Re: GUI: What should we call the "Central Area"?

["Chris Morton" <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com>]

See Chapter 1 of the *Microsoft Style Guide for Technical Writers*. Search
for this title and you'll find a PDF online.

On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 3:01 PM, <hls_ut -at- comcast -dot- net> wrote:

> work space, work area, work pane, work frame
> task space, task area, task pane, task frame
>
> --
> ---------------hls_ut -at- comcast -dot- net
>
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: SB <sylvia -dot- braunstein -at- gmail -dot- com>
> > Our GUI application is designed as follows:
> >
> >
> >    - Top of the application window:
> >       - *Title/Status Bar*
> >       - *Main Menu*
> >    - Middle part of the application window
> >       - Left side: *Navigation Tree* (it is there throughout the
> >       application)
> >       - Central area: an area that is changing when you click on the
> >       relevant option on the navigation tree. This is essentially the
> area
> >       of interest for the selected choice under the navigation tree.
> > This "central
> >       area" has its own Title/Status Bar and also includes the main
> > toolbar. A as
> >       such (even before my time) it has always been referred to as "the
> XYZ
> >       window" despite the fact that it does not open up in its own
> separate
> >       window.
> >    - Bottom of the application window: Event list (trap table)
> >
> > The technical writer working with me thinks it is wrong to call this
> central
> > area the "XYZ Window" (despite the fact that this is what appears on its
> > title bar and the fact that the main toobar is at the top of it). He says
> > that it is not truly a window and is looking for another name for it.
> >
> > I have never had an issue with the "central area" being called a
> "window". I
> > view this sort of as an alternative as having a "pop-up window for the
> > relevant option" since this is the only thing that is changing in our GUI
> > application window (according to the seclection made under the navigation
> > tree) and especially since at the top of it there is the main toolbar and
> it
> > has its own title/status bar. (Note that toolbar is at the top of that
> > central area but and right underneath it you have the title/status bar)
> >
> > I was wondering if you think this is correct and if not, what should it
> be
> > called.
> >
> > Here is what is suggested instead:
> > - Central pane
> > - Main pain is ruled out (I don't know why)
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >
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> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> 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<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
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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
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