uniquely identifies a session.
- Settings dialog box
- A dialog box, accessible through the Part Info dialog box, that displays
part-specific, custom Info properties.
- settings extension
- An OpenDoc extension class that you can use to implement a Properties
notebook.
- shadow
- An object that refers to another object. A shadow is not a copy of another
object, but is another representation of the object.
- shape
- A description of a geometric area of a drawing canvas.
- shared data
- Data that is used by two or more programs.
- shared memory
- In the OS/2 operating system, a segment that can be used by more than one
program.
- shared resource
- A facility used by multiple parts. Examples of shared resources are the
menu focus, selection focus, keystroke focus, and serial ports. See also
arbitrator.
- shear
- In computer graphics, the forward or backward slant of a graphics symbol
or string of such symbols relative to a line perpendicular to the baseline of
the symbol.
- shell
- (1) A software interface between a user and the operating system of a
computer. Shell programs interpret commands and user interactions on devices
such as keyboards, pointing devices, and touch-sensitive screens, and
communicate them to the operating system. (2) Software that allows a kernel
program to run under different operating-system environments.
- shell plug-in
- A shared library that modifies or extends the functions of the document
shell.
- sibling
- A frame or facet at the same level of embedding as another frame or facet
within the same containing frame or facet. Sibling frames and facets are
z-ordered to allow for overlapping.
- sibling processes
- Child processes that have the same parent process.
- sibling windows
- Child windows that have the same parent window.
- signature
- The aspect of a method defined by its return type and parameter list.
- simple list
- A list of like values; for example, a list of user names.
- simple part
- A part that cannot itself contain embedded parts. Contrast container
part.
- small icon view type
- A view type in which a part is represented by a 16 by 16-pixel bitmap
image. Other possible view types for displaying a part include large icon,
thumbnail, and frame.
- SOM
- System Object Model.
- SOM object
- An object or class created according to the system object model.
- source content
- The content at the source of a link. It is copied into the link and then
into the destination content.
- source data
- Statements in a scripting language that constitute an uncompiled script.
- source file
- A file that contains source statements for items such as high-level
language programs and data description specifications.
- source frame
- (1) An embedded frame whose part that has been opened up into its own
part window. (2) The frame to which other synchronized
frames are attached.
- source part
- (1) In data transfer, the part that provides the data that is transferred.
(2) For a link, the part that contains the original information that is copied
and displayed at the destination of the link. Contrast with destination
part.
- source statement
- A statement written in a programming language.
- spin button
- A type of entry field that shows a scrollable ring of choices from which a
user can select a choice. After the last choice is displayed, the first choice
is displayed again. A user can also type a choice from the scrollable ring
into the entry field without interacting with the spin button.
- split-frame view
- A display technique for windows or frames, in which two or more facets of
a frame display different scrolled portions of a part's content.
- stack
- A list constructed and maintained so that the next data element to be
retrieved is the most recently stored. This method is characterized as
last-in-first-out (LIFO).
- static canvas
- A drawing canvas that cannot be changed after it has been rendered, such
as a printer page. Contrast with dynamic canvas.
- static control
- The means by which the application presents descriptive information (for
example, headings and descriptors) to the user. The user cannot change this
information.
- static storage
- (1) A read/write storage unit in which data is retained in the
absence of control signals. (A) Static storage may use dynamic
addressing or sensing circuits. (2) Storage other than dynamic
storage. (A)
- stationery
- A part that opens by copying itself and opening the copy into a window,
leaving the original stationery part unchanged.
- storage system
- The OpenDoc mechanism for providing persistent storage for documents and
parts. The storage system object must provide unique identifiers for parts as
well as cross-document links. It stores parts as a set of standard properties
plus type-specific content data.
- storage unit
- In the OpenDoc storage subsystem, an object that represents the basic unit
of persistent storage. Each storage unit has a list of properties, and each
property contains one or more data streams called values.
- storage-unit cursor
- A preset storage unit/ property/value designation, created to allow swift
focusing on frequently accessed data.
- storage-unit ID
- A unique identifier of a storage unit within a draft.
- storage-unit view
- A storage unit prefocused on a given property and value. A storage-unit
view provides thread-safe access to a storage unit.
- strong persistent reference
- A persistent reference that, when the storage unit containing the
reference is cloned, causes the referenced storage unit to be copied also.
Contrast with weak persistent reference.
- style
- See window style.
- subclass
- An object class that inherits properties and element classes from another
object class, its superclass. A subclass can also include properties and
element classes that are not inherited from its superclass. Every object
class, with the exception of cObject, is a subclass of another object class.
