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I wrote:
> > > I usually follow the guidelines in the Microsoft Manual of Style
but
> > > I've drawn a blank with these two, as has FOLDOC and Webopedia:
> > >
> > > focus - the window has focus, has regained focus
> > > proc'd - when the application has proc'd Command Mode
> > >
> > > Are these terms okay to use in user software documentation?
Bonnie Grant replied:
> > What is "proc'd"?
> >
Programmers use proc as a verb, hence proc'ing, proc'd etc, which means
running another process from the current one, for example:
proc ":cli"
The above command (from 3GL software language Cyberscreen) runs a CLI
process from an existing application.
In the example I gave previously it was referring to starting an
application from another Windows application via the Tools menu.
Dan Goldstein added:
> It's what a guy gets from his doctor when he turns 40.
LOL.
> Seriously, Karen, I'm not going to ask for a show of hands
> but I'll bet that Bonnie and I aren't the only ones who've
> never heard of it. The oldest SME at my company says he
> hasn't heard it for so long he's forgotten what it meant. I
> would look for other words if I were you.
I'm not surprised. I come from a programming background so to me it
makes sense but I'm sure it won't to most of the users this
documentation is aimed at, which is for a Windows based report writer. I
think I'll go with active window instead of focus and change the proc'd
to runs. Thanks to everyone who replied.
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