Nov 17

Is it just me or is the below message confusing to anyone else?

Change your settings

Okay, so Adium has been updated. – Grand.
Do I want to allow the updated version to use the same keychain settings as the previous version? – Yes.

So what should I click? Don’t Change or Change All?

I want to keep my settings so I should click Don’t Change as that probably means Don’t Change any settings …. or …… should I click Change All because that could mean to change all the keychain settings from the old version to settings I would like to use in the new version….Mmmm.

What did I do?

I clicked on Change All and it used my settings from the previous client.

Could they not just supply a Yes or No option instead of Don’t Change / Change All? System messages should be clear and concise and not confuse the user. I would have expected the rule of thumb of suppling a yes/no solution to a question to be followed in this instance.

Is the system message in this instance delivered by the Operating System or Adium?

Either way, it’s a crap user experience. The primary reason I clicked on Change All instead of Don’t Change is because Apple consistently place the positive button (yes, confirm) to the right of the negative button (no, cancel). Besides from that, I was in limbo and dreading having to remember my passwords for my messengers in case I bolloxed up.

4 Responses to “Confusing Adium/Keychain messages”

  1. giovanni nicco Says:

    thanks… ( for me was skype upgrading…)
    your post was very usefull :) thanks!

  2. Steph Says:

    Thanks so much, this post = brilliant :)

  3. Jeff Richardson Says:

    You saved my life, oh wise sage.
    Yes, it is not a good experience to have. I was about to punch the wrong button and lose my info. Bless you!
    Even my computer geeky friend lost his contacts the other day, he is a Neurochemist and not prone to mistakes. This prompt is as clear as a muddy stream. What is it? Swenglish? hahahahaha
    Thanks … a very big thanks

  4. mischul Says:

    Thanks. I ran into this issue in both a Skype upgrade and after a re-install of OS 10.4 when I had to re-connect to a NAS. Thank goodness for Google search.

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