Is it bad name for menu item: "Report (Export) based on file list"?

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blueomega

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I use a tool in my software. It creates a reports by exporting data to the file.
The program uses the following menu item for it: "Report based on file list".
But some users remove my software and send me uninstall feedback:
"There appears to be no way of exporting the database"
"has no export capability"
It seems they do not realize that this can be done by "Report based on file list".
Ok. I can rename it to "Export based on file list". But now there will be users who will say that they lack the tools to create reports.
What can I do?
I thought a lot and I want to try to rename this menu item as
"Report (Export) based on file list".
But I'm not sure that it looks good in English and users can understand what is meant. Please help.
 

Tdol

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Would the report and the export be identical?
 

blueomega

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Yes, it can be named as a report and as an export.
 

Richard1

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Hello,

How about, "Click here to export database"?

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blueomega

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Hello,
How about, "Click here to export database"?
Regards

But now there will be users who will say that they lack the tools to create reports.
 

Richard1

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But now there will be users who will say that they lack the tools to create reports.

Hi,

I thought that you were saying that they have the capability to run the report but don't realise it since your original description didn't mean anything to them. That's why I thought a quite explicit instruction to 'Click here....' would be preferable.

Are you nevertheless saying that they always have the tools to run the report but still don't realise it, or that sometimes they don't have the (other ?) tools and hence can't possibly run it. In which case then perhaps it would be better to trap that situation in your software and have a pop up message that says something like 'Sorry, but you can't run this report since you don't have the appropriate software'.

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blueomega

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As can I see, the "Report (Export) based on file list" menu item is not good idea.
Can I combine it as "Export/Report" or "Report/Export" or maybe "Report (Export)"? Which variant is the most normal and easy to understand?
 

blueomega

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Or maybe "Report/Data Export"?
 

blueomega

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Export always uses as verb?
 

blueomega

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1. Report / Data Export

2. Create Report / Export Data

3. Export Data / Create Report

? :)
 

Tdol

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I would go for 2, though 3 is also fine. I don't like 1 much.
 

blueomega

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Why not 1?
"Create Report / Export Data" I think it is bulky.
"Report / Data Export" (noun + noun?)

One man told me: "Data export" sounds more like a noun to me, as in "export of data".
In google "Data export" is wide used:
Query
English is very strange and confusing language for me. The same word can be both verb and noun. I very tired with this
bu.gif
 
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blueomega

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I have received one more answer:
I don't think you really need to include both words. For one thing, they rhyme and it sounds awkward. "Export Data" alone would be fine--the Report crowd will figure it out.
He is right?
 

Tdol

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I think verbs are clearer than nouns- it's a menu item and it tells me what it does, like open/print/save/export as pdf, etc. If you want to have two things in the item, then that way reads more clearly to me. You say you have people deleting your software and saying they can't find how to export data, so I think clarity is the key. I don't know whether all people looking for a report will understand that export data is the same thing, because not all reports consists of all the data. I would do it the way I said earlier, or by having two menu items.
 
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