Reorganizing History Data

[admin]

While I now tend to think that "Embed" should replace "Merge" (which for me connotes something irreversible) in the interface, I have the following idea for marketing purposes: decentralized functionality.

Sorry, but to me that term (decentralized functionality) means absolutely nothing in this context...I still think that combined or consolidated are better terms for this since they don't imply being irreversible in all cases.

With merged catalogs XY goes a step towards being a file-based project management tool for distributed teams, a networked file manager. This should be told somehow.

[j_c_hallgren]

With merged catalogs XY goes a step towards being a file-based project management tool for distributed teams, a networked file manager. This should be told somehow.

Agreed and understood...but I think that needs to be somewhat separate from how this specific feature is described...and the networked thing can't be done in a couple of words, at least no two words I can think of...a few words, maybe...but "merged" catalogs can be done in two words, I'm sure.

[Stefan]

With merged catalogs XY goes a step towards being a file-based project management tool for distributed
teams, a networked file manager. This should be told somehow.

Cool! Like the old Lirpa from Ekoj?

[admin]

With merged catalogs XY goes a step towards being a file-based project management tool for distributed teams, a networked file manager. This should be told somehow.

Agreed and understood...but I think that needs to be somewhat separate from how this specific feature is described...and the networked thing can't be done in a couple of words, at least no two words I can think of...a few words, maybe...but "merged" catalogs can be done in two words, I'm sure.

I think the main problem is the word "catalog" itself, because a newbie will not know what it means in XY. Functionally it's kind of a scrollable macro toolbar, a freely programmable area in the UI, where complex things can be reduced to single clicks. Now with embedded catalogs (trying the other term now... ) writing the complex parts can be outsourced to savvy coders, and all you need to do is to "embed the wisdom" (or e.g. the boss's orders). And many users can embed the same remote catalog. You could even abuse it as a new communication channel, XY as a chat machine...

[admin]

With merged catalogs XY goes a step towards being a file-based project management tool for distributed
teams, a networked file manager. This should be told somehow.

Cool! Like the old Lirpa from Ekoj?

? You mean "eine der schrecklichsten vulkanischen Waffen." ?

[j_c_hallgren]

I think the main problem is the word "catalog" itself, because a newbie will not know what it means in XY.

But given the traditional definition of the word ("a complete enumeration of items arranged systematically with descriptive details), they should have some idea of what it could be...and remember: They might have to read a least a paragraph to understand it...there are some things in my lite/limited vers of Photoshop that I still don't understand even after a few years

[admin]

BTW, marketingwise I find "Catalog Merging" a bit pale. Any buzzy suggestions anybody...?

You didn't like the first name I gave it then? "Cascading Catalogs"

I was thinking of Consolidated -or- Combined as suggested words.

Combine is not bad IMO. Combined Catalogs has a good sound. But combine connotes equal weight of the combined parts, whereas we have a clear parent-child relation here, which is better conveyed by Embed. Embed, however, does not describe the particular "mechanics of merging" (where the merged items are sorted into their existing categories) as good as the term "merge". Merge is perfect apart from the fact that is sounds irreversible. So it's a "reversible merge". Maybe that's something so revolutionary that there isn't a word for it yet...

Consolidate... I don't really know that word. And looking it up brings up a variety of meanings...

[j_c_hallgren]

But combine connotes equal weight of the combined parts,

Not quite true...you combine flour and butter and eggs in a recipe and they don't have the same weight...which makes me think about this word: "blended catalog" since one definition of blend is "to combine into an integrated whole".

whereas we have a clear parent-child relation here,

Huh? We do? That would require a multi-level catalog which we don't have, AFAIK. Each catalog has a single parent/child setup and when brought together, the parents act as brother/sister, I think.

Re consolidate: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consolidate
Which mentions other possible words: Joined or United

And http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/consolidate which defines it as
to bring together (separate parts) into a single or unified whole; unite; combine: They consolidated their three companies.
so it seems like a good word for this situation.

To me, consolidated has somewhat of a higher 'class' to it than combined and sounds more techy.

[admin]

But combine connotes equal weight of the combined parts,

Not quite true...you combine flour and butter and eggs in a recipe and they don't have the same weight...which makes me think about this word: "blended catalog" since one definition of blend is "to combine into an integrated whole".

whereas we have a clear parent-child relation here,

Huh? We do? That would require a multi-level catalog which we don't have, AFAIK. Each catalog has a single parent/child setup and when brought together, the parents act as brother/sister, I think.

