Re: Button Labels

Subject: Re: Button Labels
From: Chuck Martin <cm -at- writeforyou -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 17:15:29 -0700


McKinney, Suzanne wrote:
<snip>

Am I overreacting to expect them to choose a style so that my docs can
match it?

No



Should I just document them all title case (as a friend suggested) and
not worry about how they look in the interface?

No.


My theory is that anything that provides for less confusion or
distraction is a good thing. I'd rather that the users are able to press
on with their work. So matching the interface as closely as possible is
good. However, I realize that maybe I (and other writers/editors) are
the only people who would notice the text case of the help or user guide
vs. the application interface. I don't want to have to change what I'm
doing because in HTML based help, it's clumsy to search through all the
individual topics.


No. Your users will notice. They may not say anything, but they will notice. And they may very well think that if such carelessness and inconsistency is practiced in the UI, then it may very weill be practiced in the underlying code. And they may decide they don't want to trust their information with your product and find another.

YOu need (a) a style guide and (b) management support.

--
--
Chuck Martin
User Assistance & Experience Engineer
twriter "at" sonic "dot" net www.writeforyou.com

"I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.
The day may come when the courage of Men fail, when we forsake our
friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day!
This day, we fight!"
- Aragorn

"All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given you."
- Gandalf

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