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Re: Read only dialog box?

Subject: Re: Read only dialog box?
From: Beth Agnew <beth -dot- agnew -at- senecac -dot- on -dot- ca>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 12:21:28 -0500

Sounds like she's taking the meaning of dialog literally. Unless the user has to input something, it's not really a dialog, so a literal meaning can be correct. I don't like "pop-ups" because of the web connotation. I'm on the side of "message" or "information". I would use "alert" only if there was something important the user had to take note of. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what you call them as long as your approvers and your target audience understand the terms and usage, and that you remain consistent through your publication(s).

Barbara Philbrick wrote:

It's not a developer, it's an auditor, and a Swedish one at that ...

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+caslon=alltel -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+caslon=alltel -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
Peter Sturgeon
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 10:35 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: Read only dialog box?

It's a dialog box--the war is over. Just be glad your developers don't
distinguish between modal and non-modal dialog boxes.

Follow Geoff's advice: Describe the content, not the container.

For example, "A message notifies you when the backup has completed."


--- Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca> wrote:


Barbara Philbrick reports: <<One of my clients doesn't want to call dialog boxes "dialog boxes" if the information in them is read-only.>>


Focusing on that action or task is more important than on what to call it.

--
Beth Agnew
Professor, Technical Communication
Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology
Toronto, ON 416.491.5050 x3133
http://www.tinyurl.com/83u5u

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References:
RE: Read only dialog box?: From: Barbara Philbrick

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