3.16.9.5 <screen>

The <screen> element contains or refers to a textual representation of a computer screen or user interface panel (window).

Use <screen> to contain representations of text-based online panels, text consoles ("term" or "curses" windows, for example), or other text-based user interface components. The default print representation is to enclose the screen within a box, suggesting a computer display screen. In contrast to graphical screen captures normally used to represent GUI parts (see the <image> element description), this element specifically supports constructions for which text is the primary content.

This element is part of the DITA user interface domain, a special set of DITA elements designed to document user interface tasks, concepts and reference information.

Content models

See appendix for information about this element in OASIS document type shells.

Inheritance

+ topic/pre ui-d/screen

Example

Figure 1. Using the <screen> element to represent a DOS edit session
<p>Type "edit" after the command line prompt and press Enter.  The following
editing interface will be displayed.</p>
<screen>
   File  Edit  Search  View  Options  Help
+--------------------------------- UNTITLED1 ----------------------------------+
¦                                                                              ¦
¦                                                                              ¦
¦                                                                              ¦
¦                                                                              ¦
¦  Line:1    Col:1  F1=Help                                                    ¦
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
</screen>
Figure 2. Potential result from an rendering process

Type "edit" after the command line prompt and press Enter. The following editing interface will be displayed.

   File  Edit  Search  View  Options  Help
+--------------------------------- UNTITLED1 ----------------------------------+
¦                                                                              ¦
¦                                                                              ¦
¦                                                                              ¦
¦                                                                              ¦
¦  Line:1    Col:1  F1=Help                                                    ¦
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Attributes

The following attributes are available on this element: Universal attribute group, Display attribute group, outputclass, xml:space, and spectitle.

Return to main page.