405:(GUI) software was a novelty, so Apple took great pains to ensure that programs would conform to a single shared look and feel. CUA had a similar aim, but it faced the more difficult task of trying to impose this retroactively on an existing, thriving but chaotic industry, with the much more ambitious goal of unifying all UI, from personal computers to minicomputers to mainframes; and supporting both character and GUI modes, and both batch and interactive designs. By comparison, the Apple HIG only supported interactive GUI on a standalone personal computer. CUA also attempted to be a more measurable standard than the Apple HIG and had large sections formatted as checklists to measure compliance.
1354:
36:
1364:
1132:
590:. This changed the emphasis of the user's interactions to be the data (documents, pictures, and so on) that the user worked on. The emphasis on applications was removed with the intention of making the computer easier to use by matching users' expectations that they would work on documents using programs (rather than operating programs to work on documents). (See also
385:
Thus every program had to be learned individually and its complete user interface memorised. It was a sign of expertise to have learned the UIs of dozens of applications, since a novice user facing a new program would find their existing knowledge of a similar application either of no use or actively
606:
operating system during the period of joint IBM and
Microsoft cooperation on OS/2 Presentation Manager. But later releases of IBM's CUA documents were not used for Microsoft products, and so CUA became less significant in the Windows environment. For instance, the
579:
CUA was more than just an attempt to rationalise DOS applications — it was part of a larger scheme to bring together, rationalise and harmonise the overall functions of software and hardware across IBM's entire computing range from microcomputers to mainframes.
521:
The first menu is to be called 'File' and contains operations for handling files (new, open, save, save as) as well as quitting the program; the next menu 'Edit' has commands for undo, redo, cut, copy, delete, paste
568:
CUA not only covers DOS applications, but is also the basis for the
Windows Consistent User Interface standard (CUI), as well as that for OS/2 applications — both text-mode and the
973:
611:
was introduced. Most of the standard keystrokes and basic GUI widgets specified by the CUA remain available in
Windows. The well-known combination for closing a window,
626:
terminal (character-mode) applications, which preceded CUA by more than a decade. However, all major Unix GUI environments/toolkits, whether or not based on the
218:. CUA was a detailed specification and set strict rules about how applications should look and function. Its aim was in part to bring about harmony among
865:
57:
50:
915:
682:
772:
964:
933:
890:
877:
100:
72:
1393:
970:
428:
Some of these standards can be seen in the operation of
Windows itself and DOS-based applications like the MS-DOS 5 full-screen
179:
operating systems, parts of the CUA standard are now implemented in programs for other operating systems, including variants of
79:
754:
1297:
692:
IBM, Systems
Application Architecture: Common User Access: Advanced Interface Design Reference, Document SC34-4290-00 1991
675:
IBM, Systems
Application Architecture: Common User Access: Panel Design and User Interaction, Document SC26-4351-0, 1987.
86:
1398:
678:
IBM, Systems
Application Architecture: Common User Access: Advanced Interface Design Guide, Document SC26-4582-0, 1990.
374:
to cancel an action, while some used it to complete one; WordPerfect used it to repeat a character. Some programs used
17:
693:
688:
687:
IBM, Systems
Application Architecture: Common User Access: Guide to User Interface Design, Document SC34-4289-00 1991
1217:
812:
119:
573:
156:
68:
1334:
425:
that have become so influential that they are implemented today by many programmers who have never read the CUA.
1009:
706:
681:
IBM, Systems
Application Architecture: Common User Access: Basic Interface Design Guide, Document SC26-4583-00
591:
514:
accessed by a Help menu, which is the last option on the menu bar; context sensitive help can be summoned by
1265:
663:
484:
Navigation within fields in dialog boxes is by cursor key; navigation between fields is by pressing the
1237:
631:
394:
389:
The detailed CUA specification, published in
December 1987, is 328 pages long. It has similarities to
386:
a hindrance to understanding as learned behavior might need to be unlearned for the new application.
