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If there is absolutely no chance that your documents will ever need to be localized, you might consider using a graphic of the button: Click [Next].
As far as documenting for novice and advance users goes, if you are writing to a user who doesn't understand that "Next" refers to the button of the same name in the UI, what are the chances that he'll even get as far as finding your documentation? In other words, are there really still users in your audience who are so thoroughly computer illiterate?
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lporrello=illumina -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lporrello=illumina -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Cardimon, Craig
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 9:31 AM
To: 'Phil Snow Leopard'; 'Brian -dot- Henderson -at- mitchell1 -dot- com'
Cc: 'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'
Subject: RE: Regarding the "Next" button
Only buttons are labeled "Next."
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Phil Snow Leopard
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 12:32 PM
To: Brian -dot- Henderson -at- mitchell1 -dot- com
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Regarding the "Next" button
I noted that he said they had both types of elements in the UI, but I didn't see him say that both elements had "next" labels.
Where was that?
On 12 Mar 2012, at 23:23, <Brian -dot- Henderson -at- mitchell1 -dot- com> wrote:
> Here's the problem, though. Craig has said that they actually DO have
> both links and buttons on the same screen (Craig, unless there's a
> really good reason for that, you need to see if you can get that
> changed).
>
> If I were the user, my first instinct would be that both "Nexts" would
> do the same thing. But, I would also have in the back of my mind that
> they might not. That little tiny bit of confusion, I think, warrants
> some sort of acknowledgement. If for no other reason than to indicate
> to your users that you've done it on purpose (and that maybe your
> design team isn't a bunch of nitwits).
>
> -BH
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Phil Snow Leopard
>
> It seems unnecessary to me regardless of whether you have links and
> buttons on the same page. If your audience won't be able to visually
> identify 'Next' on the interface easily, I doubt adding the word
> 'button' or 'hyperlink' is going to do anything to help that.
>
> The only case I can see for including the control word is if there
> were two things on the same screen (one button, one hyperlink) that
> were both labelled 'Next' (in which case, as Fred said, you have
> deeper problems that need sorting out). Otherwise, it's just unnecessary verbiage.
>
> --
>
>
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