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Platform consistency has to come first, but I agree with the argument that OK/Cancel is backwards. Apple chose those labels (as Cancel/OK) for the buttons in t
by quesera 14y ago
Platform consistency has to come first, but I agree with the argument that OK/Cancel is backwards.
Apple chose those labels (as Cancel/OK) for the buttons in the original Mac dialogs in 1984. They tested other pairs, but those two labels won. With those two labels, order matters a lot.
"Cancel" is the more meaningful word of the two. You've just told the user that something unexpected will happen if they proceed. "OK" can be construed to mean "OK, well then obviously don't do that!"
So yeah, platform consistency first. But Apple tested that stuff back in the early 80s, those two labels won, and (in addition to all the reasonable arguments in the article), that's the only rational order for those two labels. Microsoft got it backwards and trained millions of people by confusing them until they learned. Gnome aped Microsoft.
And here we are.
- anigbrowl 14y ago"Cancel" is the more meaningful word of the two. You've just told the user that something unexpected will happen if they proceed. "OK" can be construed to mean "OK, well then obviously don't do that!" Eh, that's rubbish. I did IT support for almost a decade in two countries and not once did I hear anyone express confusion about that.
- ars 14y agoActually Cancel/OK is backwards. :) I had to swap their positions in firefox - one of the first things I changed when I ran it for the first time. > "OK" can be construed to mean "OK, well then obviously don't do that!" And yes can be construed to mean "yes don't do that" - come on, that's a completely ridiculous argument!
- quesera 14y ago"OK" can mean: "ok yes you've changed my mind, I agree, bad idea". "Cancel" never means: "cancel and proceed".
- nathan_long 14y ago"Do you really want to cancel?" Cancel/OK
- SimHacker 14y agoDouble clicking a "No" button should mean yes, of course.
- naner 14y agoGnome currently apes Apple. Positive actions are on the right.