Re: [Usability] Save As or Export when going to lossey formats?

[Steven Garrity <stevelist silverorange com>]

Alan Horkan wrote:
> A few applications (but not many) include an Export menu for formats like
> PNG or other raster graphics where data will be lost (and usually there is
> no corresponding open/import for that format).
> (I realise the Gnome Human Interface Guidelines recommend using the
> term Sava a Copy instead of Export, but in some applications Export did
> have more meaning to it than that).
>
> I'm wondering if this is actually a good idea because I was reading some
> release notes for Adobe Photoshop 7.0 and it explains that it has gotten
> rid of the concept of 'Export' (with the exception of legacy plugins that
> require it).  I'd like to believe that they put some thought into the
> change and that might be some usability basis to it.
>
> So is seperating out lossy file formats to the Export a good idea, and if
> so when is and isn't it a good idea?

I look forward to hearing what people think about this. We've run into 
the issue on the Gnome Outliner project [1] and we have opted to go for 
"Export" for lossy formats.

Gimp merges export into Save As... but prompts you to export if you 
choose a lossy format.

Steven Garrity

[1] http://gnomeoutliner.sourceforge.net/