Hello Krzysztof,

Your question is really a matter of style, which is up to you, or up to the 
company for which you are writing.

As for how the + key is generally referenced, there are two cases:

1. Applications usually don't care which plus key you press. In this case, just 
say "the <keycap>+</keycap> key" or "the + key" without <keycap>, and let the 
user choose which key to press. Using the <keycap> element allows you to style 
all instances with a special font or other marking, but there is no requirement 
to use it.

2. In rare cases, an application might assign special meaning to the plus key 
on the numeric keypad, independent of the one that shares the = key (on US 
English keyboards). In this case, I usually make the distinction explicit: "the 
<keycap>+<keycap> key on the numeric keypad". Others may have other suggestions.

There is never a need to explicitly show how to type, as in Shift +=, unless 
you're writing about a basic how-to-type program. If your readers don't know 
how to get a + to show onscreen, they are in bigger trouble than your software 
manual can provide!


-----Original Message-----
From: Krzysztof Żelechowski [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 1:02 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [docbook] How do I tell keycap+ from keycap keypad+

Dnia czwartek, 13 stycznia 2011 o 15:57:47 Krzysztof Żelechowski napisał(a):
> How do I tell
> 
>  <keycap >+</keycap >
> 
> from 
> 
>  <keycap >+</keycap >
> 
> where one of them is in the keypad and should be rendered with a gray 
> background?
> 

Additionally, I feel uneasy about the keycap concept in general.  How do I 
write "please press '+'"?  

  * <keycap >+</keycap>?
  * <keycap >Shift</keycap > <keycap >+</keycap >?
  * <keycap >Shift</keycap > <keycap>=</keycap >?
  * <keycap >Shift</keycap > <keycap>+/=</keycap >?
  * anything else?

Chris

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