ISO/IEC 11581-5:2004

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 11581-5
First edition
2004-05-15
Information technology — User system
interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols
and functions —
Part 5:
Tool icons
Technologies de l'information — Interfaces pour système utilisateur et
symboles — Symboles et fonctions d'icônes —
Partie 5: Icônes d'outils
Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2004
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ii © ISO/IEC 2004 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope. 1
2 Conformance. 1
3 Normative references. 1
4 Terms and definitions. 1
5 Conceptual construction of tools. 2
6 Tool requirements and recommendations .2
6.1 Requirements. 2
6.1.1 Arrangement. 2
6.1.2 Selection. 2
6.1.3 Feedback. 2
6.1.4 Sensitive region and hot spot. 2
6.1.5 Orientation. 2
6.2 Recommendations. 3
6.2.1 Metaphor. 3
6.2.2 Typeface. 3
6.2.3 Colour. 3
6.2.4 Feedback. 3
7 Icon specifications. 3
7.1 Creation tools. 4
7.1.1 Text creation. 4
7.1.2 Line and shape creation. 5
7.1.3 Area creation. 11
7.2 Manipulation tools. 17
7.2.1 Area selection. 17
7.2.2 Object manipulation. 19
7.2.3 Overview control. 23

© ISO/IEC 2004 – All rights reserved iii

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information
technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 11581-5 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 35, User interfaces.
ISO/IEC 11581 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology — User system
interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and functions:
 Part 1: Icons — General
 Part 2: Object icons
 Part 3: Pointer icons
 Part 5: Tool icons
 Part 6: Action icons
iv © ISO/IEC 2004 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Tools are the subset of the interactive icons that modify graphical or text elements of an application by
association with real life tool objects. Tool icons represent tool functions such as drawing, painting, or
modifying graphical elements. This part of ISO/IEC 11581 specifies the presentation and operation of tools.

© ISO/IEC 2004 – All rights reserved v

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 11581-5:2004(E)

Information technology — User system interfaces and
symbols — Icon symbols and functions —
Part 5:
Tool icons
1 Scope
ISO/IEC 11581 applies to icons that are shown on a screen, that users can manipulate and interact with, and
that represent data or computer system functions. This part of ISO/IEC 11581 addresses only tool icons. Tool
icons represent functions by association with real life tools. This part of ISO/IEC 11581 describes user
interaction with and appearance of tools on the screen. It also specifies the relationship between tools and
pointers. Other types of icons are covered in other parts of ISO/IEC 11581.
2 Conformance
A system, application, or set of one or more icons conforms to this part of ISO/IEC 11581 if all tool icons
available to the user in the system or application conform to clauses 5 and 6.1 of ISO/IEC 11581-1:2000 and
to clause 6.1 of ISO/IEC 11581-3:2000, and to clauses 5 and 6.1 of this part of ISO/IEC 11581.
3 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 11581-1:2000, Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and
functions — Part 1: Icons — General
ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000, Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and
functions — Part 2: Object icons
ISO/IEC 11581-3:2000, Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and
functions — Part 3: Pointer icons
4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 11581-1, ISO/IEC 11581-2,
ISO/IEC 11581-3 and the following apply.
4.1
tool palette
bounded area displaying a matrix of available tools from which the user makes a selection
© ISO/IEC 2004 – All rights reserved 1

4.2
tool pointer
changed graphic of the pointer resulting from the selection of the corresponding tool from the tool palette
NOTE A tool is an icon whose selection changes the function and shape of the pointer to perform a task with the
associated tool depicted by the icon graphic (from ISO/IEC 11581-1:2000, clause 4.17).
5 Conceptual construction of tools
The conceptual construction of tools is similar to that shown for object icons in clause 5 of
ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000. The metaphor is that of pushing a button to invoke the associated functionality.
6 Tool requirements and recommendations
When a tool is selected from the palette, the pointer changes its shape to the corresponding tool pointer. The
subclauses below describe requirements and recommendations for tools and their corresponding tool pointers.
Tool pointers inherit requirements and recommendations of pointers as described in clause 6 of
ISO/IEC 11581-3:2000.
6.1 Requirements
The tool in the palette shall indicate to the user its associated function. At the same time the corresponding
pointer shall confirm selection and prompt the user for the next available action.
6.1.1 Arrangement
All tools shall be grouped together in one or more tool palettes. Related tools shall be arranged adjacently
within the tool palette. Other types of icons from other parts of ISO/IEC 11581 shall not be incorporated in the
tool palette.
6.1.2 Selection
The selection of a tool shall be made by selecting a function with the pointer. Selections from the tool palette
shall be mutually exclusive.
6.1.3 Feedback
When selected, the tool in a palette shall show its selected state.
NOTE The pointer should change its shape to confirm the selection and reflect the function associated with the
selected tool (see ISO/IEC 11581-3:2000, clause 6.1.5).
6.1.4 Sensitive region and hot spot
Each tool on a palette shall have a sensitive region, typically an invisible overlay over the entire cell containing
the tool graphic. The tool pointer shall have a hot spot. The hot spot of a tool pointer shall be intuitive and
natural to the user. (The hot spot of the tool pointer is similar to that shown in clause 6.1.3 of
ISO/IEC 11581-3:2000)
6.1.5 Orientation
There shall be consistent orientation between all the graphics in a tool palette. Where appropriate, there shall
be visual consistency in the orientation of the tool palette graphic and the tool pointer graphic.
2 © ISO/IEC 2004 – All rights reserved

6.2 Recommendations
6.2.1 Metaphor
The metaphor represented by the tool graphics should be directly related to the functionality of the tool.
6.2.2 Typeface
A simple typeface should be employed if letters, number
...