Fusion Glossary 
RCUX Document Version 5.1.0 for Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 Patch Set 1 (11.1.1.2.0)
Last Updated
07-Oct-2010
The following glossary of terms is used throughout the Fusion guidelines. These terms refer to UI components, page designs, flows, and commonly used Web developer terms.
Guideline Contents
| Shortcuts |
|---|
Related Guidelines
| Guideline | Section | For Information About |
|---|---|---|
| Language in UI | All | General rules for use of text in UI. |
| Buttons | Common Button Labels | Description of common button labels and comparison of related terms. |
| Help Framework | All | Usage guidelines for different types of Help. |
| Message Framework | All | Usage guidelines for different types of Messaging. |
General Principles
Key to Glossary Column Headings
- Fusion Term: A term commonly used within the Fusion Usage Guidelines. Terms with initial capitals should also have initial capitals when used in product documentation.
- Synonyms and Related Terms: One or more related terms used informally by product teams in place of the standard Fusion term. These terms are included to facilitate online searches; never use these terms in place of standard terms in Oracle products or documentation.
- Definition: Explanation of the Fusion term.
- Use in Product Documentation: Usage of the term for writers of application Help text, Oracle Help for the Web, and product manuals. Some terms are for use only by development teams.
- See Guideline: Links to Fusion Guidelines with more information about the current term.
Note: For a list of terms used as button labels, see the Buttons guideline.
List of Glossary Terms
| Fusion Term | Synonyms and Related Terms | Definition | Use in Product Documentation | See Guideline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| abbreviations | An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word. In general, do not use abbreviations in Fusion applications because of accessibility and internationalization constraints. | Yes. This term is typically used in a glossary. | Language in UI | |
| accelerator keys | access keys, hot keys, shortcut keys | An accelerator key provides keyboard navigation to bypass menu navigation and perform an action. For example, Windows applications use Ctrl+S for Save. | Yes. | Keyboard Framework |
| access keys | accelerator keys, shortcut keys, mnemonics | An access key provides keyboard navigation to jump to a specific UI element. For example, Windows applications use Alt+F to open the File menu. | No. Use the term "shortcut key" or "keyboard shortcut." | Keyboard Framework |
| accessibility | disabilities, section 508, OGHAG (Oracle Global HTML Accessibility Guidelines), W3C WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) | Fusion applications follow strict accessibility standards to meet government and other legal requirements globally. Accessible software provides alternative ways for people with disabilities to access electronic and information technology. | Yes. | N/A |
| accordion | accordion pane, panel, | The PanelAccordion consists of a collection of panels associated with a common outer container/pane. This compound component provides flexible access to multiple panels of content that could not otherwise be displayed on a single page. | Yes. Use this term when explaining expansion and collapse of accordion panels. | Panel Accordion |
| acronyms | An acronym is an abbreviation of a phrase that is formed by combining a part (usually the first letter) of each word in the phrase. Spell out most acronyms in full on first use. | Yes. This term is typically used in a glossary. | Language in UI | |
| active | selected | The state of an element that has focus and is thus ready to accept user input or action. | No. Use the term "focus", for example, "the table cell has focus." | UI Specifications |
| ADF | UIX (former code stack) | Oracle Application Development Framework (ADF) is a set of technologies for building dynamic Web applications. | Use this term only in developer documentation. | |
| arrow | Arrow buttons (left, right, up, and down) are used in a variety of components to indicate direction or expand/collapse functionality. Common usages include: Choice lists, Next and Back in guided processes, selection within a shuttle, and reorder contents of a list or table. | If the arrow button has a label, refer to the label; if not, avoid the term "button", and instead specify the arrow type (left arrow, up arrow, double right-arrow, and so on). Text referring to arrow direction may need to be modified when translating to right-to-left languages. | UI specifications | |
| arrow key | arrow | Arrow keys (as distinct from arrow buttons) are used as an alternative to the mouse to move the cursor or an object in a specific direction. | Yes. When providing keyboard-based directions, refer to the individual arrow key (up arrow, down arrow, left arrow, right arrow). | Keyboard Framework |
| attribute | details, property | An attribute is a detail of an object that may appear in a column of a table or TreeTable, or in a field on an object page. | Yes, but use this term only in developer and administrator documentation. Otherwise, use the general term "details" and refer to individual attributes by their column headers or field labels. | |
| auxiliary content region | regional area | An auxiliary content region is an optional region of a page that can be placed near the top, at the left, at the right, or at the bottom of the page. Auxiliary content regions are delimited by borders. | Yes, but use this term only in developer and administrator documentation. Otherwise, if users need help locating the region, use general descriptive terms such as "the region on the left", "the region on the right", "the region near the top", and "the region at the bottom." | Page Layout |
