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I guess I get a little of that flavor that you mention, and it could be literally true if the person doing the task is done (i.e., doesn't need to update any other devices) and deletes the files after upload/download/copy/transfer/delivery.
But "copy" suggests to me that I could use the "copy" command that I use every day when copying files to/from the network, where that's not the case. It would have helped if the utility had not been named "Doohickey_Update.exe" (substitute actual device name for Doohickey), but that's what somebody went with, even though all it does is wake up the device and get the file over there, after which the device asks the user directly (on its own screen) the equivalent of "should I now install this file I just got, Daddy?"
If we were being literal about "transfer", it would be the actual bits that got picked up and moved, not merely a copy followed by a delete. Either that, or the next time I get transferred somewhere, I'm going to have visions of that movie "The Prestige".
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Lauriston
Sent: December-09-13 6:00 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: upload/download
"Transfer" suggests to me that after the file is copied the original is deleted.
The Microsoft MS4 defines "download" even more restrictively than I do.
On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 2:27 PM, McLauchlan, Kevin
<Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com> wrote:
> I'm up for :
>
> a) a preponderance of expressed choices one way or the other, representing (by sheer numbers) what the average customer is likely to feel comfortable with, or (given that I'm eager to get this done and get to the next several things on my plate...)
>
> b) a good suggestion or persuasive argument from someone (or a couple of someones) whom I respect.
>
> Right now, it's just a matter of competing opinions (mine and co-writer's) with no evidence other than respective traditions, so I thought to inquire of the wider (techwriter-ish) world. Get a feel for the lay of the land... like that. In other words, all it would take is a bit more than just my cube neighbor's opinion to get me off my current position.
>
> However, a couple of private replies and Robert's public one have suggested a better alternative, "copy".
> I won't use it, but I decided to go with the similar "transfer".
> I'd use "copy", except that the transfer is enacted by a specific, purpose-built utility that speaks the device's language and knows how to get its attention - the device doesn't simply appear as just-another USB storage device that would accept an ordinary copy operation.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Milan DavidoviÄ [mailto:milan -dot- lists -at- gmail -dot- com]
> Sent: December-09-13 5:06 PM
> To: McLauchlan, Kevin
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: upload/download
>
> What sort of evidence would both of you accept as authoritative? Logic may get you nowhere if you each start off with different premises...
>
> --Milan DavidoviÄ
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