User Actions
This section defines a list of user actions in the GNOME Desktop.
- activate [Accessibility documentation]
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Definition: Use this verb to describe the action of clicking on a user interface control, such as a button, when it is not appropriate to use the verb click. For example, use this verb if you are writing instructions for users who are unable to use a mouse. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: Activate the applet control that has focus, if applicable. - choose
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Definition: To pick a course of action or assign a course of action. Usage: Normal text rules. Example 1: Choose to start the Calculator application. Example 2: On the Run Application dialog, use the drop-down combination box to choose an application to run. - click on, click
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Definition: Press and release the left mouse button on an item once.
You can differentiate between click on and click as follows:
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Click on: Use this verb when you refer to most interactive elements in the GNOME Desktop, such as:
- GNOME-specific buttons.
- Buttons that represent commands that are not frequently used.
- All interactive elements other than buttons, such as column headings.
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Click: Use this verb when you refer to frequently-used command buttons, for example:
Usage: Normal text rules. Example 1: Click OK. Example 2: To hide a panel, click on one of the hide buttons. -
- click-and-hold
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Definition: Press and hold the left mouse button on an item. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: Click-and-hold the left mouse button to initiate the capture area. - close
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Definition: To remove a window, dialog, or user interface component from the GNOME Desktop. Use in conjunction with display and open. Usage: Normal text rules. Example 1: To close a window, choose . Example 2: Click to close the dialog. Note: Do not use quit in this context. - collapse
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Definition: To close an open item in a tree structure. The Tree tabbed pane in the Nautilus file manager is a tree structure. To collapse a folder in the Tree tabbed pane, click on the arrow next to the folder. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: You can expand and collapse the folders in the Tree tabbed pane. - configure
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- customize
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- delete
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Definition: To remove an item permanently. Usage: Normal text rules. Example 1: When you delete a file or folder, the file or folder is not moved to Trash, but is deleted from your file system immediately. Example 2: To delete a panel from the GNOME Desktop, right-click on the panel that you want to delete, then choose . Note: Do not use remove to describe the deletion of an item that you cannot add back to the GNOME Desktop. - deselect
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Definition: To switch off a behavioral characteristic in a dialog. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: Deselect the Display tooltips option to switch off tooltips. Note: Do not use unselect when you refer to switching off a binary option.
Do not use deselected for a binary option that is switched off. Use unselected instead.
- display
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Definition: Use this verb when an item is not already open somewhere in the GNOME Desktop. The item needs to be opened, added, or launched. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: To display the Background Preferences dialog, right-click on the desktop, then choose . - double-click on
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Definition: To press and release the left mouse button on an item twice, in rapid succession. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: To start an application from the desktop, double-click on the application launcher. - drag
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Definition: To click a mouse button on an object, hold the mouse button, and move the mouse to move the object. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: Drag the launcher to the panel. Note: Avoid using the term drag and drop. - duplicate
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Definition: To create an exact copy of an object. The new object is created in the same location as the original object. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: Select the file or folder that you want to duplicate. Note: When you duplicate an object, the object is not copied to the clipboard. - enter
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Definition: Use this verb to describe the following:
- To input data into a text box or field by using a combination of typing from the keyboard, and then either pressing a key or clicking on a button.
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To either:
- Type data in a text box, or field.
- Click on a button and select a value from a predefined list of values
Usage: Normal text rules. Example 1: The following example describes a File text box with a Browse button beside it where you can either type the name or click Browse to select a name:
Enter a name for the output file in the File text box.
