Attach files?

[fuzm...@gmail.com]

the ubiquetis "Attach files" is really "attach a document"... it leads
one to wonder what country and language is the programming completed.
Why is it so wrong it won't allow you to attach anything like a file
just a bare document.
Is it that hard to get the proper terminology on a page. Or do you
think most users are idiots.

[Fanis Hatzidakis]

I'm not sure I understand. There are various languages you can set
your interface to. For example, in US English I see "Attach a file".
When I click on it, I can attach any file type. Does yours only let
you attach documents?

Fanis

[APB]

I wonder if the disconnect here is between tech-speak and ordinary English.

In ordinary English, a "file" is usually something that contains multiple items (pieces of paper, documents, etc.)  It can be synonymous with "folder".

In tech-speak, at least of the Windows variety, a file is a single item, be it a document or some other usable bit of stuff.

I don't know when/how the tech-speak "file" got started, but I know that it was confusing to me at first, and has confused innumerable clients of mine. (I do low-level computing support.)

[Fanis Hatzidakis]

I am aware of "file" having the meaning of a physical collection of
items, mostly documents. It never occured to me that "file" could be
confused for "folder" in a computer context, mostly because they are
usually mentioned together. "Go to the xxy folder and open the yyw
file". I suppose it could be an issue though.

Personally I find "Attach a file" pretty clear, but it could be
ambiguous for the first time user who may think a folder could also be
attached but can't select one in the file browser that pops up. How
would you remove the ambiguity?

Fanis

[APB]

I can vouch for it's being an issue!! I can remember back to my own
novice days, and I've had to explain it to lots of users.

As to how to remove the ambiguity? I don't think it's possible; the
word "file" meaning a single item is too firmly entrenched in the
culture of computing. Eventually there will be no more adult
first-timers to be confused about it.

For now, I usually just explain it ... as many times as it takes. I
just regret it when I don't get the chance to explain. (I distribute
customized music files to our local chorus, and there are all too many
folks who won't go near an attachment. Navigation boxes are too
scary!)

[Fanis Hatzidakis]

Perhaps some text of this sort to act as warning: "In order to attach
an entire folder with many files inside it, consider zipping it up
first". That would atleast give a hint when mentioned near "Attach a
file". Still, I don't know if that's a common use case. Most people
will just want to send a specific file, or only few (lets say
pictures). A whole folder? It sounds like a rare case, but ofcourse I
could simply not be thinking of the right use case for it.