IWBNI, in the case when there is no selected region, any tool, plug-in or utility that requires a selected region automatically displayed the Select Region dialog box. As it is now, most utilities of this type are disabled when no region is selected. For example, all the menu items on the MassEdit menu that require a selected region are disabled when no region is selected. Most plug-ins of this type display an error message when no region is selected. For example, the Cautionary Accidentals plug-in displays the following error message in this case: You must select a region in the Mass Mover Tool before selecting this operation.

This could be implemented by enabling any tool, plug-in or utility that requires a selected region in the case when no region is selected. When an operation is performed and no region is selected, the Select Region dialog box would be displayed. After a region has been selected and the OK button is pressed on this dialog box, the operation would be performed or the dialog box associated with the operation would be displayed.

For example, if one were to select the menu item MassEdit>Change>Ties when no region is selected, the Select Region dialog box would be displayed. One could then specify a region. After the OK button is pressed on the Select Region dialog box, the Change Ties dialog box would be displayed.

Note: To facilitate the process of selecting a region with the Select Region dialog box, a button called Select All could be added to this dialog box that could be used to select the entire document. And, the Select Regions dialog box could be modified so that a region could be drag-selected by using the mouse while the Select Region dialog box is being displayed. For an example of this style of interface, see the Chart Wizard - Step 2 of 4 - Chart Source Data dialog box in Microsoft Excel 97 where a data range may be dragged on a spreadsheet while the dialog box is displayed. When one drags the spreadsheet the dialog box shrinks to a smaller size so as not to obscure the spreadsheet.

Created: June 9, 2000
Last Updated: June 9, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b