Text Capitalization
These rules apply for text rendered to the user (e.g. GUI labels, console output, etc.). CamelCase is forbidden, except if you use a proper name that is already in camel case, like OpenWalnut, OpenSceneGraph, etc. Furthermore, there are two styles of capitalization used in OpenWalnut user interface elements:
Header capitalization
Capitalize all words in the element, with the following exceptions:
- Articles:
a, an, the
- Conjunctions:
and, but, for, not, so, yet
etc. - Prepositions of three or fewer letters:
at, for, by, in, to
etc.
The following are explicitly no exceptions:
- The second part of a word with a dash: Add-On, Auto-Display, Multi-Threaded etc.
Sentence capitalization
Capitalize the first letter of the first word, and any other words normally capitalized in sentences, such as application names.
Capitalization rules at a glance
Element | Style | OpenWalnut specific |
---|---|---|
Check box labels | Sentence | |
Command button labels | Header | |
Column heading labels | Header | |
Desktop background object labels | Header | |
Dialog messages | Sentence | |
Drop-down combination box labels | Sentence | |
Drop-down list box labels | Sentence | |
Field labels | Sentence | |
Filenames | Sentence | |
Graphic equivalent text: for example, Alt text on web pages | Sentence | |
Group box or frame labels | Header | |
Items in drop-down combination boxes, drop-down list boxes, and list boxes | Sentence | |
List box labels | Sentence | |
Menu items | Header | |
Menu items that are radio buttons or checkboxes | Header | |
Menu items in applications | Header | |
Menu titles in applications | Header | |
Module names | Header | * |
Property names | Sentence | * |
Radio button labels | Sentence | |
Slider labels | Sentence | |
Spin box labels | Sentence | |
Tabbed section titles | Header | |
Text box labels | Sentence | |
Titlebar labels | Header | |
Toolbar button labels | Header | |
Tooltips | Sentence | |
Webpage titles and navigational elements | Header |
For a good example see the template module (WMTemplate). This guideline was adapted from http://library.gnome.org/devel/hig-book/stable/design-text-labels.html.en\#layout-capitalization