| axis | x axis, y axis, time axis | An axis is a reference line for plotting data on a graph or gauge. Also refers to the region of a Gantt chart that displays time periods. | Yes. | Gantt Chart, Gauge, Graph |
| BiDi language | non-Western language, right-to-left language, bi-directional language | Bi-directional (BiDi) languages have scripts or character sets that do not follow the Western European convention of reading and writing of text from left to right and top to bottom. Examples include Hebrew and Arabic. | No. Use "right-to-left languages," for example: "When the order of the breadcrumb trail is reversed for right-to-left languages..." | Internationalization Best Practices |
| branding | corporate identity, co-branding | Branding identifies the current application to the user. There are two tiers of branding: corporate branding (a corporate logo) and product branding (the name of a product). Customized branding enables a customer to replace the default brand information with that company's specific information. | No. However, in HTML, the ALT tag must carry the correct, official name, such as for oracle.gif, ALT="Oracle Logo". | Oracle Marketing Department's Branding and User Interfaces guidelines |
| breadcrumbs | locator elements | Breadcrumbs specify the location of the current page within an application's module and page hierarchy. As the user navigates through hierarchical content, or drills down through levels of content and functionality, the breadcrumbs track the location. Breadcrumb links enable the user to navigate up to higher levels in the hierarchy. Note: Breadcrumbs do not necessarily show the route taken by the user to reach the current page. | No. If needed, use the term "locator links." | Breadcrumbs |
| browser controls | toolbar, menu | Browser controls are toolbar or menu options provided by a browser, such as browser Back and Forward buttons. | No. Use the control name, such as the browser Back button. | |
| buttons | pushbuttons | Use Action/Navigation buttons in Fusion applications to: perform actions only (Action Only buttons), to perform an action and navigate the user to another page (Action and Navigation Buttons), and to navigate the user to another page without performing an action (Navigation Buttons). Action/Navigation buttons may be placed throughout the page. | Refer to specific buttons by name. For example, "Click Edit"; if a general term is needed, use "buttons." | Buttons |
| carousel | The carousel is a browsing component which displays objects in a layout that mimics a carousel carnival ride, with objects rotating in a simulated circular, 3-D space. | Yes. | Carousel | |
| check box | checkbox | A check box is a labeled control that users can select to turn on or clear to turn off. When multiple check boxes are presented as a group, users can select none, one, or more than one at the same time. | Yes. You may also use the term "option," identified by label name, such as "the Save Settings on Exit option." | Check Box |
| child (object) | node, leaf, branch | A child object or node is any object that is subordinate to another object or container. Parent/child relationships are exposed to users in Tree Table, Tree, and HierarchyViewer controls, or through drill down navigation. | Yes. Use this term when describing hierarchical relationships. Otherwise refer to the object type or use the term "object." | TreeTable, Tree, HierarchyViewer |
| choice list | pull-down list, drop-down list, poplist | A choice list displays a drop-down list from which the user can select a value. | No. Use the term "list," identified by label name if needed. | Select Choice |
| click | press, push, select, choose | Mouse down and mouse up on an interface element. | Yes, use this term unless you are specifically describing keyboard or other interaction. | All |
| color palette | A color palette is a set of predefined colors. Fusion products can use several different color palettes: 49, 64, or 144 colors. | Yes. | Input/Choose Color | |
| color selector | color picker | A color selector is an inline selector used to choose colors. | Yes. | Input/Choose Color |
| component | widget, control, element | A component is a development term that describes a collection of Fusion page elements. Fusion includes many types of components, including standard Web widgets (also known as controls), menus, toolbars, tables, trees, and headers. | Refer to individual components by their labels; if necessary, use the general term "page elements," or the more specific term "controls" for standard Web widgets. | All |
| confirmation message | A confirmation message notifies the user when an action has been completed successfully. Confirmation messages appear in dialog boxes. | Yes, use this term if you are specifically referring to a confirmation message and you must make the distinction; otherwise, use "message." | Message Framework | |
| container (for objects) | parent | In a hierarchy, a container groups one or more child objects that do not have a parent object (such as a department in a hierarchy of employees). | Avoid this term unless you need to describe hierarchical relationships. | TreeTable, Tree |
| context menu | A context menu appears when a user right-clicks a screen element. Not all screen elements are associated with context menus. | Yes. | Menus | |
| context region | Contextual information is read-only label/data information that appears on a page or pages of a process. The information that appears is based on one or more choices made on a previous page and helps users to remember those choices while continuing a task. | No. | Provided in divisional design patterns and UI templates. See Page Layout. | |
