Understanding Dialog Boxes

When you are working with the various commands and features found in Office applications, you will invariably come across dialog boxes. Dialog boxes are used when an Office application needs more information from you before it can complete a particular command or take advantage of a special feature. Dialog boxes always appear when you select a menu command that is followed by an ellipsis. Dialog boxes also appear when you invoke this same command using the appropriate toolbar button.

Figure 2.5 shows Word's Font dialog box. This dialog box enables you to make selections using check boxes and drop-down lists. Other dialog boxes use option buttons , spinner boxes, and other methods of enabling you to quickly make selections in a particular box.

Figure 2.5. Dialog boxes enable you to make your choices related to a particular feature.

In most cases, when you complete your selections in a dialog box, you click the OK button to close the box and complete the command. You also have the option of clicking the Cancel button if you want to close the dialog box without saving any changes you made.