Ellipses in menus

[Arctic Fox]

When do you use ellipses (...) in menu items (requesters, dialog windows, task panes etc.)?

[Marlin]

I expect and use [" " + ]"..." at the end of menuitems that will open dialogs (that can be canceled).

[Arctic Fox]

Okay
No ellipses for task panes (even though they require user input)?

[Marlin]

Menu items where just the thing that caught my interest.

I did not mean to say anything about the other items.

F.e. task panes, are something, that I don't use (consciously).

[Arctic Fox]

I meant menu items which 'open' task panes.

[Marlin]

Yes, I would believe those should not have "...".
(If no user input is required to complete this action of opening the task pane)

[Arctic Fox]

Alright, thanks for your help

[Jellybean]

I expect and use [" " + ]"..." at the end of menuitems that will open dialogs (that can be canceled).

No, this is WRONG.

Ellipsis are added to menu items when clicking the menu item does not complete the task, but rather will ask for additional input.

Examples:
"Open..." (does not complete right away, asks for the filename in a dialog, thus need ellipsis)
"Save" (completes right away with no additional input, so no ellipsis)
"Save As..." (asks for a filename before it completes, so it needs ellipsis)
"Preferences" (this opens a dialog that can be cancelled, however, since the action is to show this dialog, and this happens right away when clicking the menu item, there should be no ellipsis. note: PB editor is wrong!)

This is agreed upon in all major GUI guidelines, Windows, Mac, Java, GTK, etc...

[Edwin Knoppert]

Well, it shows the user it has a dialog to come before an important task is forfilled, "there's no danger yet"
Iow, it knows that it can abort this important function.

[cas]

"Preferences" (this opens a dialog that can be cancelled, however, since the action is to show this dialog, and this happens right away when clicking the menu item, there should be no ellipsis. note: PB editor is wrong!)

I wouldn't agree with this last example. In this way you can say that "Open..." and "Save As..." should be without '...' because that just opens a dialog that can be cancelled/closed and this dialog opens right away when clicking menu item.

"there's no danger yet"

Best explanation so far.

[Jellybean]

"Preferences" (this opens a dialog that can be cancelled, however, since the action is to show this dialog, and this happens right away when clicking the menu item, there should be no ellipsis. note: PB editor is wrong!)

I wouldn't agree with this last example. In this way you can say that "Open..." and "Save As..." should be without '...' because that just opens a dialog that can be cancelled/closed and this dialog opens right away when clicking menu item.

1. It doesn't matter if you agree, all major GUI guidelines specify it this way, and we should follow them because they are sensible.
2. You obviously didn't get the point. The "Save As..." menu item doesn't save the file when it's clicked. Thus ellipsis. The "preferences" menu item opens the preferences when it's clicked. Thus no ellipsis. If "Save As..." was called "Open save as dialog" then it would have no ellipsis, even though the action performed is exactly the same. Because the described action is completed right away. Whether ellipsis is needed depends on both the action and the menu item text.

Windows:

While menu commands are used for immediate actions, more information might be needed to perform the action. Indicate a command that needs additional information (including a confirmation) by adding an ellipsis at the end of the label.

This doesn't mean you should use an ellipsis whenever an action displays another window—only when additional information is required to perform the action. For example, the commands About, Advanced, Help, Options, Properties, and Settings must display another window when clicked, but don't require additional information from the user. Therefore they don't need ellipses.

[c4s]

@Jellybean
Well, if you are this exact "Preferences" needs ellipses because it doesn't imply an action. So "Open Preferences" should be without.

edit:
Hm after reading the quote you madec your explanation sounds logical.

[Marlin]

...

... additional information is required to perform the action

=>

"there's no danger yet"

Also some users would consider, that there is some unfinished action,
when there is now something blocking the previously uncovered gui
with any dialog, that demands additional information.