Re: What to do about writing samples

["Mike O." <obie1121 -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

Well, it's not my argument, I'm just repeating it because it was
relevant, and provides the opportunity to use the "endless loop
in the shower" joke. 

But since you asked...

Back when "user interface" meant "MS-Windows," the OK button was
the standard way to end any interaction with a dialog box, so it
was really tempting to leave "Click OK" off the procedures. 

Then came tabbed interfaces, with their Apply buttons, and
inconsistent "Save" behaviors. Then it was less clear what you
had to do to make your changes take effect:
http://uie.com/tabbed.htm

Now we have creative artists using PhotoShop to invent whole new
"innovative" user interfaces. For the life of me, sometimes I am
totally stumped for a while before I figure out how to complete
the interaction.

But "Click OK" is never the end of the procedure. If you want to
provide docs with depth, you have to explain what happens when
you click OK. By "explain what happens" I don't mean just a
description of what jumps up on the screen, I mean the back end
processing. 



--- Jeff Hanvey <jewahe -at- lycos -dot- co -dot- uk> wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike O." <obie1121 -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> > Actually it says "Lather, rinse, repeat..." It doesn't say
> when
> > to stop, so theoretically there could be people stuck in an
> > endless loop in showers all over the country. I have heard
> this
> > used as an example of why procedures don't need to include
> > "Click OK."
> 
> Perhaps you could explain this argument. I don't see any logic
> behind it at
> all.
> 
> But then, I never just write "click OK" without giving the
> users something
> to let them know that the procedure is complete.
> 
> 
> Jeff Hanvey
> Augusta, GA
> jewahe -at- lycos -dot- co -dot- uk
> 
> 


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