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[F1] for type conventions This week, a few hints on how to decode common type conventions. The use of “type conventions” is how the writer of a computer book, or of this column, is able to communicate with the reader. Type conventions vary from book to book and from magazine to magazine but are always similar. Frequently, an explanation similar to this article appears in the front of a computer book. Some publications have the luxury of using special type styles or special graphics in order to more easily impart to the reader which keys to press or where to click their mouse. Some have the ability to print in their articles a little picture of the [Enter] key complete with the little arrow. Here in Atención, since all the articles are set in standard type, I use commonly accepted type conventions: Keys on the keyboard are presented here enclosed in brackets such as [Enter] or [Backspace]. Sometimes it is necessary to fudge a bit as in [Up], [Down], [Right], and [Left], which on the keyboard actually have little arrows, but you know what I mean. When two or more keys are enclosed in the same bracket, such as [Shift F7] or [Shift+F7], this is called a combination keystroke, meaning the first key should be pressed and held while pressing the second key. [Shift F7] means to press and hold the [Shift] key and while continuing to hold the [Shift] key down, press one time only on the [F7] key. The names of menus and dialog boxes are usually enclosed in “double quotes” as are the ones in this sentence. Only the name of the menu or dialog box appears between the quotes, and sometimes this means that the sentence punctuation used in the article is not grammatically correct. The slash key [/] is used to separate mouse clicks. When you read “click Start/Programs/Accessories,” you need to click first on “Start” then click next on “Programs” then next on “Accessories”. The preceding sentence is an example of how the punctuation has been changed for technical purposes (the period ending the sentence is after the closing quote, while the rules of grammar state that it should have been inside the quote). Although I do not use a lot of these in my column in Atención, there are several other conventions you are likely to encounter in other publications: Braces frequently are used to show {optional} choices. The caret character [^] is sometimes used as shorthand for the [Ctrl] key, especially in older literature. In other words “^C” is the same as [Ctrl C] or [Ctrl+C]. The vertical bars character, also called a “pipe,” is sometimes used to separate commands such as Start | Programs | Accessories. On most keyboards, the pipe is located on the same key with the backslash [\]. An aside here is to note that what we today call the forward slash [/] key actually has some well-established history of being called a stroke, solidus, oblique dash, or virgule. The name “forward slash” was introduced only a few years ago, and simply to distinguish it from the backslash, which originated with the advent of computers and has no other name. Finally, the word “click” always assumes the left mouse button, while “right-click” is obviously the right mouse button. Congratulations! Now you know the secret of how to read not only this column but also all those computer books out there. Charles Miller is a
freelance computer consultant, a frequent visitor to San Miguel since 1981 and
now practically a full-time resident. He may be contacted at 044-415-153-8528 or
email FAQ@SMAguru.com |