I like Nicole's guidelines below.

In addition, you could also consider whether the TO & FROM are primarily
software (from Outlook to Excel or vice versa) OR if one of them acts
primarily like a server/storage/host (download from sun.com, upload to
picassa). In the case of upload/download, it is usually across the
internet or a cable in the case of camera to computer.

- aras

Aras Kannu| Principal Architect, User Experience | Infor | office:
678-319-8983 | [log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: ACM SIGCHI WWW Human Factors (Open Discussion)
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nicole Maron
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 8:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Export vs. download and import vs. upload

I'd say that exporting/importing generally refers to a change in file
format
from/to an application, or the movement of data in or out of an
application
for the purposes of manipulation in some other way. I.E., you export
your
contact list from your webmail into a .csv file so you can import it
into
your mail application.

Uploading/downloading implies that the thing remains a discrete object
in
its original form. E.g. you download an add-on to be used as intended,
or yu
upload an image to be viewed by others in it's original form

Does that help?

~N~

Nicole Maron
Maron UX Consulting

On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 8:40 AM, Laurie Roshak <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Are there any guidelines on when to use export vs. download for a
button
> label in a Web application? How about import vs. upload?
>
>    --------------------------------------------------------------
>           Tip of the Day: Postings must be in plain text
>     CHI-WEB: www.sigchi.org/web POSTINGS: mailto:[log in to unmask]
>              MODERATORS: mailto:[log in to unmask]
>       SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES & FAQ:  www.sigchi.org/web/faq.html
>    --------------------------------------------------------------
>
>


-- 
"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which
difficulties
disappear and obstacles vanish." ~John Quincy Adams

    --------------------------------------------------------------
           Tip of the Day: Postings must be in plain text
     CHI-WEB: www.sigchi.org/web POSTINGS: mailto:[log in to unmask]
              MODERATORS: mailto:[log in to unmask]
       SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES & FAQ:  www.sigchi.org/web/faq.html
    --------------------------------------------------------------

    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Tip of the Day: Use the archives to research common questions
     CHI-WEB: www.sigchi.org/web POSTINGS: mailto:[log in to unmask]
              MODERATORS: mailto:[log in to unmask]
       SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES & FAQ:  www.sigchi.org/web/faq.html
    --------------------------------------------------------------