Why Common Messages?

• Common messages allow for consistency.
• Common messages are vetted for ease of use.
• Common messages save on translation cost.
• Users expect a polished experience when at all possible.
• The SAP Style Guide and the FIORI guidelines are UA’s basic reference works.
• Concerning phraseology, they’re not specific enough.
• Message Texts and Content Pattern | SAP Help Portal
• UI Text Guidelines for SAP Fiori Apps | SAP Fiori for Web Design Guidelines
• UX Writing Syntax: Messages

Common Message Vs Pattern

• Common message patterns are templates that can be used when using a common message isn’t possible.
• Common message patterns support consistency elements of language, tense, voice, and personal pronoun use.
• Common messages patterns can be very strict or very open, depending on the use case

MESSAGE TYPE: SUCCESS MESSAGE

• Common message: Your changes have been saved.
• Common message pattern: (1) Your X has been saved.
  (2) The X has been saved.

Examples of non-standard messages that should be replaced by a common message or pattern:

• Changes saved.
• Your changes were saved.
• Rules saved successfully.
• Your route map has been saved successfully.

MESSAGE TYPE: UNSAVED CHANGES MESSAGE

• Common message: You have unsaved changes. Your changes will be lost.
• Common message pattern: You have unsaved changes to X. Your changes will be lost.

Examples of non-standard messages that should be replaced by a common message or pattern:

• You have unsaved changes. If you cancel, all your changes will be lost.
• If you cancel now you will lose any unsaved changes.
• You will lose your changes if you select a different locale. Are you sure you want to leave without saving?

MESSAGE TYPE: ADMINISTRATOR CONTACT ​

• Common message: Please contact your system administrator.
• Common message pattern: (incorporate standard message)
• Note: 'Please' is used in this case to make the tone more balanced.

Examples of non-standard messages that should be replaced by a common message or pattern:

• Contact your system administrator.
• Please try again later or contact your system administrator.
• An unknown error occurred. Please contact your system administrator.
• Unfortunately, your job information has not been correctly maintained. Please contact your system administrator.

MESSAGE TYPE: PLACEHOLDER TEXT MESSAGE ​

• Common message: Enter a value here.
• Common message pattern: Enter an X here.

Examples of non-standard messages that should be replaced by a common message or pattern:

• Please enter a comment
• Write a short postcard to your new hire.
• Write some words about your $(GOALS_goal) to get ready-made content

MESSAGE TYPE: CANCEL MESSAGE

• Common message: Do you want to cancel?
• Common message pattern: Do you want to cancel X?

Examples of non-standard messages that should be replaced by a common message or pattern:

• Are you sure you want to cancel the following interview?
• Do you wish to undo the changes you made? Click OK to continue without saving, or CANCEL to return to the page to save your changes.

MESSAGE TYPE: CONFIRM MESSAGE

• Common message: Do you want to confirm?
• Common message pattern: Do you want to confirm x?

Examples of non-standard messages that should be replaced by a common message or pattern:

• You have selected more secondary employments than allowed. Please confirm there is an active primary employment on the effective date of this record.

MESSAGE TYPE: SAVE MESSAGE ​

• Common message: Save your changes?
• Common message pattern: Save your changes to X?

Examples of non-standard messages that should be replaced by a common message or pattern:

• Are you sure you want to save your changes?
• You can save the resume to read the content in the document.

MESSAGE TYPE: DATE PLACEHOLDER

Date placeholder's do not have a common message or pattern. Please follow the guidelines in the UX Writing Syntax, Date Placeholder section:

BUTTON LABELS FOR COMMON MESSAGES

Success Message

Common Message:

• Button Text: OK

Unsaved Changes

Common Message:

• Button Text: OK / Cancel

Administrator Contact

Common Message:

• Button Text: OK

Placeholder Text Message

Common Message: .

• Button Text: Submit / Cancel

Cancel Message

Common Message:

("Cancel" as a business operation, for example, cancelling a job interview. Do you want to cancel the following job interview?

• Button Text: Cancel / Don't cancel
• Note: Repeat the action on the button label

Confirm Message

Common Message:

• Button Text: Confirm / Cancel
• Note: Repeat the action on the button label

Save Message

Common Message:

• Button Text: Save / Cancel
• Note: Repeat the action on the button label

Error Messages

Error messages do not have a common message.

• Button Text: Close