Dialog Styles

To those of you who have become comfortable programming AutoCAD® with AutoLISP® or VisualLisp and have not yet worked with DCL or dialog boxes, there are several different styles of dialogs.

Under the DCL language, only one style of dialog has ever been available, Modal. AutoCAD® documentation never referred to the technical name because only the one style was available.

So, what are these different styles and what do they do? Below is a table that names and describes all three styles available in ObjectDCL editor, and includes a description of how to add your own tabs to the AutoCAD® Options / Preferences dialog box.

Modal

This style is the only style available under DCL. This dialog box grabs complete focus of AutoCAD® and will not allow the user to take any actions out side of it's boundaries, until closed. In addition, this style allows you to decide if you want to allow the user to resize the dialog box at run time.

Modeless

This style is similar to the Modal dialog box style, but differs in that it allows the user to take actions outside of its boundaries. Basically it acts as a free floating dialog box. It allows the user to draw and interact with AutoCAD® but floats there on the screen awaiting user input. This dialog box also allows you to decide if you want to allow the user to resize it at run time.

Dockable

This style further develops on the Modeless dialog box style. This dialog box will allow itself to be docked to either side of the AutoCAD® main frame. Again this dialog box also allows you to decide if you want to allow the user to resize it at run time.

Configuration Tab

This style available in the editor allows you to create your own tab pane that will be displayed in the AutoCAD® Options / Preferences dialog box. To have the tab display automatically when the dialog box is called, the project must be loaded into memory first.

File Dialog

This style will allow you to create your own file dialog boxes. It will event allow you to insert your own controls right on the dialog box. This style is only available in ObjectDCL Pro.