Re: Comments on dialog proposal

[Michael Rogers <banthafodder connectfree co uk>]

Adam Elman wrote:
> But if the settings have already been applied, "OK" _misleads_ the
> user to think that the settings have not been applied until s/he
> clicks the button.

Either the user can see the changes taking place, or not. (For example,
if you're configuring the colour of your titlebars it will be obvious
that your changes have been applied. If you're changing a tooltip, it
won't be obvious. If you're changing the desktop background, it might or
might not be obvious.) If the user *can* see the changes taking place,
he/she will not be persuaded otherwise by the presence of an OK button.
(For most people, the evidence of the senses will overwhelm any doubts
arising from the ambiguous meaning of 'OK'.) If the user *can't* see the
changes taking place, he/she needs to know whether the changes will be
in force after the dialog is closed. An 'OK' button provides that
information, while a 'Close' button does not.

A user who is aware that the changes have already been applied will not
be confused by the presence of an OK button. A user who isn't aware that
the changes have already been applied will be puzzled by the absence of
an OK button. So an OK button confuses 0/2 users, and the absence of an
OK button confuses 1/2 users. QED.  ;-)

Michael