| Contextual Info | A component that places a small glyph next to an item to indicate that related information or actions can be shown by launching a temporary pop-up window. | Yes. | Contextual Info | |
| converter | number converter, percent converter | A converter changes data from one type to another. For example, a number converter changes a text string into a number that can be used in calculations, and a percent converter changes a text string into a number that represents a percentage (that is, n÷100). | No. Refer simply to the converted data type, such as "number" or "percentage". | Common Formats |
| CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) | skin | A cascading style sheet (CSS) defines all the colors, text, and styles used throughout Fusion applications. There is one master XML style sheet (XSS) that drives the individual CSS for different locales and browser types. | Yes, but define this term at first use, for example "Cascading Style Sheet (CSS)". | |
| dashboard | panel dashboard | The dashboard provides an overview of information and metrics that the user may be interested in, such as new messages or analytical graphs. | Yes. | Panel Dashboard |
| date-time selector | date-time editor, date-time picker calendar | The date-time selector enables a user to select a date and time from a calendar to populate a date-time field on a page. | Yes. Use "date-time selector"; if the control does not include time selection, use "date selector." | Input/Choose Date |
| definition text | Help text | Definition text provides a definition of a field on a page. This text appears in a tooltip when the user hovers over a help icon next to the field. | Use "definition." | Help Framework |
| design patterns | templates | Design patterns are high-level problem solutions that guide the developer or designer to the right UI template. UI templates are based on Fusion components. Design patterns and UI templates are developed by divisional UI groups. | No. | |
| details (object) | attributes, properties | The term "details" is used generically to describe object attributes that may be exposed on a View and Edit page, in a Table, or in a TreeTable. | Yes. Use this term to refer to individual object details, use the field label, or use the column header. | |
| dialog box | pop up window | Dialog boxes enable users to choose options related to a page element. Depending on function, dialog boxes may be modal (require action before returning to the page), or modeless (remain available while the user is working on the page). | Yes, in conjunction with dialog box title; do not shorten to "dialog." | Secondary Windows |
| disabled | dimmed, grayed | The term "disabled" describes the state of an element in which normal functionality is not currently available to a user. A disabled element is usually dimmed. | Yes. | All |
| Disclosure icon | hide/show, expand/collapse | The Disclosure icon enables users to collapse or reveal a section or subsection of page content, a row, or a cell in a Table or PivotTable. | Yes. | Headers, PivotTable |
| drag | This term describes the action of clicking an element, holding down the mouse button, and moving the mouse to move or copy the element to another location. | Yes. | Drag and Drop | |
| drag gesture | This generic term is used to describe any mouse action involving mouse movement. | No. | Drag and Drop | |
| drill | drill down, drill up, drill-down | To "drill" means to show a different level of detail about an object or to navigate up or down in a hierarchy.
As a verb, to "drill down" means to reveal more details about an object or to navigate to a child element in a hierarchy, whereas, to "drill up" means to return to a less-detailed view or to navigate to a parent element in a hierarchy. A user can drill down more than once on an object to progressively reveal more details. As an adjective, a drill-down link or button enables the user to drill down. |
Yes. Use "drill," "drill down," and "drill up" as verbs. Elements that may be drilled may be referred to as "drillable."
Do not use drilling terms as nouns. Do not use "drilldown" as a noun. Use "drill-down" as an adjective. In developer documentation you may also use "drilldown" as a noun meaning "drill-down navigation," but do not use it to refer to an instance of a drill-down link. |
Graph, PivotTable |
| An e-mail is a message sent through any e-mail client. The term "e-mail" is also used to describe the medium of electronic mail (example: "Use e-mail to report any changes"). | Yes. | Links | ||
| Eager Evaluation | An eager evaluation is any evaluation strategy in which evaluation of some or all function arguments is started before their values are required. For example, a Tree control under eager evaluation shows expand (+) signs only next to nodes with children. See also Lazy Evaluation. | No. | Tree, TreeTable | |
| element
| component | An element represents any part of the user interface. See also: Component. | Yes. | All |
| enabled | active | When an element is enabled, normal functionality is available to the user. | Yes, but use this term only if it is needed to explain a state change in a product. | All |
| end-aligned | right-aligned | Alignment determines placement of one element relative to another or to a position on the page. End alignment means that an element is placed at the end rather than at the start of another element or page region. In Western European languages, end alignment is the equivalent of right alignment; this is reversed in right-to-left languages. | No. | All |
| error message | alert, warning | An error message appears when one or more actions have failed due to data inaccuracies or system-level problems. The application requires immediate attention or correction before continuing. Error messages appear in dialog boxes and message windows associated with the component that generated the error. | Yes. Use this term if you are specifically referring to an error message and you must make the distinction; otherwise, use "message." | Message Framework |
