Are there (semi) standard font symbols for SAVE, RUN, etc in TeX?

Question

Is there a font package to represent typical computer commands such as Save, Run, Refresh, etc? I am looking for something in the spirit of KeyStroke package for typical command icons on screen.

Answer 1

I'm afraid there isn't a standard collection of symbols for this specific purpose. :( And the Comprehensive LaTeX Symbol List doesn't have anything like this.

Those icons are used in the cognitive approach for HCI design. It's also known as metaphoric design, because we use metaphors to express abstract concepts or procedures. For example, as Peter mentioned it, using a floppy disk to express the save action is something familiar to user. Using such symbols might help users to quickly learn the basics of a new system.

In the sprite sheet blog post, I mentioned the Tango Icon Library (thanks to Joseph who pointed it in the chatroom). They have some suggestions for icons on metaphoric design:

^{To name a few, there's a ton more. :)}

Since you want to include these icons in a TeX document, I'd recommend you to stick with vector formats. :) Tango has .svg formats available, so we could convert them to .pdf files.

As an example, I selected six of those icons and added them to Inkscape:

The colored boxes were added only for visual reference. :) Every icon is placed inside a 48px x 48px box. The next step is to export the document to .pdf from Inkscape, which is very straightforward.

Now, let's go to the LaTeX code:

\documentclass[12]{article}

\usepackage{adjustbox}
\usepackage{xspace}

\newcommand{\copyicon}{%
\adjustimage{dpi=90,Clip={0px 0px 240px 0px},height=1.8ex,width=1.8ex}{myicons}\xspace}
\newcommand{\cuticon}{%
\adjustimage{dpi=90,Clip={48px 0px 192px 0px},height=1.8ex,width=1.8ex}{myicons}\xspace}
\newcommand{\previewicon}{%
\adjustimage{dpi=90,Clip={96px 0px 144px 0px},height=1.8ex,width=1.8ex}{myicons}\xspace}
\newcommand{\pasteicon}{%
\adjustimage{dpi=90,Clip={144px 0px 96px 0px},height=1.8ex,width=1.8ex}{myicons}\xspace}
\newcommand{\redoicon}{%
\adjustimage{dpi=90,Clip={192px 0px 48px 0px},height=1.8ex,width=1.8ex}{myicons}\xspace}
\newcommand{\undoicon}{%
\adjustimage{dpi=90,Clip={240px 0px 0px 0px},height=1.8ex,width=1.8ex}{myicons}\xspace}

\begin{document}

To copy a text selection, move your mouse cursor to the text
you want to copy and highlight it. Then press \copyicon to copy
it to the clipboard. To retrieve the selection, simply click the
\pasteicon icon and the text will be pasted in the current document.

\vspace{1em}

\Large Beware of the \cuticon icon, it will cut the current text!

\vspace{1em}

\Huge Don't worry, \redoicon can revert it.

\end{document}

The output:

Hope it helps. :)