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Subject:RE: "Click-and-drag" or just "drag" -- ? From:Debbie Hemstreet <D_Hemstreet -at- rambam -dot- health -dot- gov -dot- il> To:"Techwr-l (techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com)" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:31:32 +0000
Doesn't really matter what the rules say, what do your USERS understand?
I have been aghast to discover that even if I EXPLAIN it in detail to some of my colleagues, they cannot figure out how to click on a file in an Outlook attachment and then drag it into another directory, or, if an attached Outlook message (*.msg), they cannot drag it into their Drafts folder.
I've tried everything, detailed instructions - showing them myself - in the end, I have to do it for them! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Debbie
דבורה
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+d_hemstreet=rambam -dot- health -dot- gov -dot- il -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+d_hemstreet=rambam -dot- health -dot- gov -dot- il -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Cardimon, Craig
Sent: Tuesday, 23 October, 2012 21:13 PM
To: 'Tammy Van Boening'; 'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'
Subject: RE: "Click-and-drag" or just "drag" -- ?
I also find it interesting that I didn't look my question up in the MMOS-4, which is sitting right on my desk.
My first impulse was to ask you guys.
-----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 Tammy Van Boening
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 3:14 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: "Click-and-drag" or just "drag" -- ?
MMOS, 3rd edition states:
drag-and-drop: Do not use as a verb or a noun. The action of dragging includes dropping the element into place. It is all right to use the drag-and-drop as adj. to describe moving objects between windows, programs, etc.
Correct: Moving files is an easy drag-and-drop operation.
You can drag the folder to drive A.
Incorrect: You can drag and drop the folder into drive A.
Drag the information from "X" and drop it int "Y."
I am providing this just for reference only, not as an endorsement of what should be written ~.
TVB
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+tammyvb=spectrumwritingllc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+tammyvb=spectrumwritingllc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
On Behalf Of Cardimon, Craig
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 11:49 AM
To: 'salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com'; 'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'
Subject: RE: "Click-and-drag" or just "drag" -- ?
I find it interesting that some of us believe we can't assume anything, and others believe we must assume some things.
-----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 Chris Morton
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 1:50 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: "Click-and-drag" or just "drag" -- ?
In my world I can assume nothing, so pedantic it is.
I don't think I'd instruct them to release the mouse button, however.
They're going to have difficulty going on break (or home) if this gesture isn't inherent.
> Chris
On Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 10:46 AM, Kathleen MacDowell < kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> How ponderous would it be to say
>
> You can move Tool One by clicking on it and dragging it into the
> desired position.
>
> I wouldn't add anything about releasing it; people will find out soon
> enough, unless there's something tricky about how that should happen
> or the function doesn't work correctly...
>
> I start wondering about how pedantic I need to be after I've written
> lots of descriptions like this. But the thing is, if you keep them
> short, you make sure your audience at least knows the minimal
> capabilities of the product.
>
> At least that's how I approach it. YMMV :-)
>
> On Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 9:20 AM, Cardimon, Craig <ccardimon -at- m-s-g -dot- com
> >wrote:
>
> > I was wondering how pedantic I need to be, and how brief I could be.
> >
> > Why wouldn't "drag" suffice?
> >
> > The audience should be computer literate.
> >
> > I am pondering just how "ponderous" I need to be.
> >
> > From: Kat Kuvinka [mailto:katkuvinka -at- hotmail -dot- com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 10:06 AM
> > To: Cardimon, Craig; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > Subject: RE: "Click-and-drag" or just "drag" -- ?
> >
> > Depends on your audience and if you have attempted somewhere to
> > teach
> them
> > what it means to drag. And drop. They should drop after dragging, yes?
> >
> > >
> > > Maybe I've been staring at this too long, but if some items need
> > > to be
> > dragged around, would you say:
> > >
> > > "Click-and-drag Tool One where you want it."
> > >
> > > Or Just:
> > >
> > > "Drag Tool One where you want it."
> > >
> > > --Craig
> > >
> >
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> --
> Kathleen MacDowell
> kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com
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