Re: actions and results...was RE: Active versus passive

Subject: Re: actions and results...was RE: Active versus passive
From: Bill Burns <bburns -at- scriptorium -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 12:37:04 -0700


fwiw, i'd rather state *why* the user might want to see the Item Summary in
the first place...
"To see a summary of the item's components, click Item Summary to open the
Item Summary window."

I wouldn't even bother with "to open the Item Summary window." I prefer to use such orientation devices in the context of the subsequent action.

1. To see a summary of the item's components, click Item Summary.
2. In the Item Summary window, select Whatsit...

Sometimes the orientation or feedback information isn't necessary. When it is, the user can infer that information rather than seeing an explicit description of every event that occurs on screen. I find this approach more concise and the resulting sentences less convoluted.


Bill Burns, Senior Technical Consultant, Scriptorium Publishing
FrameMaker ACE, WebWorks Publisher Certified Trainer
bburns -at- scriptorium -dot- com - 208-484-4459
http://www.scriptorium.com


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