Re: Seeking advice on the best way to phrase an error message?

[HBacheler -at- aol -dot- com]

A reasonable 'default for the phone number is area code, central office,  
instrument/instruments number.
 
for example a minimal phone number entry in the field is  8005551212.(10 
digits)
No punctuation, separation, hidden meaning
 
Social security number 123456789 (9 digits)
 
I think any programmer/designer/analyst should accept this as the  optimum.
 
There is NO DIFFERENT way you can express either of these numbers in their  
minimum form
 
You can have 800-555-1212 - (800)555-1212 - (800) 555-1212 -  800.555.1212
 
You can have 123-45-6789
 
The  dash) -, the open parenthesis (, and the close  parenthesis ) are values 
that can be 'skipped' in the  parsing/verificatin/validation of the number.
 
So "I" forgot the punctuation, so what, (programmer/analyst/designer) deal  
with it in your design and implementation...
 
Bringing back my days as a programmer/analyst/designer  ---  making things 
easier for the customer.
 
Other input?
 
Harry



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.