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Information, Warnings, and Error Messages
Different types of prompt text, information text, and warning and
error messages will appear in the graphics window and also extra
information text will appear in the terminal window. The main
``dialogue'' is in always in the graphics window, except within the
KEYBOARD INTERFACE, but often
more detailed explanation is given in the terminal window.
Information and warning text in the terminal window is identified by
one of four initial ``keywords'':
- INFO:
The text is of a purely informative nature e.g. values
calculated as the result of some operation, or information on an input
data-set.
- NOTE:
The text is also informative, but highlights a
potential for misunderstanding by an inexperienced user. Thus, such
messages should be carefully noted.
- WARNING:
Something has not worked as it should. This may be
of greater or lesser importance depending on the circumstances. e.g.
An input file was not found, or was of the wrong format.
- ERROR:
Something ``serious'' has gone wrong. This may require
exiting FIT2D or may be ``recoverable'' depending on the
circumstances. e.g. The system has failed to allocate dynamic memory
as requested.
It should be noted that these categories are not strict i.e. in some
circumstances a WARNING message may be more serious than an
ERROR message, nevertheless, this show a generally increasing
importance and need for user comprehension and maybe action.
Next: Graphics User Interface: Introduction
Up: Important Principles And Common
Previous: False Colour Image Display
Andrew Hammersley
2004-01-09