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Subject:Re: MS Manual of Style, disagreements with From:Peter Kent <techwr -at- ARUNDEL -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 9 Jun 1997 11:13:55 -0600
> On the File menu, click Open.
> From the File menu, choose Open.
> An alternative I've used and gotten excellent user feedback on is:
> Choose File-->Open.
I've used a system like this for years, and believe it's much simpler and to
the point than all this "from the file menu, choose open" stuff. (I think I
may have introduced this method to the computer-book publishing business,
having first used it in Mastering Micrografx Designer in 1990; a number of
publishers now use this method. IDG uses it in some of its books. Que uses
"Choose File, Open," which I really don't like but have to work with to fit
in with their guidelines.) I often use a pipe symbol, as in "Select
File|Open," but just about any symbol will work; an arrow, for instance.
> Of course, all I have is anecdotal evidence. I don't have any studies to
> back up the advantages of this style. And, since it isn't currently
> standard, it depends on your audience and your client.
Exactly, here's a case of a great method that isn't "standard." That doesn't
mean you shouldn't use it. On the other hand, what's "standard" mean? Many
people now use this system, so why shouldn't anyone?
Peter Kent
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