2.2.6-15 Displaying Current Attributes

During graphic data entry/editing, the selected attributes that will affect current actions should be displayed for ready reference by the user.

Additional Information:
Users may forget what options have been chosen. Displayed reminders will be particularly important in situations where the consequences of a mistaken user action are difficult to reverse, e.g., where it may be hard to erase an incorrectly drawn line. For example, when graphic attributes -- plotting symbols, character size, line type, or color -- are chosen from displayed menus, it might suffice to highlight the currently selected menu options; alternatively, current selections might be shown in some sort of "reminder" window. A few attributes might be shown by the displayed cursor, i.e., by changing cursor shape, size, or color depending upon current attribute selections. If rubberbanding is provided to aid line drawing, then that process itself would show the currently selected line type. In some applications, display cues may not be adequate to convey attribute information completely. There may not be sufficient room on the display, or the attributes may derive from underlying models whose characteristics are too complex for simple display representation. In such cases, users should be able to request auxiliary display of such information to determine the operative context for current actions.