logo       

Re: folder vs. directory: msg#00032

gnome.documentation

Subject: Re: folder vs. directory


I still find this quite confusing. E.g., what should I use in sentences
like

"Your configuration settings are stored in [folder|directory] .gnome in
your home [folder|directory]"

I am not describing GUI - but if I use word "directory", I'll confuse
users, since in User Guide, there is no mention of "home directory" but
only "home location" and "home folder"...

Sasha





On Sun, 2002-10-06 at 12:41, John Fleck wrote:
> On Sat, 2002-10-05 at 13:15, Christian Neumair wrote:
> > Hi there!
> > Maybe some of you asked themselves the same question:
> > Why do we use folder instead of directory in applications like Nautilus?
> > I assume that this was introduced to make it easier for people who used
> > to run Windows on their computer. I think it's totally inconsistent to
> > make a difference between graphical and console applications in
> > terminology.
> >
>
> Because the purpose of the graphical interface is to abstract away the
> underlying complexity, and the graphical interface has long used the
> folder metaphor:
>
> http://developer.gnome.org/documents/style-guide/apas05.html
>
> "directory
>
> Definition:
>
> A special type of file that enables you to organize other files into a
> hierarchical structure. Only use the term directory when you make
> specific references to the structure of the file system."
>
> "folder
>
> Definition:
>
> A representation of a directory in a graphical program. Use the term
> folder when you document programs that use folder icons to represent
> directories."
>
>
> Cheers,
> John
>
> (adding gnome-doc-list to the cc's)
> --
> John Fleck
> jfleck@xxxxxxxxxxxx (h) jfleck@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (w)
> http://www.inkstain.net http://www.abqjournal.com
>
> "Sometimes, a diner is all about the mac and cheese."
> - Zippy the Pinhead
>
> _______________________________________________
> gnome-doc-list mailing list
> gnome-doc-list@xxxxxxxxx
> http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-doc-list


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Google Custom Search

News | FAQ | advertise