203:
878:
https://web.archive.org/web/20070927082756/http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/sj/273/ibmsj2703E.pdf
382:
sometimes toggled between overtype and inserting characters, but some programs used it for "paste".
93:
1403:
402:
184:
829:
1292:
1222:
187:
46:
852:"Common User Access – A consistent and usable human-computer interface for the SAA environments"
1388:
1367:
1270:
211:
926:
883:
729:
1232:
569:
550:
538:
526:
215:
8:
869:
583:
The third edition of CUA took a radical departure from the first two by introducing the
222:
applications, which until then had independently implemented different user interfaces.
1077:
1002:
958:
919:
1277:
1186:
808:
801:
702:
651:
643:
603:
444:
422:
176:
873:
564:
The size of a window can be changed by dragging one of the 8 segments of the border.
401:
computer should look and function. When it was first written, the Mac was new, and
397:(139 pages). The Apple HIG is a detailed book specifying how software for the 1984
647:
418:
331:
148:
144:
1242:
1112:
977:
777:
627:
587:
584:
398:
1282:
1227:
1117:
1067:
440:
264:
140:
378:
to go to the end of a line, while some used it to complete filling in a form.
1382:
1357:
1287:
1201:
1107:
1097:
995:
642:, also feature extensive CUA compatibility. The subset of CUA implemented in
432:
207:
1191:
1072:
1061:
634:
explicitly featuring it as a design goal. The current major environments,
191:
830:"Why is Alt+F4 the hotkey for closing a window? Why not Alt+F5 or Alt+F3?"
478:
Options are requested using secondary windows (often called dialog boxes);
1313:
1196:
1181:
1102:
1087:
1082:
851:
511:
429:
363:
245:
230:
1092:
608:
503:
key, which discards changes, and an 'OK' button, activated by pressing
414:
390:
471:
Menu commands that require parameters to proceed are suffixed with an
1339:
1161:
1039:
981:
35:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1156:
1151:
1146:
957:, by Richard E. Berry, IBM Systems Journal, Volume 31, Nº 3, 1992.
952:
909:
859:
699:
Object-oriented interface design: IBM common user access guidelines
472:
359:
283:
413:
The CUA contains standards for the operation of elements such as
160:
630:, have featured varying levels of CUA compatibility, with Motif/
1318:
499:
Dialog boxes have a 'Cancel' button, activated by pressing the
164:
635:
308:
168:
1018:
623:
180:
172:
1131:
799:
1045:
884:"The evolution of the Common User Access Workplace Model"
639:
219:
152:
987:
803:
Human Interface Guidelines: The Apple Desktop Interface
481:
Options are divided into sections using notebook tabs;
800:
622:CUA never had significant impact on the design of
1380:
654:to be followed by any new Unix GUI environment.
468:key plus the underlined letter of the menu name;
723:
721:
197:
918:, IBM Systems Journal, Volume 31, Nº 3, 1992.
572:GUI — and IBM mainframes which conform to the
1003:
980:- A table of CUA-based hotkeys provided by a
876:. This link is down, PDF still available at:
793:
450:If applicable to the page/screen in question
155:and first published in 1987 as part of their
764:
718:
927:"The designer's model of the CUA workplace"
781:. Vol. 8, no. 5. pp. 176–216
755:"WordStar reference manual for release 3.3"
439:All operations can be done with either the
202:IBM wanted a standard way to interact with
1130:
1010:
996:
773:"Word Tools for the IBM Personal Computer"
457:Menus are activated/deactivated with the
366:(1982)), but in WordPerfect, help was on
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
896:from the original on September 27, 2007
770:
14:
1381:
56:Please improve this article by adding
991:
727:
1363:
827:
730:"Microsoft Windows: Eclectism in UI"
29:
828:Chen, Raymond (18 September 2018).
206:software, whether the screen was a
24:
971:CUA Window Emulation for SlickEdit
602:CUA strongly influenced the early
25:
1415:
1218:Information Presentation Facility
965:IBM BookManager SAA CUA bookshelf
939:from the original on May 30, 2005
844:
464:Menus are opened by pressing the
233:, the command to open a file was
1362:
1353:
1352:
1298:Systems Application Architecture
771:Shuford, Richard S. (May 1983).
