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Subject:Re: dialog versus dialog box revisited From:Samuel -dot- Beard -at- tdcj -dot- state -dot- tx -dot- us To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 27 Jan 2003 11:44:04 -0600
Hey Sean,
"Sean Brierley"
<sbri -at- haestad -dot- com> To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Sent by: cc:
bounce-techwr-l-117504 -at- lists -dot- Subject: dialog versus dialog box revisited
raycomm.com
01/27/03 10:02 AM
Please respond to "Sean
Brierley"
ID Number:
<g>
This thread came to mind as I was performing two Windows updates to XP
this morning. I am fully-aware that the MMoSfTP tells us to use dialog
box and not dialog by itself. So, I was bemused to see the
"Windows Update -- Web Page Dialog"
display the download and installation status of these OS fixes. In
addition to the MMoSfTP, I would not include the GUI item name in the
GUI description. For example, I'd recommend the text in the OK or Cancel
button be "OK" or "Cancel," as it is, and not "OK Button" and "Cancel
Button." Similarly, in such things as the File > Open dialog box, I'd
not have the title bar name, "Open Dialog Box," I'd just have the title
bar name be "Open."
For right or wrong, the way I handle this things is, perhaps, a
combination of your suggestion and those listed in the manual. I say
something like "the "OK" button" or "the "Open" dialog box" to refer to
these items. I place the name of the button or box or what-have-you in
quotations and then call it what it is: a box, button, or pull-down or
whatever. I'd be interested to hear other's suggestions/comments on this
topic.
Sam
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