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: Standard definitions for GUI buttons From:Robert Barlow-Busch <bob -at- SONYCOM -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 13 Aug 1998 10:22:46 +0200
I checked my handy reference, "The Windows Interface
Guidelines for Software Design" by Microsoft Press. Here is
what it says about command buttons, in general:
"When the user chooses a command button with mouse button 1
. . . the command associated with the button is carried out.
. . . The command button's label represents the action the
button starts." (p. 142)
Ah, so _that's_ how buttons work!
In the glossary, the term "Apply" is defined: "To commit a
set of changes or pending transactions made in a secondary
window, typically without closing that window." The term
"Close" is defined: "To remove a window." OK is not defined,
but I believe it typically combines the Apply and Close
operations -- commit the changes and close the window.
Cancel means close the window and do not commit the changes.
Hope this helps,
Robert Barlow-Busch
bob -at- sonycom -dot- com
Sony Platform Software Development Center
Brussels, Belgium