Example 2: Click on the calculator buttons to enter numbers and mathematical functions. Note: Where possible, use specify instead of enter. - execute
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Definition: Instruct your computer to perform a command. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: Execute the following command to list the contents of the directory: ls Note 1: Execute implies that you type a command at the command line, then press Return. Execute implies a single action that the computer performs. Note 2: See also run. - exit
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Definition: To stop an application from running. Exit implies normal cessation of application activity. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: If you close the last window, the application exits. Note: See also quit. - expand
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Definition: To open a closed item in a tree structure. The Tree tabbed pane in the Nautilus file manager is a tree structure. To expand a folder in the Tree tabbed pane, click on the arrow next to the folder. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: You can expand and collapse the folders in the Tree tabbed pane. - grab
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Definition: To point to the edge of a window frame, or corner of a window, and click to take hold of the window. After a grab action you usually drag the object. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: To resize the window, grab the border and drag the border to the new size. - left-click on
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Definition: To press and release the left mouse button on an item once. Use this term when you want to avoid ambiguity when describing an action that also involves a middle-click or a right-click. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: You can left-click on the application icons in the Window List applet to maximize and minimize application windows. - log in, verb
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Definition: To supply a username and password to gain access to a session. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: Select this option to display a splash screen when you log in. Note 1: You log in to a session, not your workstation, system, or workspace. Note 2: Use log in rather than log on. Note 3: See also login. - log out, verb
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Definition: To terminate a session. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: To log out of your session or shut down your system, click on the button. Note 1: You log out of a session, not your workstation, system, or workspace. Note 2: Use log out rather than log off. Note 3: See also logout. - middle-click on
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Definition: To press and release the middle mouse button on an item once. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: To move an applet, middle-click on the applet. - middle-click and hold
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Definition: To press and hold the middle mouse button on an item. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: To move a panel, middle-click and hold, then drag the panel to the new location. - modify
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Definition: To change specific parameters in an application. Use this verb to refer to making specific changes to the preferences or properties of an item. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: You can modify animation preferences for your panels. Note: See also configure, customize. - open
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Definition: To open any user interface component. Examples of items that you can open include: - menu
- menu
- menu
- menu
- menu
- Panel popup menu
- Panel object popup menu
Usage: Normal text rules. Example: Right-click on a panel object to open the panel object popup menu. - point to
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Definition: To position the pointer over a particular object or location without clicking. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: When you point to the submenu icon a tooltip appears. Note: Use point to instead of point at. - press
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Definition: Use this verb to describe keyboard input. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: Press Return to execute the command. - press-and-hold
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Definition: To press one or more keys and hold down the keys. Typically, you press-and-hold keys while you press another key. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: Press-and-hold Ctrl+Alt and continue to press Tab to switch the focus between the desktop and the panels. - quit
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Definition: To abruptly stop an application, without necessarily completing current tasks. Quit implies a sudden or unexpected cessation of activity. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: To quit the application without saving your current project, select Ctrl+Q. Note: See also exit. - remove
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Definition: To remove an item or functionality that you can add back to the GNOME Desktop. When you remove an item the item is not visible to the user. When you remove functionality, the functionality is not active in the GNOME Desktop. Usage: Normal text rules. Example 1: To remove an object from a panel, right-click on the object, then choose . Example 2: To remove a file type or a service, select the item that you want to remove, then click . Note: Do not use delete to describe the removal of an item that you can add back to the GNOME Desktop. - right-click on
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Definition: To press and release the right mouse button on an item once. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: Right-click on any part of a panel to open the panel popup menu. - run
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Definition: To change the status of an application, program, or script from continuously inactive to continuously active. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: To run the Terminal application, execute the following command: gnome-terminal Note 1: Run implies a continuous flow of activity. Note 2: See also execute. - select (1)
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Definition: To identify an object as the object on which an action is to be performed. For example, the object can be text, one or more desktop launchers, a folder in the Nautilus Tree tabbed pane, and so on. When you select objects, they usually appear highlighted. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: In the Menu Editor window, select the menu to which you want to add a submenu. Note: Do not use choose or highlight in this context.
Refer to the text that is selected as the selection, selected text, selected menu, and so on.
- select (2)
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Definition: To pick an item that assigns a behavioral characteristic, value, or parameter from a predefined value or a predefined set of values. Usage: Normal text rules. Example 1: Select the Display tooltips option to display tooltips when you start a GNOME session. Example 2: To change the size of the panel, select a size from the Panel size drop-down list. Note: Do not use select to describe more complex methods of inputting information. Use specify instead. - selected/unselected
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Definition: Use these terms to describe the on or off state of a binary choice in a dialog. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: The default state of the Display tooltips option is unselected. Note: Do not use deselected for a binary option that is switched off.
Do not use unselect when you refer to switching off a binary option. Use deselect instead.
- show
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Definition: Use this verb when an item is already open somewhere in the GNOME Desktop, but hidden. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: To show more options, click on the button. - specify
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Definition: Use the verb specify to describe more complex methods of inputting information. Use specify when referring to a dialog element such as a drop-down combination box, spin box, slider, text box. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: Use the Minimum size spin box to specify the minimum width of the window list buttons. Note: Do not use specify with simpler dialog elements such as check boxes and radio buttons. Use select instead. - start
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- terminate
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Definition: To stop a system process permanently. Usage: Normal text rules. Tags: Prose tag rules. Example: To terminate a process, choose . Note: Do not use kill except where quoting the user interface. - triple-click on
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Definition: Press and release the left mouse button on an item three times in rapid succession. Usage: Normal text rules. Example: To select a line at a time, triple-click on the first line that you want to select and drag the mouse to the last line that you want to select. - type
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Definition: To type text from the keyboard. Usage: Normal text rules. Example 1: Type the content of the document in the gedit window. Example 2: Type man ghex at the command line prompt and press Return. Example 3: Type a name for the drawer in the Tooltip Name text box.