Re: terminology that swings both ways

[Jay Maechtlen <techwriter -at- covad -dot- net>]

McLauchlan, Kevin wrote:
> What do y'all do with widely used terms like "client" and "server" that
> can rightfully be used interchangeably (yet perfectly accurately either
> way) in the same sentence? How to minimize the ambiguity without
> maximizing wordiness and if/thens?
>
>  
>
> For example, in a few places in my Help, I have to talk about
> configuration and interactions among our product, our customer's
> computer, and _their_ customers' computers. Our product is a server to
> the client... the customer's computer, and it might also be a server to
> the customer's customers' client computers... or our customer might use
> our product as a server but act as a server to their customer clients...
> or...  there could be a situation where our customer's computer serves a
> certain type of operation to their customers, but hands off a subset of
> those operations that our product does best. So, it's not as simple as
> just putting categorical adjectives in front of the various possible
> occurrences of "client" or "server", since those might switch in the
> middle of a thought.
>
>   
Sounds like the software can play either role, maybe you can approach it
that way.
...the software can provide services to this class/group of
users/clients. It uses/can use <this other class/group> as a resource
for these operations ...
regards
Jay

-- 
Jay Maechtlen
techpubs -at- covad -dot- net
626 444-5112 office
626 840-8875 cell


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.