Re: Is this a Caution or a Warning

[Jim McAward <jimmc -at- CHYRON -dot- COM>]

I use the following boilerplate definitions in all my products, and demand
that my writers observe them.

<snip>

Alert Notices
- - - - - - -
These notices are included to highlight a particular useful fact, or to
prevent you from harming the equipment or yourself.  Alert notices follow
these conventions:


NOTE
Provides useful additional information for a particular description or
procedure.

SHORTCUT
Provides a faster way of accomplishing a particular task.

CAUTION!
Alerts the reader to a situation where the EQUIPMENT may be at risk, or
where some critical function (such as on-air behavior) may be affected.

WARNING!
Alerts the reader to a situation where he/she is at temporary risk of bodily
injury.

DANGER!
Alerts the reader to a situation of *continued* risk of bodily injury, such
as when performing adjustments to a machine where the power must be on for
the duration of the adjustments.

<end snip>

I always find myself harassing the software twinkies who insist on putting
the word "WARNING" into minor error messages, as in:  "WARNING!  File will
be renamed."

However, our products are used in on-line broadcast environments, so
sometimes a CAUTION is warranted for a software thing.  One small example is
that the entire Super Bowl video feed passes through one (or more) of our
systems; a spontaneous reboot could disgruntle lots of high-paying sponsors
to the tune of $1,200,000 per minute.  This warrants a CAUTION, even in my book.



Take care, Vikki - hope this helps.



Jim.






On  Wed, 30 Jul 1997 07:10:45 -0700, Vikki Shine
<Vikki_Shine -at- NOTES -dot- TERADYNE -dot- COM> wrote:

I have to include a note in the a power supply maintenance manual that I am
writing. The company that I worked for is now using liquid-cooled  test
systems and high voltage. When needed, I have to use the following note:


<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
James G. McAward                        Chyron Corporation
Manager,                                Melville, NY  11747
Technical Publications                  http://www.chyron.com
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
                "So many facts, so little time!"
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

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