- subdirectory
- A file referred to in a root directory that contains the names of other
files stored on the diskette or fixed disk.
- subframe
- A frame that is both an embedded frame in, and a display frame of, a part.
A part can create an embedded frame, make it a subframe of its own frame, and
then display itself in that subframe.
- subsystem
- A broad subdivision of the interface and capabilities of OpenDoc,
involving one or more protocols (for example, OpenDoc subsystems include
shell, storage, drawing, user events).
- superclass
- A class from which another class (its subclass) is derived.
Also called ancestor, base class, or parent class. It is the object class from
which a subclass inherits properties and elements.
- swapping
- (1) A process that interchanges the contents of an area of real storage
with the contents of an area in auxiliary storage. (I) (A)
(2) In a system with virtual storage, a paging technique that writes the
active pages of a job to auxiliary storage and reads pages of another job from
auxiliary storage into real storage. (3) The process of temporarily removing
an active job from main storage, saving it on disk, and processing another job
in the area of main storage formerly occupied by the first job.
- switch
- (1) To move the cursor from one point of interest to another; for example,
to move from one screen or window to another or from a place within a
displayed image to another place on the same displayed image. (2) In a
computer program, a conditional instruction and an indicator to be
interrogated by that instruction. (3) A device or programming technique for
making a selection, for example, a toggle, a conditional jump.
- switch list
- See Task List.
- symbols
- On the OS/2 platform, in Information Presentation Facility, a document
element used to produce characters that cannot be entered from the keyboard.
- synchronized frames
- Separate frames that display the same representation of the same part, and
should therefore be updated together. In general, if an embedded part has two
or more editable display frames of the same presentation, those frames (and
all their embedded frames) should be synchronized.
- synchronous
- Pertaining to two or more processes that depend upon the occurrence of
specific events such as common timing signals. (T) See also
asynchronous.
- synthetic command ID
- A command ID created by OpenDoc for a menu command that had not previously
been registered with the menu bar object.
- Systems Application Architecture.
- A set of IBM software interfaces, conventions, and protocols that provide
a framework for designing and developing applications that are consistent
across systems.
- system coercion dispatch table
- See coercion handler dispatch table.
- System Menu
- On the OS/2 platform, the pull-down in the top left corner of a window
that allows it to be moved and sized with the keyboard.
- system object accessor dispatch table
- See object accessor dispatch table.
- System Object Model (SOM)
- A mechanism for language-neutral, object-oriented programming.
- system queue
- The master queue for all pointer device or keyboard events.
- system result handler
- A result handler that is available to all applications that use the
system. Contrast with application result handler.
- system-defined messages
- Messages that control the operations of applications and provides input an
other information for applications to process.
- Systems Application Architecture (SAA)
- A set of IBM software interfaces, conventions, and protocols that provide
a framework for designing and developing applications that are consistent
across systems.
- T
- text
- Characters or symbols.
- thread
- A unit of execution within a process. It uses the resources of the
process.
- thread-safe
- Said of an activity, or access to data, that can be safely undertaken in a
multitasking environment.
- thumbnail view type
- A view type in which a part is represented by a large (64-by-64 pixels)
bitmap image that is typically a miniature representation of the layout of the
part content. Other possible view types for displaying a part include large
icon, small icon, and frame.
- title bar
- The area at the top of each window that contains the window title and
system menu icon. When appropriate, it also contains the minimize, maximize,
and restore icons. Contrast with panel title.
- TLB
- Translation lookaside buffer.
- token
- A short, codified representation of a string. The session object creates
tokens for ISO strings.
- token disposal function
- An object callback function that disposes of a token.
- transform
- (1) The action of modifying a picture by scaling, shearing, reflecting,
rotating, or translating. (2) The object that performs or defines such a
modification; also referred to as a transformation.
- translation
- The conversion of one type of data to another type of data. Specifically,
the conversion of data of one part kind to data of another part kind. Note
that translation can involve loss of fidelity.
- Translation lookaside buffer (TLB)
- A hardware-based address caching mechanism for paging information.
- Tree
- On the OS/2 platform, in the Presentation Manager, the window in the
File Manager that shows the organization of drives and directories.
- U
- undo
- To rescind a command, negating its results. OpenDoc provides the ability
to undo events by utilizing a command history.
- update ID
- (1) In OpenDoc, a number used to identify a particular instance of
Clipboard contents. (2) A number used to identify a particular instance of
link source data.
