Not A Bug, Just A Grammar Thing

[Nighted]

In the Configuration dialog on the Thumbnails tab it says "Show size of original image on thumbnail"

This is a bit misleading as it's actually dimensions that are shown. So it should read "Show dimensions of original image on thumbnail".

[j_c_hallgren]

Although it may not be 100% correct English grammar, IMO, "Size" can\should be used for this as it is the commonly used term for this measurement from what I've encountered...IfFanView uses it in this context also...and many other programs are similar...

That's where documentation comes into play...it can be more explicitly described there and thus allows a shorter, space-saving synonym to be used in menus and such.

[Nighted]

Again I must use explorer as an example. Size and Dimensions are used to describe two different things. XY should mimic windows terminology as it is a windows program designed for windows users.

Irfanview isn't the greatest example. Any professional style graphics program would use size to describe the files disk space used and dimensions to show the actual area in pixels.

[j_c_hallgren]

Ok...so then explain why Adobe Photoshop Elements (a more mainstream editor) has a menu option called ReSIZE which has sub-menu of "Image SIZE" which, I'll admit, then shows pixel values via Dimensions, but (and not intending or meaning to argue) in your reasoning, this process should thus be called ReDIMENSION, etc...however, in same box, there are values for Document SIZE, and not document dimension.

Also, this process of changing image size/dimensions is (AFAIK) commonly called resizing by numerous programs...thus, I still think that size can be used in both contexts, as long as it's reasonably obvious which is which....and I've never been confused by XY's use of the size verbiage.

Even W2k Help uses the term size in referring to windows and such, so...

Update: Googling on "thumbnail size" gives 7 million hits, including this one http://www.winxptutor.com/thumbnails.htm where...guess what...it lists the Registry value that controls it in XP Explorer...and the key is..ThumbnailSize...ok? Can't get any closer to accurate Windows terms than Registry keys, IMO...

Yes, the TweakUI window used to set it has as description "Thumbnail size specifies the dimensions (in pixels)...", which follows my theory: Use word dimension in documention only

Conclusion: I just updated the wiki description of this option to include the text "(dimensions in pixels)" to clarify for future users...ok?

[lukescammell]

Just to play devil's advocate here, I always believed that WE was wrong I know why it uses "Size" instead of "Dimensions" - it's shorter. But the more I talk to other people, the more I have to be correct and say that it's dimensions are too small, or the size is to big (wrt to emailing attachments).

I'm not 100% sure it should be changed to dimensions (still thinking about it) but dimensions is certainly more correct.

[j_c_hallgren]

Looked up both words in my 1500+pg American Heritage dictionary...

size : 1) The physical dimensions, proportions, magnitude, or extent of something. 2) Any of a series of graduated categories of dimension whereby manufactured articles are classified. 3) Considerable extent, amount, or dimensions.

dimension : A measure of spatial extent, especially width, height, or length. 2) Extent; magnitude; size; scope. (3 & 4 relate to math & physics)

Then looked online at Wikipedia...the entry for "size" has as first definition as "Dimensions: length, width, height" and the last definition is "In computing, filesize".
So from this, it seems that the words are essentially synonyms...I've tended to attempt to use 'filesize' or 'file size' for nbr of bytes and size for height and width, but most often just use the context to determine which type of usage that 'size' refers to.

[lukescammell]

The fact that "size" is defined by "Dimensions: length, width, height" should tell you something about dimensions being "more correct" for length, width and height measurements (eg 1024×768 pixels)

[j_c_hallgren]

I'm not disagreeing that dimensions may well be more grammatically correct in a perfect English world...I'm just saying that "thumbnail size" is much more commonly used than "thumbnail dimensions", as evidenced by number of hits on Google for each phase...here are total hits for each quoted phrase: Dimensions = 14,800 and Size = 503,000...that puts dimensions usage at 2.9% of size...
When doing Google with unquoted combinations, Dimensions gets 'about 1,560,000' hits while Size gets 'about 12,700,000' which makes about 12% usage for dimensions.
Based on those stats, it seems the Net and computing world has adopted the term size for thumbnails as the preferred word.

And as somewhat of a veteran here, I certainly do not want to offend any new users, so this is strictly based on what I believe is more understandable for all users, ok?

Update: Just thought of what may be part of reason size is used for thumbnails to describe dimensions: They are rarely, if ever, stored as a separate file on a system, and are often generated on-the-fly, so that storage file size (in bytes) never really comes into play.

[admin]

In the Configuration dialog on the Thumbnails tab it says "Show size of original image on thumbnail"

This is a bit misleading as it's actually dimensions that are shown. So it should read "Show dimensions of original image on thumbnail".

I agree.

[Nighted]

Thank you.

[lukescammell]

I'm just saying that "thumbnail size" is much more commonly used than "thumbnail dimensions"

No offence taken JC, hopefully none given What you say is correct, but just because size is so ambiguous is reason enough to not use it. Just because dimensions is more accurate is why it gets my vote. Size can be interpreted either way, whereas dimensions cannot. Agreed that some EFL people may not know what dimensions is to start with, but a quick dictionary check will let them know precisely what it means, rather than "well it could be file size or dimensions".

This kinda reminds me of "PIN". Most people say "PIN number", which basically means Personal Identification Number number. Just because it's the most common doesn't mean it should be used, especially in dimensions case here as it is actually more descriptive of what it's doing.