728:Alsop, Stewart II (1988-01-18).
574:Systems Application Architecture
157:Systems Application Architecture
34:
1192:Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition)
821:
747:
592:object-oriented user interface
408:
210:connected to a mainframe or a
13:
1:
669:
225:For example, to open a file:
58:secondary or tertiary sources
1266:High Performance File System
597:
454:provides a refresh function;
370:instead. Some programs used
198:Motivations and inspirations
7:
701:(1st ed.). Que. 1992.
664:Table of keyboard shortcuts
657:
10:
1420:
1394:Human–computer interaction
1238:Windows Libraries for OS/2
650:is generally considered a
395:human interface guidelines
1399:User interface techniques
1348:
1327:
1306:
1251:
1210:
1139:
1128:
1054:
1032:
1025:
872:, Volume 27, Nº 3, 1988.
684:, 1992. (Partial archive)
435:. CUA hallmarks include:
351:to open the file browser.
267:, a file was opened with
248:, a file was opened with
204:text-based user interface
159:. Used originally in the
1017:
807:. Addison-Wesley. 1987.
507:, which accepts changes;
403:graphical user interface
338:to allow commands, then
311:, a file is opened with
69:"IBM Common User Access"
1223:Installable File System
914:, by Richard E. Berry,
27:User interface standard
151:. It was developed by
45:relies excessively on
1278:Journaled File System
271:(to open the menus),
252:(to open the menus),
183:. It is also used by
1233:Presentation Manager
570:Presentation Manager
139:) is a standard for
1293:System Object Model
870:IBM Systems Journal
1261:Common User Access
1078:Christine Comaford
976:2020-03-24 at the
619:, stems from CUA.
510:Applications have
423:keyboard shortcuts
133:Common User Access
18:Common User Access
1376:
1375:
1335:Odin (Win32-OS/2)
1126:
1125:
1064:(chief architect)
1042:(1.0 to 1.3 only)
834:The Old New Thing
652:de facto standard
644:Microsoft Windows
604:Microsoft Windows
177:Microsoft Windows
149:computer programs
145:operating systems
130:
129:
122:
104:
16:(Redirected from
1411:
1366:
1365:
1356:
1355:
1134:
1030:
1029:
1012:
1005:
998:
989:
988:
956:
948:
946:
944:
938:
931:
913:
905:
903:
901:
895:
888:
866:Richard E. Berry
863:
855:
838:
837:
825:
819:
818:
806:
797:
791:
790:
788:
786:
768:
762:
761:
759:
751:
745:
744:
734:
725:
712:
496:moves backwards;
327:(for find-file).
275:(for Transfer),
125:
118:
114:
111:
105:
103:
62:
38:
30:
21:
1419:
1418:
1414:
1413:
1412:
1410:
1409:
1408:
1404:OS/2 technology
1379:
1378:
1377:
1372:
1344:
1323:
1302:
1253:
1247:
1243:Workplace Shell
1206:
1135:
1122:
1113:John R. Patrick
1050:
1021:
1016:
978:Wayback Machine
950:
942:
940:
936:
929:
925:
916:Cliff J. Reeves
907:
899:
897:
893:
886:
882:
857:
850:
847:
842:
841:
826:
822:
815:
798:
794:
784:
782:
769:
765:
757:
753:
752:
748:
732:
726:
719:
709:
697:
672:
660:
628:X Window System
618:
614:
600:
585:object-oriented
560:
556:
548:
544:
536:
532:
517:
506:
502:
495:
491:
487:
467:
460:
453:
411:
399:Apple Macintosh
381:
377:
373:
369:
357:
350:
347:
344:
341:
337:
326:
322:
318:
314:
303:
300:), followed by
296:(to get to the
295:
292:
289:
278:
274:
270:
260:(for Retrieve).