- used shape
- A shape that describes the portion of a frame that a part actually uses
for drawing; that is, the part of the frame that the containing part should
not draw over.
- user event
- A message, sent to a part by the dispatcher, that pertains only to the
state of the part's graphical user interface, not directly to its
contents. User events include mouse clicks and keystrokes, and they deliver
information about, among other things, window locations and scroll bar
positions.
- user interface
- Hardware, software, or both that allows a user to interact with and
perform operations on a system, program, or device.
- user-interface part
- A part without content elements, representing a unit of a document's
user interface. Buttons and dialog boxes, for example, can be user-interface
parts.
- user property
- One of a set of user-accessible characteristics of a part or its frame.
The user can modify some user properties, such as the name of a part; the user
cannot modify some other user properties, such as part category. Each user
property defined by OpenDoc is stored as a distinct property in the storage
unit of the part or its frame.
- utility program
- (1) A computer program in general support of computer processes; for
example, a diagnostic program, a trace program, a sort
program. (T) (2) A program designed to perform an everyday task
such as copying data from one storage device to another. (A)
- V
- validate
- To mark a portion of a canvas (or facet, or frame) as no longer in need of
redrawing. Contrast with invalidate.
- value
- In the OpenDoc storage subsystem, a data stream associated with a property
in a storage unit. Each property has a set of values, and there can be only
one value of a given data type for each property.
- value set control
- A visual component that enables a user to select one choice from a group
of mutually exclusive choices.
- view
- A way of looking at an object's information.
- view type
- The basic visual representation of a part. Supported view types include
frame, icon, small icon, and thumbnail.
- viewer
- See part viewer.
- viewing pipeline
- The series of transformations applied to a graphic object to map the
object to the device on which it is to be presented.
- viewing window
- A clipping boundary that defines the visible part of model space.
- VIO
- Video Input/Output.
- visible region
- A window's presentation space, clipped to the boundary of the window
and the boundaries of any overlying window.
- W
- weak persistent reference
- A persistent reference that, when the storage unit containing the
reference is cloned, is ignored; the referenced storage unit is not copied.
Contrast with strong persistent reference.
- wildcard character
- Synonymous with global file-name character.
- window
- (1) A portion of a display surface in which display images pertaining to a
particular application can be presented. Different applications can be
displayed simultaneously in different windows. (A) (2) An area
of the screen with visible boundaries within which information is displayed. A
window can be smaller than or the same size as the screen. Windows can appear
to overlap on the screen. (3) A division of a screen in which one of several
programs being executed concurrently can display information.
- window canvas
- The canvas attached to the root facet of a window. Every window has a
window canvas.
- window class
- The grouping of windows whose processing needs conform to the services
provided by one window procedure.
- window-content transform
- The composite transform that converts from a part's content
coordinates to its window coordinates.
- window coordinate space
- The coordinate space of the window in which a part's content is drawn.
It may or may not be equal to the canvas coordinate space.
- window coordinates
- A set of coordinates by which a window position or size is defined;
measured in device units, or pels.
- window-frame transform
- The composite transform that converts from a part's frame coordinates
to its window coordinates.
- window handle
- Unique identifier of a window, generated by the operating system when the
window is created, and used by applications to direct messages to the window.
- window procedure
- Code that is activated in response to a message. The procedure controls
the appearance and behavior of its associated windows.
- window rectangle
- The means by which the size and position of a window is described in
relation to the desktop window.
- window resource
- On the OS/2 platform and the Windows platform a read-only data segment
stored in the .EXE file of an application or the .DLL file of a dynamic link
library.
- window state
- An object that lists the set of windows that are open at a given time.
Part editors can alter the window state, and the window state can be
persistently stored.
- window style
- The set of properties that influence how events related to a particular
window will be processed.
- Workplace Shell
- The OS/2 object-oriented, graphical user interface.
- world-coordinate space
- Coordinate space in which graphics are defined before transformations are
applied.
- wrapper
- An object (or class) that exists to provide an object-oriented interface
to a non-object- oriented or system-specific structure. The OpenDoc class
ODWindow, for example, is a wrapper for a system-specific window structure.
- WYSIWYG
- What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get. A capability of a text editor to continually
display pages exactly as they will be printed.
- Z
- z-order
- The order in which sibling windows are presented. The topmost sibling
window obscures any portion of the siblings that it overlaps; the same effect
occurs down through the order of lower sibling windows.
- z-ordering
- The front-to-back ordering of sibling frames used to determine clipping
and event handling when frames overlap.
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