Don't know how many of the developers read -user, so am forwarding this. ;-) Randy Kramer
Hi there, I have followed the letters on this with interest. Until recently I earned some of my money by giving lessons in computing, often for beginners and especially in word processing. One of the topics that was guaranteed to come up was 'why do we have both Close and Exit'? In case it is of interest here is how I explained it. To avoid confusing things with unneccessary detail I assume that all documents have been saved as appropriate. File/Close and File/Exit do different jobs. 'Close' is concerned only with documents whereas 'Exit' deals with the word processing program itself. When a word processor program is first started, depending on which program you use, either a blank document will appear or there will be just the processor open with a shortened menu and no document. You can now create a new document either by starting to type or by using File/New and then typing. 'Close' will close down the current document. If there is another document already open then that document will now appear. If you 'Close' the last or only document the *program* will remain on screen with either a blank document open or just the WP with the shortened menu. ('Close' does not shut down the program). If there are no documents open, except the blank one, then 'Close' will do nothing at all. 'Exit' will shut down the word processor program and return you to the desktop. Any documents which are open will be closed down first. This explanation of the different purposes of 'Close' and 'Exit' always seemed to be easily understood. Except for having either a blank document open (eg Wordperfect) or just the WP with no document (eg Word) all programs that I have met have been consistent in that 'Close' and 'Exit' have different jobs to do as explained above. This is until I met Abiword! I find it confusing that 'Close' works as I expect unless there are no documents open in which case it becomes 'Exit'. I have been cought out several times. Not only is it inconsistent within the progam, but also it does not follow the methods that I have found in all other word processor programs that I have met. I hope that this is of interest Neil Winchurst ----------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word unsubscribe in the message body.