Re consolidate: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consolidate
Which mentions other possible words: Joined or United

And http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/consolidate which defines it as
to bring together (separate parts) into a single or unified whole; unite; combine: They consolidated their three companies.
so it seems like a good word for this situation.

To me, consolidated has somewhat of a higher 'class' to it than combined and sounds more techy.

I meant parent-child in a more general sense, like planet and moons. There is the one catalog that's loaded (the parent) and all the currently merged catalogs; it's different roles.

I *guess* that non-mother tongue speakers will have more problems with consolidate than with merge, or embed, or combine, or join.

"Joined" is not bad... less irreversible than merged, isn't it?

[j_c_hallgren]

I meant parent-child in a more general sense, like planet and moons. There is the one catalog that's loaded (the parent) and all the currently merged catalogs; it's different roles.

I believe that concept would be hard to explain...maybe using terms primary and secondary (or similar) would be more appropriate when it's not a true parent/child because when I think parent/child, it's a nested situation like tree and this is more of a flat/parallel situation it seems.

I *guess* that non-mother tongue speakers will have more problems with consolidate than with merge, or embed, or combine, or join.

That could be true...so then I'd go for combine of those four choices...partially because it begins with "C" and thus goes with "C"atalog nicely.

"Joined" is not bad... less irreversible than merged, isn't it?

Could be..I've seen unilities that "join" files and they produce a single output file so the inputs are still unchanged and that's what we're doing in a way.

[admin]

"Joined" is not bad... less irreversible than merged, isn't it?

Could be..I've seen unilities that "join" files and they produce a single output file so the inputs are still unchanged and that's what we're doing in a way.

Yes, Join and Split is a common pair. So join can be reversed. And it has a positive ring to it, related to the team work concept that's behind the Catalog Merging feature. And, last not least, Joint Catalogs abbreviates to JC, Mr j_c_hallgren!

[Stefan]

It's hard to find an good idea, ...some more to think about

Code: Select all

  temporary catalog merging         TCM
  temporary catalog joining         TCJ
  non-permanent catalog merging     NPCM
  non-destructive catalog blending  NDCB
  temporary catalog mixing          TCM
  temporary catalog melting         TCM

[admin]

It's hard to find an good idea, ...some more to think about

Code: Select all

  temporary catalog merging         TCM
  temporary catalog joining         TCJ
  non-permanent catalog merging     NPCM
  non-destructive catalog blending  NDCB
  temporary catalog mixing          TCM
  temporary catalog melting         TCM

TCM is known as Traditional Chinese Medicine. This might lead to confusion...

[admin]

"Joined" is not bad... less irreversible than merged, isn't it?

Could be..I've seen unilities that "join" files and they produce a single output file so the inputs are still unchanged and that's what we're doing in a way.

Yes, Join and Split is a common pair. So join can be reversed. And it has a positive ring to it, related to the team work concept that's behind the Catalog Merging feature. And, last not least, Joint Catalogs abbreviates to JC, Mr j_c_hallgren!

Join is out (because of the usage "join the club", which makes "join the catalog" ambiguous).

My current favorite is combine. Speak up in the next 12 hours to object...

[admin]

"Joined" is not bad... less irreversible than merged, isn't it?

Could be..I've seen unilities that "join" files and they produce a single output file so the inputs are still unchanged and that's what we're doing in a way.

Yes, Join and Split is a common pair. So join can be reversed. And it has a positive ring to it, related to the team work concept that's behind the Catalog Merging feature. And, last not least, Joint Catalogs abbreviates to JC, Mr j_c_hallgren!

Join is out (because of the usage "join the club", which makes "join the catalog" ambiguous).

My current favorite is combine. Speak up in the next 12 hours to object...

Argh, more problems! If you compare the following statements, I *think* (not being a born English speaker) that the first one has a clearer reference/meaning in the way it is intended:

This item is from a Merged Catalog. Any edits are not retained across sessions.
This item is from a Combined Catalog. Any edits are not retained across sessions.

"Merged Catalog" seems to refer to the catalog that was merged into the existing one, whereas "Combined Catalog" rather refers to the combination of both (all) combined catalogs. Right?