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MLS: Lapse in a Compare files message?
Posted: 25 Jan 2013 09:44
by Flora_RMC
Don, please look at this:
3322 says: (2) Select another file in the file list (
need not be in same folder)
The same concept is repeated in the Help file.
But I use "Compare" quite often, and the second file
can be in the same folder, with no problem at all. Usually I compare 2 files in the same folder, in fact...

Re: MLS: Lapse in a Compare files message?
Posted: 25 Jan 2013 09:52
by admin
This is probably my bad English. I wanted to say: "It can be in the same folder, but does not have to be in the same folder." How would this be better said in English?
Re: MLS: Lapse in a Compare files message?
Posted: 25 Jan 2013 09:59
by j_c_hallgren
admin wrote:This is probably my bad English. I wanted to say: "It can be in the same folder, but does not have to be in the same folder." How would this be better said in English?
Maybe just as "Select another file in any file list" which makes it clearer that it doesn't have to be in current/same folder?
Re: MLS: Lapse in a Compare files message?
Posted: 25 Jan 2013 10:01
by Flora_RMC
admin wrote:This is probably my bad English. I wanted to say: "It can be in the same folder, but does not have to be in the same folder." How would this be better said in English?
Thank goodness! I was afraid my aging was getting worse...
As for the better english, your explanation here it's perfectly understandable, but I'm not the right person to tell. Let's wait for some native english speaker

Re: MLS: Lapse in a Compare files message?
Posted: 25 Jan 2013 10:04
by admin
j_c_hallgren wrote:admin wrote:This is probably my bad English. I wanted to say: "It can be in the same folder, but does not have to be in the same folder." How would this be better said in English?
Maybe just as "Select another file in any file list" which makes it clearer that it doesn't have to be in current/same folder?
Is "need not be in same folder" wrong? Is it not the same as "does not have to be in the same folder"?
Re: MLS: Lapse in a Compare files message?
Posted: 25 Jan 2013 10:07
by j_c_hallgren
admin wrote:j_c_hallgren wrote:admin wrote:This is probably my bad English. I wanted to say: "It can be in the same folder, but does not have to be in the same folder." How would this be better said in English?
Maybe just as "Select another file in any file list" which makes it clearer that it doesn't have to be in current/same folder?
Is "need not be in same folder" wrong? Is it not the same as "does not have to be in the same folder"?
Not wrong but not really needed if we make it less specific to current by using "any" (or "a") instead of "the"...
Re: MLS: Lapse in a Compare files message?
Posted: 25 Jan 2013 10:18
by admin
I don't want to change any text bits now. If it's understandable for English speakers then it's good enough.
Re: MLS: Lapse in a Compare files message?
Posted: 25 Jan 2013 10:30
by PeterH
admin wrote:I don't want to change any text bits now. If it's understandable for English speakers then it's good enough.
And let me say: I fully understood it, as a non-native speaker!
And to me it also feels quite correct.
(OK: might be as my thinking comes from German language, too.)
Re: MLS: Lapse in a Compare files message?
Posted: 31 Jan 2013 15:36
by aurumdigitus
How about, "Select any other file on the computer"? Concise, unambiguous.
(Reading this thread was struck by the number of regular contributors whose native language was not English. Your usage is better than my German ever was as an undergraduate!)
Re: MLS: Lapse in a Compare files message?
Posted: 31 Jan 2013 16:05
by admin
FYI, this is the context:
Code: Select all
---------------------------
XYplorer
---------------------------
Compare Current File With Previous File
In order to compare two files you need to do the following:
(1) Select one file in the file list
(2) Select another file in the file list (need not be in same folder)
Now these two files can be compared using the Compare command.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
I still think the current version is clear enough.