| floating menu | secondary window, tear-off menu | A floating menu is a submenu that is torn off its parent menu. It then becomes a type of modeless window. | Yes. | Menus |
| flow | sequence, process | A "page flow" is a sequence of pages with a common purpose and style, such as a search/results sequence, or an attachments sequence. | No. | |
| focus | active | An element has "focus" when it is ready to accept user input. An element gains focus when a user clicks or drags it, or navigates to it using the keyboard. | Yes, but use this term only if you need to explain a state change in a product, such as when describing access key behavior. | All |
| form layout | The Form Layout component is used to organize label-data pairs and Web Widgets on the page, in a similar structure to a paper-based data-entry form. | No. | Form Layout | |
| globalization | internationalization, localization, translation, NLS (National Language Support) | Globalization development standards facilitate translation of applications into multiple languages; support for different character sets; support for right-to-left languages; recognition of multicultural issues; and support for international date, time, name, and other formats. | Yes. Use this term if needed, as in "globalization support." | Internationalization Best Practices |
| global links | Global links are persistent product and suite links that appear above the page title. | No. Instead, refer to individual links by name. | Links | |
| guided process | wizard, step-by-step process | A guided process is a sequence of pages that assist users to perform tasks with multiple dependencies. | Yes, or simply use the term "process." | Train |
| headers (subheaders and sub-subheaders) | headings, sections | The header component is used to title and separate content on a page. Headers can be used in the general body of contents of a page, in a column, in a message area, or in a content container. There are three types of headers: headers, subheaders, and sub-subheaders. You can divide a subheader or a sub-subheader into a columnar format of adjacent subheaders or sub-subheaders. It is optional whether to use an icon with the header. | Use the header name if needed; refer to subheaders followed by section, for example, "the Canceled Orders section." | Headers |
| Help text | pop up, tooltip | There are three types of Help text: hint text, definition text, and instruction text. Help text may appear as static text on a page, in a note window when the user mouses over or places keyboard focus on a control, or in a secondary browser window when the user clicks a Help icon. | No. Instead, use the terms "Help" and "Help window." | Help Framework |
| Hierarchical Selector | A Hierarchical Selector is a type of inline selector used in Tree Table and Tree controls to navigate to a node that is higher in the hierarchy. | Yes. | Tree | |
| Hierarchy Viewer | diagram, topology viewer | The HierarchyViewer is an interactive diagram that represents a hierarchy. | No. Use the term "diagram." | HierarchyViewer |
| hint text | converter hint, validation hint | Hint text is Help text that assists the user in completing a field. There are two types of hint text: conversion hints provide assistance on formatting (such as in date fields), and validation hints provide instruction on permissible values for the field (such as ranges). | No. Use the term "hint." | Help Framework |
| hover | mouseover | Hovering is the action of mousing over an element and waiting for a response. | Yes, but use this term only if it's needed to describe mouse use. | All |
| icon | Icons provide additional visual information to help identify frequently used page elements. Icons are used throughout Web applications in common places such as in tables, in legends, and in messages. | Yes. | All | |
| iconic button | butcon | An iconic button is a button with an icon and without any label text. | No. Use the term "button." | Buttons |
| information message | tip, hint | An Information message provides an important notice about business practices and methods. An Information message may appear in a dialog box or in a message window associated with a component. | No. Use the term "message." | Message Framework |
| inline selector | pop up, panel | Inline selectors provide a range of options associated with a specific control. | No. Instead, use the term "selector" in conjunction with the control label or tooltip text, such as "Date Selector" or "Color Selector." | Secondary Windows |
| instruction text | static help text, help, prompt, directions, explanation, pointer, tip | Instruction text is used to explain domain-specific or industry-specific issues that are relevant to data entry. | No. | Help Framework |
| Internationalization | translation, localization | Internationalization is the development process of adapting Oracle products for global use, independent of language and locale. Internationalization provides the basis for localization. Localization requirements vary from one country to another, depending on language, formatting conventions, and cultural values. | No. | Internationalization Best Practices |
| Java servlet | A Java servlet is a Java program that runs as part of a network service (typically an HTTP server) and that responds to requests from clients. The most common use for a Java servlet is to generate Web content dynamically from a database or other back-end source. | Use the term "servlet" if needed. | ||
