Grouping control elements

In complex dialogs it sometimes happens that software developers have placed several control elements on top of each other. To simplify the localization of such dialogs, several control elements can be grouped. Groups, or also individual control elements, can then be hidden during the localization of the dialog. This reduces the number of control elements being shown simultaneously and eases the navigation and selection of control elements.

Some programming languages (e.g. Microsoft .NET and Borland Delphi/C++ Builder) offer hierarchical dialogs. If you add a control element to a group, all of the elements under it (child controls) will also be added to the group automatically.

The grouping procedure should normally be undertaken in the source string list when the project is first created, because at this point (e.g. from developers' feedback) information is available concerning which control elements of a dialog will be shown together later on at runtime. If the grouping is already specified in the source string list, the settings are also saved in the source string list and are therefore available in all languages.

or Layout tab > Groups produces a new group which contains the selected controls. Enter a name for the new group. It is possible to save the control elements in different groups.

or Ungroup deletes the existing group.

or Layout tab > Groups > Add to group adds the selected control elements to the existing group.

or Layout tab > Groups > Remove from Group removes the selected control elements from the existing group.

or CTRL+K or Layout tab > Groups > Select next shows the next group of control elements. When the last defined group is shown, selecting this command again hides all groups. Then the first group is continued. In addition it is possible to show a certain group in the sub menu Layout tab > Groups > Selection. If the SHIFT button is pressed while making menu selections several groups can be shown simultaneously.

or Layout tab > Groups > Hide temporarily hides the selected controls temporarily. When the text list is closed this characteristic is lost, and the control element is shown the next time the dialog field is opened.

or Layout tab > Groups > Unhide all shows again all of the controls which were temporarily hidden in this dialog.