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I have this link that opens a modal popup where the user can add, modify and delete elements. This link was formerly called "Add/Modify/Delete element".

This label is used repeatedly through my application, because there are several types of elements the user can Add, modify or delete (and an associated modal popup for each one of them)

I think this label is bad because it is too long and I guess the final user has to read it all before he/she can identify what type of element he/she can add,modify or delete.

So I came with possible other suggestions like "Edit element" and "Manage element", but I don't know if it is correct?

Is there a better way of solving this problem?

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  • "Maintain" used to be very common for this, but it seems to have fallen out of fashion recently. Jan 24, 2014 at 10:55
  • What do you mean recently!!? ;)
    – kBisla
    Jan 24, 2014 at 11:50

5 Answers 5

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You are absolutely right, that current label is very poor.

I would recommend

Edit Element

Although edit by its self would be better, but it does depend on the context.

You will find this list of guidelines set out by Microsoft helpful to get your terminology correct.

Also see this question as it is related to this but on the subject of Exit. Credit to @Heng-Cheong Leong for that link in the other question I mentioned

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You have the option of using a noun instead of a verb:

Element Manager

or

Elements Editor

I found these by thinking of something I already have a curation tool for (in this case my bookmarks) and then went looking to see what terminology was used there ("Bookmarks Manager" here in Chrome).

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I think Manage Element is suitable, because this word mean contain all operation which performed like add, update and delete.

Because In many software they use word like "Manage your application" and what we do in it ? Ans is simple. Add, update and delete. So "Manage Element" is Good from my point of view.

"Edit", "Update" and "Modify" are with same meaning. You can only change existing data which are already present, No add and Delete in it. So its good to avoid that.

You can also use "Invoke Element Manager" if you can bit long label with something new.

So you have two selection

Manage Element

And

Invoke Element Manager
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  • 1
    "Invoke Element Manager?" That invokes my obsolete phrase manager :P
    – user23463
    Jan 24, 2014 at 16:37
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Instead of words, I think icons are probably a better way to go. You can make them however big or small you want to fit whatever space requirements you have. And they just look cleaner than words that are repeated for every element.

For add, delete, and modify you can use plus, minus, and pencil icons:

add delete modify

If you are going to be opening modals for each specific action, you could have all three icons by the elements. However, if you simply want to open one modal where all actions can be performed, you just need the pencil icon.

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  • Absolutely! Especially when you've got a long list of items, it's pretty tiresome to see "edit" "edit" "edit" ... all the way down. Jan 24, 2014 at 18:14
  • @KenMohnkern - Exactly. It's just a cleaner approach that is more visually appealing, in my opinion. Jan 24, 2014 at 18:21
  • You’d still need a suitable name (for example for screenreaders).
    – unor
    Jan 26, 2014 at 16:21
  • @unor - that's what the alt attribute is for. Jan 26, 2014 at 20:25
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    @unor - Ok ... gotcha, it was what I originally thought you meant. You simply use the alt attribute to describe each action for the icons: add element, delete element, edit element. My original point still stands in the sense that you don't want textual links repeated throughout the page, as that would look horrible. Icons would be suitable enough for the visually capable users. For screen readers, the alt attribute can be as descriptive as you want it to be. You aren't bound by visual design. Jan 27, 2014 at 15:27
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I would either go for 'Manage Elements' or 'Actions'. Actions can include any kind of action that user can perform in that page. It is also understandable to a layman and makes it intuitive. I will not go with Edit as edit is not add or modify. IMHO, Users should be able to pick cues from looking at the control and guess what action it is going to perform.

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