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.
Subject:Re: Icons v. Buttons and Apple From:"James M.Lockard" <norton -at- MCS -dot- NET> Date:Wed, 24 Jul 1996 21:15:54 +0100
Michael Loader writes:
>Of course, Apple loves to write "Open the SimpleText icon" instead of
>double-clicking a desktop program icon, which I think is confusing.
I don't represent Apple, but I believe they write "Open the SimpleText
icon" because double-clicking is not the only way to start an application.
On the Mac, you can open an application by selecting its icon (which can be
done with the keyboard) and pressing [Command] + "O". In Windows also,
there are a number of different ways to start an application. Do you write
"Open Pagemaker," or "Double-click the Pagemaker program item"? Either one
of those options is better than "Open the SimpleText icon," but which
option do you think is better?
FWIW, I'd be the first to agree that "open the SimpleText icon" sounds
awkward. Still, I like the idea of letting the user choose how to do the
task. Maybe it's a question of scope?
James Lockard
norton -at- mcs -dot- net
TECHWR-L List Information
To send a message about technical communication to 2500+ list readers,
E-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send administrative commands
ALL other questions or problems concerning the list
should go to the listowner, Eric Ray, at ejray -at- ionet -dot- net -dot-
