There is inter-tool inconsistency in how buttons or action links are labelled.
For example:
*Discussion Tool:
-User clicks Add Category link, edits info, then clicks Create Category button to save (post?) the new category.
-User clicks Add Topic link, edits info, then clicks a button also called Add Topic to save (post?) the topic.
*Announcements Tool:
-User clicks Add link, edits info, then clicks Add Announcement button to save (post?) announcement.
*Assignments Tool:
-User clicks New Assignment, edits info, then clicks Post button.
*Schedule Tool:
-User clicks New Event link, edits info, then clicks Save Event button.
Similary, links or buttons to edit are called edit, revise properties, revise, update, and modify depending upon which tool you are in and links to save are called save, save changes, update, post, etc.
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In my opinion, we're in need of consistent terminology, so I would suggest:
Add <content type>: for starting the process of creating a new content item
Edit: for starting the process of making any changes to already existing items (fewer characters than revise & besides revise has different meanings if you're American vs. English, etc.)
Post: for saving messages, announcements, discussion items, events.
Save: for saving changes to settings, preferences, site tools etc.
Save as Draft: for saving drafts of discussion items (does this apply anywhere else?)
Delete: for permanently deleting an item
Remove: for removing an item from a display but not deleting the item; for example, removing an attached resource from an announcement, but the resource still exists in the Resources section.
Any comments, dissenting opinions, suggestions?
Just a follow-up, the Sakai 1.5 Style Guide lists the following as correct:
add <something> - _
remove <something>
edit <something>
I believe that remove has a different meaning than delete – remove in many software programs refers to a non-destructive process - such as removing a clip from a timeline while not actually deleting it. Since the process of removing/deleting an item cannot be undone and the item is deleted from the database, I think delete should be used. If you Google "delete vs. remove" you'll find some interesting discussion on the topic.
According to the Microsoft style guide:
Do not use remove to mean delete. Remove is correct, however, to refer to removing (not permanently deleting) items such as toolbar buttons or column headings in programs such as Outlook to customize an interface.
Oracle guidelines similarly state:
Remove: Removes object(s) from temporary storage or from UI without deletion from DB, such as "Remove from Shopping Cart"
http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/blaf/specs/language.html#action