TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Click Start, then.... From:Lynn Perry <CLPerry -at- WALLDATA -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 5 Aug 1998 11:29:07 -0700
We use this construction:
To set up security
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to CoSession Remote 32, point
to Utilities, and then click Administer Security.
2. In the Administer Security dialog box, click the <whatever>
options.
In this case, I find this structure hard to follow. Anything longer than
three instructions, regardless of how related they are, is too hard for
me to follow. I would probably divide it up instead. Something like
this.
To set up security
1. Click Start, and then point to Programs.
2. Point to CoSession Remote 32, point to Utilities, and then click
Administer Security.
3. In the Administer Security dialog box, click the <whatever>
options.
Even though the second instance has more steps, it seems clearer.
In any case, we do not use the construction "Click on" in any of our
procedures, and we typically follow the Microsoft Style "From the File
menu, choose New."
C. Lynn Perry
clperry -at- walldata -dot- com
Opinions expressed are mine alone
Wall Data Incorporated, Seattle WA
Some days it doesn't pay to gnaw through the straps
