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Subject:RE: Click X, or click the X button? From:"Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com> To:"Robert Lauriston" <robert -at- lauriston -dot- com>, "techwr-l List" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:15:05 -0700
I'd also add that the idea that images slow down readers is based on the "Cognitive Load" theory--which research indicates is false.
Leonard
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Robert Lauriston
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 1:45 PM
To: techwr-l List
Subject: Re: Click X, or click the X button?
You include a screen capture for every button? Even Save and Next?
Cropped to the button, whole dialog, or what?
To me, that's tech-writer busywork that leads to bloated docs and
slows down readers. I do that only when the UI is bad and it's clear
that the user will have trouble finding the UI element.
On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 1:38 PM, Leonard C. Porrello
<Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- soleratec -dot- com> wrote:
> I use an actual screen capture of the buttons and say "Click X" (where X
> is the screen capture).
>
> Leonard
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
> om] On Behalf Of jennysubs -at- mac -dot- com
> Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 12:38 PM
> To: techwr-l List
> Subject: Click X, or click the X button?
>
> How do you describe button actions? Does it make a difference if
> you're writing online help vs. print/PDF?
>
> I was trained to use the full "click the XYZ button," but recent style
> seems to be "Click XYZ."
>
> The 2004 Microsoft Style Guide says to use Click the X button, except
> for OK and Save. The 2008 Apple style guide shows both types, but
> mostly seems to use Click the X button in its examples.
>
> That was the style guides. I also did a quick look through some help
> and PDF files on both Windows and the Mac. Here are my data points:
>
> The Mac help style is definitely Click X.
> Frame help is Click X.
> Word Help is Click X.
> Microsoft XP Pro system help is mostly Click X.
> PDF manuals for Apple iLife apps typically use Click the X button.
> PDF for Frame 9 uses both, although it's usually consistent within the
> section.
>
> Just wondering...
>
> Jenny
>
>
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> Free Software Documentation Project Web Cast: Covers developing Table of
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> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Free Software Documentation Project Web Cast: Covers developing Table of
> Contents, Context IDs, and Index, as well as Doc-To-Help
> 2009 tips, tricks, and best practices.
>http://www.doctohelp.com/SuperPages/Webcasts/
>
> Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual
> authors and teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write
> once, publish to 8 formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
>
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Free Software Documentation Project Web Cast: Covers developing Table of
Contents, Context IDs, and Index, as well as Doc-To-Help
2009 tips, tricks, and best practices. http://www.doctohelp.com/SuperPages/Webcasts/
Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual
authors and teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write
once, publish to 8 formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- soleratec -dot- com -dot-
Free Software Documentation Project Web Cast: Covers developing Table of
Contents, Context IDs, and Index, as well as Doc-To-Help
2009 tips, tricks, and best practices. http://www.doctohelp.com/SuperPages/Webcasts/
Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual
authors and teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write
once, publish to 8 formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
