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Subject:[Fwd: Re: What's it called?] From:Jeff Wiggin <wiggin -at- RPI -dot- EDU> Date:Wed, 5 May 1999 16:43:13 -0400
Apologies -- this was supposed to have gone to the list, and not just
John.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: What's it called?
Date: Wed, 05 May 1999 14:48:56 -0400
From: Jeff Wiggin <wiggin -at- rpi -dot- edu>
To: John Posada <jposada01 -at- YAHOO -dot- COM>
References: <199905051821 -dot- OAA40994 -at- mail1 -dot- its -dot- rpi -dot- edu>
John Posada wrote:
>
> My question...what do you call an .exe file that is
> not the main executable.
John -
Considering that your users are rank computer novices and non-native
speakers of English, I would strive to be as basic as possible:
"You will find a file named mdac_tpe.exe"
Do they need to know that an .exe file is a *program* file to complete
the task successfully? Or will identical terminology potentially only
cause confusion and interfere with their efforts to install the main
program/application? I can envision novices installing "mdac_tpe.exe"
and thinking they have installed the main application. Then they'd
really be confused!
And, MS Style Guide notwithstanding, "mdac_tpe.exe" -is- a file, so you
are not being inaccurate. This case is about your users.