Thanks Peter,
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks of it as awkward. Yes, the terminology
certainly comes from Object Oriented programming, but it’s really only the data
aspect with which we’re concerned.
The ancient RDB data-mapping part of my brain thinks of it as an “entity”, but
for a non-technical end user either would be inappropriate and even less useful
than the original “object type”.
Perhaps that’s a clue: I should be looking for a conversational synonym for
“entity” rather than “object”. Indeed, really a synonym for the more accurate
“entity type”.
Thanks,
Nick
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Peter Martin
Sent: Wednesday, 11 October 2017 12:04 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Synonym for Object
Nick
This is an awkward one, or at least looks like one. Forgive me if I'm
saying stuff you already know and understand. (And others might know
differently).
But it sounds as though you are wanting a label for something that derives from
programming which handles data and functions or methods within the one entity
(otherwise known as Object-Oriented Programming).
Earlier forms of programming made a clear distinctions between data to be used
in a program and stored in one or more nominated areas largely separate from
the code instructions (functions) which access that data by reference to a
particular data address.
More recent programming practice (C++, Java) creates an object which holds data
but also incorporates the program instructions (methods) to access that data
in the same combined area or container. That makes some things easier.
You build the object with its methods as one preparatory stage of programming
and set up areas within the object for all the relevant data related to that
object, and probably create the object with some already-predetermined data.
(e.g.a bird object has 2 wings initially, a mammal is a suckler).
Then when you want to run a full scale program you declare which objects you
want to use, and then only have simple main line programs that call the methods
on each object if you need to reset or change its data. You also usually have
inheritance, so that you can have a logical 'tree" of objects that have similar
characteristics in some areas but different ones in others, making up say, a
taxonomy. You get advantages of some re-use of code in lots of different
areas if you get it right.
Ok. Just cut that down to a word or two and you should be right.. :-)
Point is, an object is both Data and Programming in one entity. You don't
get a lot of conversations about that in the pub.
Wikipedia has it as : a language mechanism for binding data with methods that
operate on that data. Hmm.
I seriously doubt if there's an equivalent other word in popular use, and if it
were me, I'd be assuming I'd have to include a quick explanation of an object
in that context as meaning something like collection of both data and
programming instructions.
-Peter M
On 11 October 2017 at 12:13, Nick Shears
<nshears@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:nshears@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Hi Aus Techies
Can anyone help me find an alternative to the technical noun “Object” for
non-technical users of an app?
A screen has several labels using ”Type” with different qualifiers.
All refer to one of two things, so I’m proposing use of just two labels: “Type”
preceded by one of two qualifiers.
On this screens, end-users will define custom fields which they can then use on
different types of records they maintain.
Some labels will now all be “Field Type”. (Text field, text area, radio
buttons, etc.)
Others are currently “Object Type”, or “Type”, or unlabeled. (Example values:
Speaker or Session, since the app is for event automation.) What would you use
instead?
The users are non-technical, so although developers are intimately familiar
with “object”, we need an alternative. I’ve suggested “Record Type”, but have
been asked if there’s something else.
I’ve found nothing in the Microsoft Style Guide or Merriam Webster (the users
are largely American), nor in what’s left of my brain. No equivalent term is
used elsewhere in the app or its documentation. I don’t consider “Data”
applicable. I’d like something conversational, but can’t find it.
Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Nick
