RE: icons vs. buttons?

["Keith Hansen" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>]

<<buttons have text on them.
icons are little pictures.>>

Alas, if only life were this simple! ): 

I'm using a software that has both text ("OK") and a picture (thumbs up)
on the same button/icon. Is it a button? Or an icon?

For icon, the MS Guide says the following:

"Use only to describe a graphic representation of an object that a user
can select and open, such as a drive, disk, folder, document, or
program. . . . Within programs, do not use icon for graphical dialog box
options or options that appear on ribbons, toolbars, toolboxes, or other
areas of a window."

Examples of icons in the MS Guide: Internet Explorer icon; MS Word icon
(In the MS Guide, these icon examples have both text and pictures.)

When I click OK, that's not a graphic representation of a program, etc.
So, I guess the following are all buttons:
- Text only (OK)
- Picture only (thumbs up)
- Text with picture (OK, thumbs up)

Agree? Disagree? I think my reasoning is correct here, but I'm open to
disagreement...

Keith 

-----Original Message-----
From: Sankara R [mailto:ss_rajanala -at- yahoo -dot- com] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 10:51 AM
To: Yves JEAUROND; Keith Hansen
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: icons vs. buttons?


once more [sorry]

buttons have text on them.
icons are little pictures.

Icons can lead to action: the save (diskette) in MS word.

Buttons can take you to the other end of the globle (Send an eCard, at
the top of this page as I type).

And, what kind of an action is the Calendar button accomplish?



==
when in doubt, tell the truth
 - sam clemens


       
________________________________________________________________________
____________
Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web
links. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! 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.