| keyboard shortcuts | accelerators | Keyboard shortcuts provide an alternative to pointing devices for navigating the page. In addition to standard browser keyboard shortcuts, Fusion products provide accelerator keys, access keys, default cursor/focus placement, and use of the Enter key to confirm entries in certain fields. | Yes. | Keyboard Framework |
| label | text, string, prompt | A label is any string used to identify a UI element to the user. Labels may appear inside, above, or adjacent to the elements they identify. Common examples include text buttons, menus, prompts, and choice list options. | Yes. | Language in UI |
| language in UI | terminology, style | The Fusion Language in UI guideline describes recommended language and writing style to use throughout the UI. | No. | Language in UI |
| layer | region | In Fusion, the term "layer" is used in two ways: for elements of the ADF page layout component, where the combination of layers and content regions determines the layout of the page, and for secondary windows, which consist of DHTML layers. | No. | Page Layout |
| Lazy Evaluation | A lazy evaluation is an evaluation strategy in which evaluation of some or all function arguments is not started until their values are needed. For example, a Tree control under lazy evaluation shows each node as a parent node with expand (+) signs until the user attempts to expand the node. If the node has no children, the node is then displayed without either an expand or contract (-) sign. See also Eager Evaluation. | No. | Tree, TreeTable | |
| legend | explanation, key notation | A legend is used to define icons, terms, or elements that are used on a page or to describe data elements in a Gantt Chart, Gauge, Graph, or Map. When used for page elements, it is referred to as key notation. | Yes. | Gantt, Gauge, Graph, Map |
| links | hyperlink, drill-down, anchor | A hypertext link (using the "a href" tag in HTML) can be used in Fusion applications to enable users to drill down for more information or return to a specific location or a higher level in the application hierarchy. | Yes. However, use the link name or the object type name whenever possible; link names must be descriptive for accessibility reasons. | Links |
| list box | A list box is a control containing a scrolling list of items. | No. If you must distinguish a list box from a choice list, use the term "box," identified by label name; otherwise use the term "list," identified by label name to distinguish one list from another. | List Box | |
| map | geographic map, geomap | The Map component provides the ability to display data spatially on different types of maps, and present different layers of data thematically (by color, icons, or graphic representations). | Yes. Use "map" in conjunction with named types of maps, for example, "geographic map," or "thematic map." | Map |
| menu | A menu is a list of related commands and options grouped by subcategory. Menus appear on menu bars or when users right-click certain screen elements. | Yes. However, do not use angle brackets to denote selection. | Menus | |
| menu bar | A menu bar contains a set of menus. Menu bars may be associated with page regions or components. | Yes, but use this term only if it's needed in an application for non-technical users to explain how to open menus; otherwise, refer to menus by their menu names. | Menus | |
| menu name | menu bar name | A menu name is a term appearing on a menu bar. Menu names are used to open a menu. | Yes. | Menus |
| menu item | menu command | A menu item is a term that appears in a menu. Menu items perform commands in different ways depending on the item type, such as toggle item, radio group item, and secondary window item. | Yes. | Menus |
| message window | inline message, help, prompt, directions | Message windows are associated with components on the page and communicate different types of information to users. Message types include error messages, warning messages, and information messages. | No. Instead, use the term "message." | Message Framework |
| mixed value | The term "mixed value" refers to the state of an element with a mixed set of values, such as both on and off. | No. | UI Specifications | |
| mouse down | mousedown | The term "mouse down" refers to the action of pressing the primary mouse button (before releasing it). | No. | UI Specifications |
| mouse out | The term "mouse out" refers to the action of moving the mouse pointer away from an element. | No. | UI Specifications | |
| mouse over | hover, rollover, mouseover | The term "mouse over" refers to the action of moving the mouse pointer on top of an element. | No. | UI Specifications |
| mouse up | The term "mouse up" refers to the action of releasing the primary mouse button. | No. | UI Specifications | |
| nested layout | A nested layout consists of a label/data group nested within a single radio item that is part of a radio group, or within a check box item that is part of a check box group. In nested groups, each inner group has its own group label. Typically this label is the parent radio item or check box item. | No. | Form Layout | |
| note window | popup, tooltip | A note window is a box containing read-only information associated with a particular UI component, such as help and message text. Note windows are shown on mouse over or on focus. | No. If the note window contains Help, refer to it as a Help window; if it contains other types of content, refer to it by the term for that content. | Secondary Windows |
| object | record, row, element, entity | An object is a record in a database that may be represented as a row in a table or as a page of content that includes the attributes of that record. | Yes. Use this term generally to refer to heterogeneous objects. Otherwise refer to the object type, such as "Employees," or in inline documentation, use the object name, such as "Mary Black." | All |
