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08:43 Feb 19, 2011
German to English translations [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Computers: Software / Excel
German term or phrase:Gliederungsschaltfläche
Klicken Sie auf die Gliederungsschaltfläche vor DCS.
I can't speak for Jaime, but I certainly found our discussion enlightening - since both terms are used. Mine has a more authoritative reference where the exact term is used and is more logical, but Jaime's is closer to the German and also has examples of use - plus the word outline (although not expressly outline button) is used on the Microsoft site.
It's an interesting discussion because it's not clear cut, and we've tried to come up with an explanation. It may well be, as Jaime says, that the real answer would only come out with context. If the Asker decides to provide it, of course...
I will go along with the first discussion entry from Jaime and I do find it quite rude of askers to not give context or ongoing information when answerers ask them to. I would not spend time on these questions hypothesizing about whether or not or whatsoever.
Have a nice weekend.
A DCS file is most commonly a sort of a combination of EPS files for colour printing. I suspect that the "Gliederungsschaltfläche" shows the structure of such a file. In that case both "grouping" and "outline" are wrong. It would be more like the "S[how/Hide s]tructure button", mentioned below.
...that would certainly make more sense... Grouping is logical and has a semi-authoritative source and web references to back it up, but outline also has some references (albeit less authoritative) and is the more direct translation of the German....
Frankly, your discovery about MS linguistic consistency is unsurprising. ... Could the "outline button" have been renamed (for the reasons of confusion you have given)? In that case, and we are dealing with Excel, you're right. Without context, though, we're all speculating.
Can you give a few more details on what the program does, and at the very least on what you are supposed to achieve by clicking on the "Gliederungsschaltfläche"?
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
3 hrs confidence:
grouping button
Explanation: It took a lot of researching! But yes, I confirmed it with a published book, see page 436 in Excel 2010: The Missing Manual By Matthew MacDonald, Google Books link below.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 hrs (2011-02-19 12:44:11 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
This shows instructions in German: http://www.e-learning-systems.de/online/passwd/excel2000/kap...
(to confirm the meaning of Gleiderungsschaltfläche. note the blending of meanings between Gleiderung and Gruppierung here. This is evident elsewhere online.)
Here, the term outline button is shown. It appears thus far that we are both right.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 hrs (2011-02-19 13:04:46 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
The published book would seem marginally more authoritative than the above reference for outline button, but still, with so few references for either term it is pretty inconclusive.
Although the German term is commonly used, neither apparent equivalents are commonly referred to on the Microsoft site.
I would conclude that it is simply a matter of taste, and without knowing more context, either outline button or grouping button could be used. I think I'd personally use grouping button, given the more authoritative source, but it'd be impossible to say for sure without more context.
The translation workplace 
