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> and most of those steps contain multiple menu items
> and menu names, then the point stands: there is so
> much bold that any particular bold item doesn't
> really stand out.
A properly written step is not going to contain
more than a very small number of objects to be
acted upon. Normally two, I'd guess, and occasionally
slightly more if the step combines multiple actions
("From the _File_ menu, choose _Print_, and then click
_OK_" for example).
If those objects to be acted on (File>Print>OK) are
bolded or otherwise distinguished, it facilitates
the transfer of information from the page to my
eye to my hands. I have to do less looking back
and forth between the text and the screen.
> > > Finally, the bolding
> > > often means that users will skip over often important
> > > explanatory text and just pick out the bold items.
If that happens, something is wrong with the way
the procedure is written.
I think this is something that Microsoft
has right in most their Help files, and I'm
sure it is based on usability testing.
--
Mike West
Melbourne, Australia
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