Talk:Dialog box

GUI standards for visual aids to distinction between a modal and modeless dialog box?
I just noticed in Excel that there doesn't seem to be any indication of whether a given dialog box is modal (which is certainly the norm), or modeless. I have been conditioned to always assume they are modal and will give me an annoying beep if I click outside it, so I am surprised when I find one that is modeless, for instance the "Source Data..." dialog that is on the context menu that comes up when right-clicking on a chart.

Is there a Windows or other standard for this? Maybe something that is already there that I'm missing? I'll try to remember to look it up and add it in the next few days when I have the time, but it would be best added by someone who is more familiar with the subject. Thanks.

Edit: As I returned to the spreadsheet, I realized that the main dialog box is modal until I click on a series to edit it, at which point my indication is the highlighted selection (the series) on the spreadsheet, so I guess the answer is just poke around till something highlights? Spalding 15:25, Jun 20, 2005 (UTC)


 * This sounds like a typical Microsoft design - completely ignore any theoretical underpinning to the design of GUI elements and just throw something together that sort of works and hope the user eventually figures it out. If the document is still active when the dialog is up, it should be modeless, pure and simple. If another document is then activated with the dialog on screen it should either update to reflect the new document or deactivate itself. Sounds like they're trying to create a "document modeless" dialog, which doesn't exist as a theoretical element. When a GUI designer is confronted by this sort of situation, it's time to recognise that their fundamental GUI design is broken. Graham 03:32, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

Can we get a better example for a dialog box picture?
That one brings back baaaddd memories of the old DOS Abort, Retry, Fail, one of the world's worst error messages! Something like a File Open one, something very commonly used would be best. Spalding 12:47, 25 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Go for it. Perhaps a Windows user could supply a better screenshot? Graham 03:32, 26 February 2006 (UTC)


 * I've got a screen shot of a dialog box in Mozilla Firefox 2.0 asking if I want to close the window with the multiple tabs or cancel the action. I'm uploading it pretty soon. edit: done. ;-) --Amp e rsand2006 ( &amp; ) 22:56, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Modaless vs other terms
This one is addressed to the original editor of this page. Modeless is not the correct term. The opposite of Modal Window is Modaless Window.

I assume it's just a typo and would appreciate if you fix it. 10x.

Just a small comment: the opposite of Modal is Modaless (rather than Modeless). 10x.
 * I'm pretty sure that the opposite of Modal is actually Non-modal. Furthermore, 'Modaless' looks very wrong and doesn't appear in any dictionary I can find. Modest Genius talk 20:13, 9 March 2007 (UTC)


 * The win32 MSDN documentation uses the terms "modal" and "modeless". The word "modal" is equivalent to "with mode" as confirmed by modal. Google results: "modeless" 322,000; "non-modal" 190,000; "nonmodal" 49,100; "un-modal" 854; "modaless" 791; "unmodal" 441 -- intgr 20:26, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Whilst your points are good, I'd just like to point out that neither wikitionary nor numbers of Google hits are reputable sources. Modest Genius talk 00:36, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I'm just providing context. -- intgr 00:43, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

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Hi, i had been calling few model dialog boxes. these are working in IE but these are not working in Mozilla. Can any body tell me how solve these problem? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.145.173.2 (talk) 09:01, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

Dialog Boxes require some sort of interaction with the user
I'm surprised that in this article "information only" boxes are classed as Dialog boxes: many references on the web now say this, but it looks like they used Wikipedia as the reference!

Here is a reference which states explicitly that the purpose of dialog boxes is for interaction with the user.

If they did not require user interaction, surely they would be called "Monolog" boxes? cojoco (talk) 02:10, 22 July 2008 (UTC)
 * "Information only" boxes are called "Alert dialog boxes". I've added a link to the relevant article in the Widgets template, although a link was already present in the lead paragraph. Diego (talk) 08:02, 22 July 2008 (UTC)

Merge with Alert dialog box
The Alert dialog box article doesn't stand alone, it doesn't have enough specific information. I think it should included as a section in the Dialog box article, so that the general information about dialogs (modal vs modeless, criticism, references) are shared. Diego (talk) 08:08, 22 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Answered my own question. With my recent adittions about the specific usability problems of alert boxes, the Alert dialog box article stands on its own. Diego (talk) 11:21, 23 July 2008 (UTC)

Picture for "Document modal"
Can someone provide a picture or animation of this? Would be a lot better than just a description. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.224.181.247 (talk) 18:30, 27 May 2011 (UTC)

"or dialogue box"
Hi all: "or dialogue box" was removed in this edit. Which I am completely fine with. While I myself would never call a two-way conversation a "dialog", I seriously doubt that there would be any credible evidence for the use of "dialogue box" as an alternative for "dialog box". --Shirt58 (talk) 08:50, 30 September 2011 (UTC)

I am wondering whether given the US use of the spelling 'dialog' (rather than the UK use 'dialogue') should always be used to refer to a 'dialog box' given that the standard term within GUI interface libraries is the spelling 'dialog'. Any comments on using 'dialogue' in not US written documentation? Tumbleweed (2012) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 150.101.198.223 (talk) 02:08, 27 February 2012 (UTC)

In BE, I’m perfectly used to ‘dialog’ and hesitant to use BE ‘dialogue’ in this context. I suppose it’s analogous to BE computer ‘programs’ rather than ‘programmes’. 213.209.221.66 (talk) 14:47, 9 January 2017 (UTC)

I'm British and I've never seen anyone use 'dialogue box' (or 'programmes'), despite what the Collins English Dictionary says. -Taras (talk) 09:42, 18 October 2018 (UTC)

Non-alert dialog boxes?
What dialog box isn't an alert? This article doesn't give any example. Are there any? --NaBUru38 (talk) 21:58, 9 November 2011 (UTC)