RE: What do you call your examples?

["Joyce Fetterman" <Joycef -at- gtsoftware -dot- com>]

<< The problem I have with Company1 and Company2 or John Smith is that
it doesn't ring true in the mind of the user.  I like to work on the
theory that realistic but fake is the best way to go.>>


As usual, I suspect it all boils down to the audience. I write software
documentation aimed at high-level users (developers), and I use examples
such as CompanyName1 and UserName2 because there's no distraction. When
I see recognizable names -- or fun fanciful ones -- I get distracted
sometimes.

I took a quick poll of the developers here: they prefer the generic
examples rather than recognizable names and they cited the same reasons.

On screen samples, it's a bit different: I might have John Smith or Mary
User, but I'm long past the days when I spent time trying to come up
with cute names.

Joyce

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