259:
255:
251:
240:
236:
200:
141:user interfaces
126:
115:
109:
106:
63:
61:
55:
51:primary sources
39:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1417:
1407:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1391:
1374:
1373:
1371:
1370:
1360:
1349:
1346:
1345:
1343:
1342:
1337:
1331:
1329:
1325:
1324:
1322:
1321:
1316:
1310:
1308:
1304:
1303:
1301:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1283:New Executable
1280:
1275:
1274:
1273:
1263:
1257:
1255:
1249:
1248:
1246:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1214:
1212:
1208:
1207:
1205:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1143:
1141:
1140:Major versions
1137:
1136:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1123:
1121:
1120:
1118:Mark Zbikowski
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1068:Barry Appelman
1065:
1058:
1056:
1052:
1051:
1049:
1048:
1043:
1036:
1034:
1027:
1023:
1022:
1015:
1014:
1007:
1000:
992:
986:
985:
968:
962:
923:
880:
846:
845:External links
843:
840:
839:
820:
813:
792:
763:
746:
716:
715:
714:
713:
707:
695:
690:
685:
679:
676:
671:
668:
667:
666:
659:
656:
616:
612:
599:
596:
566:
565:
562:
558:
554:
546:
542:
534:
530:
523:
519:
515:
508:
504:
500:
497:
493:
489:
485:
482:
479:
476:
469:
465:
462:
458:
455:
451:
448:
410:
407:
391:Apple Computer
379:
375:
371:
367:
358:was often the
355:
353:
352:
348:
345:
342:
339:
335:
328:
324:
320:
316:
312:
305:
301:
293:
290:
287:
280:
276:
272:
268:
265:Microsoft Word
261:
257:
253:
249:
242:
238:
234:
199:
196:
128:
127:
42:
40:
33:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1416:
1405:
1402:
1400:
1397:
1395:
1392:
1390:
1387:
1386:
1384:
1369:
1361:
1359:
1351:
1350:
1347:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1332:
1330:
1326:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1311:
1309:
1305:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1272:
1269:
1268:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1258:
1256:
1250:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1215:
1213:
1209:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1144:
1142:
1138:
1133:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1108:Gordon Letwin
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1098:Galina Kofman
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1063:
1060:
1059:
1057:
1053:
1047:
1044:
1041:
1038:
1037:
1035:
1031:
1028:
1024:
1020:
1013:
1008:
1006:
1001:
999:
994:
993:
990:
983:
979:
975:
972:
969:
966:
963:
960:
954:
935:
928:
924:
921:
917:
911:
892:
885:
881:
879:
875:
871:
867:
861:
853:
849:
848:
835:
831:
824:
816:
814:0-201-17753-6
810:
805:
804:
796:
780:
779:
774:
767:
756:
750:
742:
738:
731:
724:
722:
717:
710:
704:
700:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
683:
680:
677:
674:
673:
665:
662:
661:
655:
653:
649:
645:
641:
637:
633:
629:
625:
620:
610:
605:
595:
593:
589:
586:
581:
577:
575:
571:
563:
552:
540:
528:
524:
520:
513:
509:
498:
483:
480:
477:
474:
470:
463:
456:
449:
446:
442:
438:
437:
436:
434:
431:
426:
424:
420:
416:
406:
404:
400:
396:
392:
387:
383:
365:
361:
333:
329:
310:
306:
299:
285:
281:
266:
262:
247:
243:
232:
228:
227:
226:
223:
221:
217:
213:
209:
208:dumb terminal
205:
195:
193:
189:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
134:
124:
121:
113:
110:December 2013
102:
99:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71: –
70:
66:
65:Find sources:
59:
53:
52:
48:
43:This article
41:
37:
32:
31:
19:
1389:IBM software
1260:
1254:and concepts
1187:Warp Connect
1073:Joe Belfiore
1062:Ed Iacobucci
941:. Retrieved
898:. Retrieved
833:
823:
802:
795:
783:. Retrieved
776:
766:
749:
740:
736:
698:
621:
601:
582:
578:
567:
427:
415:dialog boxes
412:
393:'s detailed
388:
384:
354:
319:followed by
298:Opening Menu
297:
256:(for File),
224:
216:VGA graphics
201:
136:
132:
131:
116:
107:
97:
90:
83:
76:
64:
44:
1314:eComStation
1103:Barry Leiba
1088:Naveen Jain
1083:Moshe Dunie
951:(3.74
908:(2.68
858:(1.95
737:P.C. Letter
529:command is
512:online help
430:text editor
409:Description
364:Volkswriter
279:(for Load).
