Re: words to use instead of "system"

[cpwinter -at- rahul -dot- net]

On 23 Oct 2002, at 13:46, Patrice Dodd wrote:

> 
> Hello, fellow tech writers:
> 
> I have a question about naming. I'd look on the archives, but I don't know
> which words I'd use. I'm the lone tech writer here, and don't get out much.
> 
> OK, so we have a server-delivered software product. There are three parts to
> this product: * the server hardware * the software that operates the server
> * the applications that are delivered from the server.
> 
> This server needs to be configured to operate with the user's network. This
> work is done through a PC, and requires that the user temporarily change the
> PC's IP address to access the server.
> 
> At times, I need to refer to the PC's operating system, and at other times I
> need to refer to the server's system. "System" is the word that the
> programmers love, and thus it shows up in the GUI meaning several different
> things.
> 
> Can you help me find some words that will differentiate these two? One can
> be (or include) "system," but the other one shouldn't. I'll be using these
> words in the GUI and in the manuals and online help.
> 

    Perhaps I'm not understanding your question well, but it seems to me 
you don't -- in this case -- need to refer to the server hardware at all.

    That leaves you two things to differentiate: the PC operating system, 
and the server operating system. I would use "PC O/S", "user O/S", or 
just "O/S" for the former. (I would spell it out the first time it appeared.)

    I'd probably call the latter just "server", since that's what the user 
deals with in setting up this "system".

    Now, as to your later question, that gets a little trickier. I guess a 
synonym for "portal" might suffice. Gateway, bridge, entry, connector. No 
doubt there are better choices that don't spring to mind at this moment.

Chris


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