| option-set | The term "option-set" indicates the state of an element when its value is set. | No. | UI Specifications | |
| Overflow list | An Overflow list is a subcomponent used in multiple components (tab bar, toolbars, breadcrumbs, accordions, and trains) to store elements that are hidden due to lack of space on the page. The Overflow list appears when the user clicks the Overflow icon. | Yes. | Tab Bar, Toolbars, Breadcrumbs, Panel Accordion, Train | |
| page | window, tab, screen | The page consists of all the UI elements and data rendered on screen when a browser reads an HTML or other Web file. When users click a control, the application either performs an action and redraws all or part of the current page, or navigates to another page. | Yes. You may use the term "Web page" on first usage in applications for non-technical users. | All |
| page footer | Fusion products provide copyright and privacy statement links in the page footer area. | No. Instead, use the terms "footer region" or "footer." | Page Layout | |
| page layout | This term refers both to the arrangement of elements on a Fusion page and to the ADF component that control overall layout of page contents. | No. | Page Layout | |
| page stamps | A page stamp is an umbrella term for context-specific information regarding a section, a page, or a set of pages. A page stamp may show the state of page or section content (such as last update date or last refresh), page or section data needed by users to complete their tasks (such as a space quota), or user login information. | No. | Page Stamps | |
| panel box | content container | Content containers are used in page layouts to help distinguish specific types of content or group information. The content in the container is ancillary in nature. Content containers help the user complete the task at hand; they are not required. | No. Instead, use the term "container," identified by header name if necessary. | PanelBox |
| parent | node, leaf, branch, container | A parent object or node is any object that has subordinate child nodes. Parent/child relationships are exposed to users in TreeTable and Tree controls, or through drill-down navigation. | Yes. Use this term to describe hierarchical relationships. | TreeTable, Tree |
| Partial Page Rendering (PPR) | PPR is a technology provided by the ADF team that enables a portion of a page to be redrawn rather than reloading the entire page. | No. | ||
| personalize | customize | The term "personalize" is used when users are provided with functionality to customize the UI. | Yes. | |
| Pivot Table | spreadsheet, table | A pivot table provides a multi-layered summary of a large data set in cross-tabular format and allows users to reposition row and column headings to focus on different views of the data. | Use the term "table" instead. | PivotTable |
| processing message | meter, progress indicator, busy bar, timer, gauge | A processing message notifies users when a task of indefinite length is in progress. Processing messages may be accompanied by a graphical meter or animated bar that indicates percent or number completed. Processing messages appear in dialog boxes. | Yes. Use this term if you need to clarify the type of message; otherwise, use the term "message." | Progress/Status Indicator and Message Framework |
| progress indicator | meter, busy bar, timer, gauge | A progress indicator is one of several forms of graphical controls used to indicate that a process is under way, or indicate the percentage or number of tasks completed. Progress indicators usually appear within dialog boxes. | Yes. | Progress/Status Indicator |
| prompt | label | A prompt is a label that identifies one or more Web widgets or other UI components that control data, such as Shuttles and Sliders. Prompts may appear before or above the component they identify. | No. | Standard Web Widgets |
| prompt/data combination | label/data combination | A prompt/data combination is a set of different Web widgets associated with one or more prompts. | No. | Standard Web Widgets, Form Layout |
| prompt/data group | label/data group | A prompt/data group is a collection of prompt/data pairs and combinations. (Note: This type of group is not the same as a radio button or checkbox group.) | No. | Form Layout |
| prompt/data pair | A prompt/data pair is any combination of a single standard Web widget and data associated with a prompt. | No. | Standard Web Widgets | |
| property | details, attribute | A property is an attribute of an object that may appear in a column of a table or TreeTable or in a field on an object page. | No. Use the term "attribute" in developer and administrator documentation. Otherwise, use the general term "details," and refer to individual attributes by their column headers or field labels. | |
| Query component | search component, search region, search panel | The Query component is an ADF component that allows the user to perform searches. | No. Use term "search." | Search and Query |
| radio button | radio field | A radio button is a labeled control that users can select to turn on turn on. When multiple radio buttons are presented as a group, only one can be selected at a time. | No. Use the radio button label or the general term "option." | Select Radio |
| record | object, row, element, entity | A record is an object stored in a database that may be represented as a row in a table or as a page of content that includes the attributes of that object. | Yes, but use this term only in database administrator and developer documentation. Otherwise use the term "object" as a general term for a collection of records with different attribute types. When referring to an object type, such as "Employees," or in inline documentation, use the object name, such as "Mary Black." | |
