Re: Select vs. Pick

[Alma Schipper <schippal -at- LIMS -dot- COM>]

The "Microsoft GUI Guide (International Terminology for the Windows
Interface), European Edition" (published by Microsoft Press; IBSN
1-55615-538-7) provides different definitions for "Select" and "Choose" in
Windows.

The definitions are:
CHOOSE:  choose a menu command or command button.
SELECT:
    1.  Mark data in the window for further manipulation.  Selected text or
objects appear highlighted or outlined.
    2.  Open a drop-down menu.
    3.  Click a drop-down arrow to open a list box.
    4.  Turn on an option button or check box in a dialog box.

We summarize the difference by saying that _choosing_ [a button or menu
option] causes an immediate action.  For example, if you don't have a mouse,
you can use the tab key to SELECT an option button, then press Enter to
CHOOSE it.

A fine distiction, but if you keep it consistent, it seems to work pretty well.

By the way, the GUI Guide has really helped us standardize our
Windows-related terminology -- I've successfully used it to convince
programmers to stop insisting on terms like "sub-form", for example.  (And
did you know that "radio button" isn't a standard Windows term?  It's
"option button".  I didn't know until I read it.)

And speaking of translation, we asked our translators to use it as a
standard reference as well -- it contains the standard Windows terms in 14
European languages.

Pity it doesn't resolve the "prepend" controversy...

P.S.  I agree with you that "pick" is probably not a good ...um, choice?
selection?     :-)

--   Alma T. Schipper      :-)
schippal -at- lims -dot- com               (518) 274-1990, ext. 165
Laboratory MicroSystems, Inc., Troy, NY  USA
(but speaking on my own...)

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