246:Lotus 1-2-3
231:WordPerfect
1383:Categories
1307:Successors
1252:Technology
1228:LAN Server
1211:Components
1093:Susan Kare
1026:Developers
943:October 1,
785:19 October
708:1565291700
670:References
609:Start menu
80:newspapers
47:references
1340:Team OS/2
1040:Microsoft
1033:Companies
982:SlickEdit
959:Citations
920:Citations
874:Citations
743:(2): 6–7.
648:OSF/Motif
598:Influence
588:workplace
522:commands;
362:(such as
1358:Category
1328:See also
1202:Warp 4.5
1197:Warp 4.0
1182:Warp 3.0
974:Archived
934:Archived
900:July 12,
891:Archived
658:See also
473:ellipsis
445:keyboard
433:edit.com
360:help key
284:WordStar
1368:Commons
1271:Pinball
854:. 1998.
555:⇧ Shift
531:⇧ Shift
490:⇧ Shift
443:or the
161:MVS/ESA
94:scholar
1319:ArcaOS
1288:Shadow
1055:People
949:
906:
856:
811:
705:
505:Return
475:("…");
334:, use
169:OS/400
165:VM/CMS
96:
89:
82:
75:
67:
937:(PDF)
930:(PDF)
894:(PDF)
887:(PDF)
864:, by
758:(PDF)
733:(PDF)
636:GNOME
551:Paste
494:Tab ↹
488:key;
486:Tab ↹
441:mouse
419:menus
346:space
340::
309:emacs
214:with
192:Swing
101:JSTOR
87:books
1162:1.21
1019:OS/2
984:mode
967:1992
945:2009
902:2007
809:ISBN
787:2013
778:BYTE
703:ISBN
638:and
624:Unix
543:Ctrl
539:Copy
525:The
461:key;
421:and
321:Ctrl
313:Ctrl
212:PS/2
190:and
185:Java
181:Unix
175:and
173:OS/2
147:and
73:news
1177:2.1
1172:2.0
1167:1.3
1157:1.2
1152:1.1
1147:1.0
1046:IBM
953:MiB
910:MiB
860:MiB
646:or
640:KDE
632:CDE
613:Alt
594:.)
559:Ins
553:is
547:Ins
541:is
535:Del
527:Cut
501:Esc
466:Alt
459:F10
380:Ins
376:End
372:Esc
336:Esc
330:In
307:In
282:In
269:Esc
263:In
244:In
229:In
220:DOS
188:AWT
153:IBM
143:to
137:CUA
49:to
1385::
932:.
889:.
868:,
832:.
775:.
739:.
735:.
720:^
617:F4
576:.
549:;
537:;
516:F1
452:F5
417:,
368:F3
356:F1
332:vi
286:,
237:,
235:F7
194:.
171:,
167:,
163:,
60:.
1011:e
1004:t
997:v
961:.
955:)
947:.
922:.
912:)
904:.
862:)
836:.
817:.
789:.
760:.
741:4
711:.
615:+
561:;
557:+
545:+
533:+
518:;
492:+
447:;
349:.
343:e
325:f
323:+
317:x
315:+
304:.
302:D
294:D
291:K
288:^
277:L
273:T
258:R
254:F
250:/
241:.
239:3
135:(
123:)
117:(
112:)
108:(
98:·
91:·
84:·
77:·
54:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.