You noticed in the previous section that the user is able to interact with the Road Race window while the Runner Data window is open. There will be many times when you want to prevent such user interaction. You can prevent this interaction by opening the view wrapper or window part as a modal window.

Try this by opening the settings on the defaultActionRequested to openWidget connection. Select openApplicationModalWidget from the list of actions and then select OK.

Save your part and test it again. Try interacting with the Road Race window while the Runner Data window is open. When you click inside the Road Race window, you should be unable to interact with it. While the Runner Data window is still open, try interacting with the Composition Editor or any other application you might have open. You should be able to interact with other applications and windows.

On very rare occasions you might need to prevent the user from interacting with any other windows on the system while your view wrapper is open. You can do this by opening the view wrapper or window part as a system modal window.

Try this by opening the settings on the defaultActionRequested to openApplicationModalWidget connection. Select openSystemModalWidget from the list of actions and then select OK.

Save your part and test it again. Try interacting with the Road Race window while the Runner Data window is open. You should hear a beep whenever you click inside the Road Race window and be unable to interact with it. While the Runner Data window is still open try interacting with the Composition Editor or any other application you might have open. You should be unable to interact with any VA Smalltalk window until the Runner Data window is closed.

When developing applications with VA Smalltalk you might find it more convenient to open a window from a script.

In the Composition Editor delete the View Wrapper part and its connections. Switch to the Script Editor and create a selectedRunner: script as follows:

Save your part and test it. You should be unable to interact with the Road Race window while the Runner Data window is open. However, you should be able to interact with other windows in the system.