TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
What are the favored methods of presenting complicated
navigation? Assume you have to make a selection from a menu on
a menu bar, then make another selection from a small window
that will appear.
Option A: Choose System from the Setup menu, then choose
Security from the System Setup palette.
Option B (presenting the options in the order they should be
chosen, but the phrasing is slightly awkward): From the
Setup menu, choose System, then from the System Setup palette,
choose Security.
Option C: From the Setup menu, choose System, then choose
Security.
Option D (favored by our Training and Support departments):
Choose System > Setup > Security.
==================
I like the natural rhythm of option A, but I suppose option C
will be the most preferred.
If the menus are truly cascading (such as they are in
Interleaf), then I must honestly say that from a user
standpoint, option D is the best. It relates *exactly* the
information I need and *only* the information I need.
Of course, if Security is something that is chosen from a pop-up
window and not a menu option off of Setup, then option D may be
more confusing than helpful.
=*= Beverly Parks =*= bparks -at- huachuca-emh1 -dot- army -dot- mil =*=
=*= "Unless otherwise stated, all comments are my own. =*=
=*= I am not representing my employer in any way." =*=
