emacs-pretest-bug
[Top][All Lists]
Advanced

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

RE: Custom-reset-standard has different menu names


From: Drew Adams
Subject: RE: Custom-reset-standard has different menu names
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 10:35:40 -0800

        I believe that `Custom-reset-standard' resets the current
        setting of a
        preference (face or variable) to the installed (standard)
        setting, and
        it also updates the user's custom-file to reflect this. That is, it
        removes any saved customization for the preference.

        Perhaps this updating of the custom-file is the reason that this
        particular resetting is the only one that is not called
        "Reset"... If
        so, "Erase Customization" is not more clear - it can give
        the opposite
        impression that it just erases editing or setting changes in the
        Customize buffer.

    The old name wasn't clear either.  Can anyone come up with a name that
    really is clearer than either of these?

Well, if what was unclear about the old name was that it did not mention
that your custom file was modified, then how about one of these:

 - "Default"
 - "Default Values"
 - "Reset to Default"
 - "Reset to Installed (Save)"
 - "Use Installed Settings (Save)"
 - "Use Installed Settings for Future Sessions"
 - "Save Standard Settings"
 - "Save Installed Settings"

The pb with the last two is that they can give an impression that the
standard settings were somehow changed and need to be saved.

Perhaps a better approach is to _separate saving from resetting_, so that
resetting to standard becomes just like the other reset buttons and doesn't
also change the init file. That is, to do what "Erase Customization" does
now, a user would need to 1) click "Default Values", then 2) click "Save".
Without #2, only the current session would be affected.

BTW -

1. I prefer "installed" or "default" to "standard, in general, because they
say more what we _mean_ by "standard".

2. We might want to use "(Save)" in all cases where "for Future Sessions" is
currently used. It is just as clear, I think, and is more succinct.

3. In some other UIs, the terms used are:

 - "Reset": reset to last-saved personal settings
 - "Default": reset to installed settings
 - "Clear": just reset the edit fields = reset to last values "set" but not
saved (last confirmed changes). However, this sometimes means to _empty_ the
edit fields, not to reset them. Sometimes "Undo" is available to reset the
edit fields to the last set values, and "Clear" empties the fields.

HTH,

  Drew





reply via email to

[Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread]