Re. Future vs. present tense

[Geoff Hart <geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA>]

     It seems to me that Techwhirlers who advocate doing computer
     documentation in present tense only may be oversimplifying. The
     unifying thread seems to be that future tense is unsuitable
     ***primarily*** when it doesn't specify duration; thus, the issue
     isn't a problem with tense, but rather a problem due to vagueness.
     Would there really be a difference between the following two phrases:

     1. After you select "type size" from the "font" menu, the selected
     text increases in size.
     2. Select "type size" from the "font" menu. The selected text will
     increase in size.

     Neither is a great example of tech. writing, but they illustrate the
     sort of example we've been seeing to support the recommendations to
     get rid of the future tense. I don't see any functional difference
     between the two (the result will generally be so immediate that
     there's no risk of confusion); moreover, there _seems_ to be a
     grammatical problem with the present tense in the second part of the
     first example. (No, I can't state what the problem is. It just "feels"
     wrong, perhaps too "stream of consciousness" or insufficient coffee?)
     There _is_ a really good justification for replacing the future tense
     in the following example:

     1. After you select "print", your document will be sent to the
     printer. [Ignore the passive voice... the real issue is: When? Then
     there's: How will I know when I succeed? How do I know if there's a
     problem that will delay printing? Which printer?]

     Am I really missing something here, or are we just overgeneralizing by
     blanketly condemning all use of future tense?

     --Geoff Hart    @8^{)}
     geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca

     Disclaimer: If I didn't commit it in print in one of
     our reports, it don't represent FERIC's opinion.