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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!hou5h!hou5a!hou5d!hogpc!drux3!ihnp4!ihu1f!steffen
From: steffen@ihu1f.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cog-eng
Subject: Two cog-eng questions on displayed instructions to the user
Message-ID: <202@ihu1f.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 27-Oct-83 13:28:27 EST
Article-I.D.: ihu1f.202
Posted: Thu Oct 27 13:28:27 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 31-Oct-83 02:59:01 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, Il
Lines: 30

1.  Is it clearer to use "enter" or "type" when giving instructions to
program users, e.g.

	Enter ? for help.
or
	Type ? for help.
	
I prefer "type" because it is less ambiguous--"enter" can be confused with
the ENTER key on some terminals.

2.  When giving in instruction on using a key labeled with a word, should
it be referred to as "<TAB>" or "TAB", e.g.

	Type <TAB> to go the next field.
or
	Type TAB to go the next field.

I prefer "TAB" because the use of all caps makes the word stand out without
the use of "<>", and eliminates the possibility of confusion because the
key label is TAB, not <TAB>.

In summary, are these valid human factors judgements, or just my personal
preferences?

-- 


				Joe Steffen
				ihu1f!steffen
				IH 2C-331 x5381