| relocate | The term "relocate" refers to the action of dragging an element from one container into another container. | Yes. | Drag and Drop | |
| reposition | The term "reposition" refers to the action of dragging an element within the boundaries of a single container, resulting in a change of the element's x,y coordinates. | Yes. | Drag and Drop | |
| reorder list (part of shuttle) | The Reorder List is a portion of the Shuttle component. It enables the user to reorder the contents of a list. | No. | Select Shuttle | |
| right-click | Mouse down and mouse up on an interface element using the secondary mouse button. | Yes. | All | |
| scaling | legend | Scaling refers to scales of numeric values, such as "Amounts in Thousands". Numeric scaling is defined in a graph or map legend or in key notation. | Yes. | |
| scroll bar | Like Windows scroll bars, horizontal and vertical scroll bars appear in tables, Tree Tables, and Trees when width or height of the container component are not sufficient to display all contents. | Yes. | UI specifications | |
| secondary tabs | tabs, subtabs | Secondary tabs are level 2 tabs located directly below the primary, level 1 tabs. In certain products, level 2 tabs may appear without level 1 tabs. | Yes. Use this term if needed. Otherwise refer to individual tab name. | Tab Bar |
| secondary window | popup, dialog | Secondary windows consist of inline selectors, modal and modeless dialog boxes, note windows, and additional browser windows. They are used for selection of options, messaging, additional product functionality, and access to other applications or Web pages. | No. Use content-related terms such as dialog box, message box, note box, and window. | Secondary Windows |
| sections (subsections) | area, part | In pages with more than one header, a section is a portion of a page between two headers. In pages with only one header, but with multiple subheaders, a section is a portion of a page between two subheaders. | Yes. Use the term "section" for content areas at any level, such as the "Foreign Investments section." | Headers |
| select | highlight | The term "select" refers to the action of clicking, dragging, or key stroke which results in selection of an element; the element is then ready to accept user action. | Yes. | All |
| selected | highlighted | When an element is selected, it is ready to accept user action but does not have focus. | Yes. | All |
| separator line | boundary | A separator line is used to separate options in choice lists, buttons in toolbars, or menu options. | No. | Select Choice (both Select-One and Select- Many),Toolbars, Menus |
| Setup | administration, personalization, customization | Application administrators and project managers prepare an application for use by their users with functionality provided on a "Setup" tab. This is typically a one-time process. | Yes. | |
| shuttle | The shuttle is used to move items from a source list to a target list and to modify the order of the target list. Shuttle controls also enable users to modify their selections. | No. Instead, describe the actions required to complete selections in the shuttle. | SelectShuttle | |
| skinning | look-and-feel | The ADF skinning framework allows product teams to customize the visual appearance of ADF components. | Use this term only in developer documentation. | |
| sibling (object) | node, leaf, branch | A sibling object or node is any object that is at the same hierarchical level as another object or container. Hierarchical relationships are exposed to users in Tree Table and Tree controls. | Yes, use "sibling" to describe hierarchical relationships. Otherwise refer to the object type or use the term "object." | TreeTable, Tree |
| slider | A slider is a control similar in function to a spin box that enables users to specify a value by dragging a marker along a horizontal or vertical ruler. | Yes. | Slider | |
| splitter | split plane | A splitter is a control used for dividing windows and panes in a container component, such as a table or TreeTable. | Yes. When providing directions, use this term to refer to the splitter handle. | PanelSplitter |
| standard Web widgets | components, controls, elements | Standard Web Widgets enable a user to either enter or edit information (such as a text field or text area) or pick from among several options (such as a radio button, check box, choice list, or list box). | No. Instead, use the generic term "control" or the recommended term for the individual widget. | Standard Web Widgets |
| start-aligned | left-aligned | Alignment determines placement of one element relative to another or to a position on the page. Start alignment means that an element is placed at the beginning rather than at the end of another element or page region. In Western European languages, start alignment is the equivalent of left alignment; this is reversed in left-to-right languages. | No. | All |
| submenu | cascading menu | A submenu is a list of related commands and options grouped by subcategory that appears when the user clicks the parent menu item. Submenus may be used in both regular menus and in context menus. When used in regular menus, they may be separated from the parent menu to become a floating menu. | Yes. | Menus |
| subtabs | tabs, thin tabs | Subtabs are a third-level set of tabs located in the body of the page. | Yes. | Tab Bar |
| switcher | content switcher | A switcher is used in Fusion applications to quickly switch back and forth between one application and another, or to switch the context of the page or pages within an application. | No. | Content Switchers |
| system requirements | prerequisite | System requirements are minimum system configurations (browser, screen resolution, number of colors, and so on) used to run Fusion applications. | Yes. | Browser and System Requirements |
