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Subject:Re: Question on Naming From:Robert Lauriston <robert -at- lauriston -dot- com> To:TECHWR-L -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Wed, 6 Jan 2010 19:20:33 -0800
How is an "action item" different from a command?
On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 3:16 PM, Robert Courtney <bobsc1 -at- earthlink -dot- net> wrote:
> I have a new product that has tabs and items underneath the tabs. It is
> a collapsible explorer area with a main display on the right. The
> explorer area may look below:
>
> My things (collapsible bar/tab)
> Things
> Look up things
>
> Other things (collapsible bar/tab)
> These things
> More things
>
> Do these things (collapsible bar/tab)
> Plain things
> Really plain things
>
> The tab/bar titles are groups of items that have common actions. They
> refer to screens in the application and what you do in the application.
> I explain the group with the name of the tab. Eg.. What is the My Things
> Tab?, What is the Other Things Tab?
>
> The help topic explains what the tab contains and does. The things under
> the tab I call "Action Items" because they do things, they do actions in
> the application. Eg., What is the Things Action Item?, What is the Look
> Up Things Action Item?
>
> Each one of the "Action Items" refers to a screen in the application and
> what you can do. But, I don't like referring to "screen." Eg., What is
> the Things Screen?, What is the Look Up Things Screen? Or, What is
> Things?, What is Look Up Things?
>
> How confusing is it to a user to use "Action Item" instead of "Screen"?
> Or just leave screen off?
>
> Action Item is a new thought or idea that they are not used to as a
> standard. If I use it, do you think they will become comfortable with it?
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