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RE: FW: Referring to an unnamed button with three dots
Subject:RE: FW: Referring to an unnamed button with three dots From:"Paul Neshamkin" <pauln -at- helpauthors -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Mon, 11 Jul 2005 19:22:28 -0400
Both the Microsoft Press Computer Dictionary, the Microsoft Manual of Style
and the Apple Human Interface Guidelines recommend similar, proper use of
the ellipsis in interfaces.
>From Apple:
An ellipsis character (.) can imply that there is more text than there is
room to display or that a command (such as Open...) requires additional
information before it can be performed. If, for example, the name of an item
is too long to fit in a menu or list box, you should insert an ellipsis
character in the middle of the name, preserving the beginning and the end of
the name. This ensures that the parts of the name that are most likely to be
unique are still visible.
An ellipsis character after a menu item or button label indicates to the
user that additional information is required to complete a command. You
should use an ellipsis character in the following cases:
An action that requires further user input to complete or presents an alert
allowing the user to cancel the action. Examples include Find, Go To, Open,
Page Setup, and Print.
An action that opens a settings window. The main function of settings
windows is to allow the user to change some aspect of the application, not
the document content. Examples include Set Title, Preferences, and Options.
Don't use an ellipsis character in the following cases:
An action that requires no further user input to complete and does not
present an alert. Often the item to be acted upon is already selected.
Examples include New, Cut, Bold, and Quit.
An action that opens an informational, accessory, or tool window. These
windows can be implemented as either utility windows (as in the case of a
color palette) or modeless windows. These windows provide tools that help
create or manage the content in the main window and are frequently left open
to assist in accomplishing the task of the main window. Examples include Get
Info, Show Tools, and About This Application.
>From Microsoft Computer Dictionary:
ellipsis
n. A set of three dots (...) used to convey incompleteness. In many
windowing applications, selection of a command that is followed by an
ellipsis will produce a submenu or a dialog box. In programming and software
manuals, an ellipsis in a syntax line indicates the repetition of certain
elements. See also dialog box, syntax.
>From Microsoft Manual of Style:
An ellipsis is typically used in the interface to show truncation, as in a
program name, or to indicate on menus and in dialog boxes that more
information is required from the user to complete the command. Do not use an
ellipsis in this context in documentation.
I've always thought that the majority of computer users who have been faced
with the ellipsis button (and used it) see that it is associated with the
concept of "more," so I tend to use that description in a task's result
statement.
Regards,
Paul Neshamkin
pauln -at- helpauthors -dot- com
MS Help MVP
ComponentOne Doc-To-Help MVP and Certified Trainer WexTech MVP, Certified
Doc-To-Help Trainer
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-20560 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:bounce-techwr-l-20560 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Lou Quillio
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 3:05 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Cc: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: FW: Referring to an unnamed button with three dots
And I agree, also respectfully, and raise you one: Why use a mystery symbol
at all, for anything? What's the advantage?
"Because?" No dice. "Word of the Day" opportunity? C'mon.
[Browse]
[Select]
[Settings]
[Next]
These work just fine. And you can translate 'em.
> and an ellipsis after an entry indicates that the command opens a
> dialog or wizard where the user can set choices or execute some other
> function.
This works fine, too, because it doesn't stand alone and it's not
usage-critical. The subsequent dialog is gonna happen regardless:
just tipping the user off.
A certain percentage of users will forever be buffaloed by a naked ellipsis
button, though. We can try to document our way out of that, or ditch the
ellipsis. Easy call for me.
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