| tables | matrix, spreadsheet, worksheet, grid, chart | Tables are the core method for displaying and interacting with data in Fusion applications. They are used both for read-only and editable data. | Yes. However, if a table provides mathematical or statistical functions, instead use the terms "spreadsheet," or "worksheet." | Tables |
| tab traversal | Using Tab and Shift+Tab keys, users can navigate through UI elements on a screen. | No. Instead, refer to Tab and Shift+Tab keys. | Keyboard Framework | |
| tab bar | bar | A tab bar is a general Fusion term for a set of tabs or for a combined set of level 1 and level 2 tabs. | No. Instead, refer to tabs by individual tab names. | Tab Bar |
| tabs | tab bar | Tabs provide the highest level of navigation within a Fusion application. Tabs are derived from traditional paper-based media such as binder tabs. Fusion tabs are oriented horizontally and appear near the top of the page. | Yes. When necessary, use "primary tabs" to distinguish them from secondary tabs. Avoid use of the term "Tab Bar." | Tab Bar |
| text area | input field, text box | A text area is a control where the user can type multiple lines of text. | No. Instead, use the term "field." | Input/Output Text |
| text field | input field, text box | A text field is a control where the user can type a single line of text. | No. Instead, use the term "field." | Input/Output Text |
| thumb | handle | A thumb is the rectangular region on a scrollbar that users can drag to scroll rapidly. A thumb is also used on a Slider control to specify a value. | No. | Scroll Bars (in Table Elements), Slider |
| toolbar | toolbox | A toolbar is a set of horizontally oriented buttons that provides a subset of the most-commonly used menu options. | Yes. | Toolbars |
| train | progress indicator, locator element | The Train component is used as an indication of the user's location in a guided process. Each step is represented by a "train stop." | No. | Train |
| transform | The term "transform" refers to the action of dragging the edge of an element to change its height and width. | No. | Drag and Drop | |
| Tree | object hierarchy, navigator | The Tree control enables users to quickly browse and manipulate complex sets of hierarchical objects. When users select an object, that object's properties appear in a pane next to the tree. | Yes. | Tree |
| Tree Table | hGrid | The TreeTable component combines many properties of a Table component with those of a Tree. The main difference between a TreeTable and a standard table is that a TreeTable replaces the column of object names with a Tree to show hierarchical relationships among objects. | Yes. You may also use the terms "table" or "hierarchy." | TreeTable |
| truncation | abbreviation | Truncation is the intentional removal of characters to shorten strings so that they fit within a containing element, component or region. A truncated string is signified by a trailing ellipsis. | Yes. Use this term if needed to explain why data is truncated. | Resize Truncation in Headers Guideline, and Manual Truncation in Input/Output Text guideline. |
| viewport | component, plot area | The viewport is the box containing the visible portion of a map, diagram, or graph. | No. | UI specifications |
| visual design | art direction, look-and-feel | Visual design helps maintain a family resemblance between all applications and Oracle product lines in general. | No. | UI specifications |
| warning message | alert, caution, error message | A Warning message appears when a condition or a situation requires a decision before continuing. Warning messages appear in dialog boxes. | Yes. Use this term when you must clarify the type of message. Otherwise, use only "message." | Message Framework |
| Web application | Web-based application, HTML application | A Web application is a computer program designed for the World Wide Web. | Yes. | |
| Web browser | Navigator, Netscape, Explorer, IE, Mozilla, Opera, Firefox | A Web browser is a program required to display Web pages and applications. Fusion applications are designed to run in specific releases (revision levels) of common browsers. | Yes. | Browser and System Requirements |
| window | A window is an overall container for a page or dialog box. Fusion provides multiple types of secondary windows in addition to the main product window. | Yes. | Secondary Windows |
Documentation Note: Wherever possible, avoid user interface terms in online Help and documentation for applications for non-technical users. Instead, refer to screen elements by their labels, and with common terms such as "list" and "box." Product teams can find detailed guidelines at Oracle's internal DocTools Web site: http://doctools.us.oracle.com/standards/standards.html
Change History
| Date | Description | By | Bug | Previous Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07-Oct-2010 | Corrected links to changed locations for truncation information, and Internationalization Best Practices guideline. | Kass McMahon | 10124019 | 5.0.0 |
| 07-Oct-2010 | General edits. Corrected links to changed locations for Abbreviations and Acronyms information, and Context Region. | Kass McMahon | 10088080 | 5.0.0 |
| 11-Mar-2010 | First for Fusion, Added entries for new component names, revised some entries for accuracy. Deleted obsolete references to "medium design" and and "rich design" and "skins". New entries include: axis, Carousel, Contextual Info, dashboard, Hierarchy Viewer, Pivot Table, skinning, viewport. Revised entries include: BiDi Language, color selector, context region, date-time selector, legend, map, query, radio button. | Ritchard Shadian, Kass McMahon | 8982853 | 4.0.5 |
Note: For questions, or to provide feedback on this guideline or any of the changes listed above, post a message to the RCUX forum (Oracle internal only).