RE: Document Numbering Convention (Controlled)

[Tom Johnson <johnsont -at- starcutter -dot- com>]

On Thursday, March 30, 2000 2:52 PM, Fish, Paula [SMTP:paula -dot- fish -at- cplc -dot- com] 
wrote:
> This question is about a centralized 'controlled' document program within 
an
> organization.  snip

> 1)  What makes up the numbering convention for this collection?
>
> 2)  Are/should organizational factors included in the numbering 
schematic?

Very simply put, the more structured you make your numbering scheme, the 
less flexibility you will have. I've worked with numbering schemes that 
have become very cumbersome because we've run out of letters to designate 
certain categories. What happens if a field becomes too "narrow." Oops, we 
should have had four digits instead of three for the "company" field.

Certainly, a structured scheme provides information. I contend with the 
power of the computer, all of that information can be readily available in 
a database. Using a simple number (six or seven digits) makes it easy to 
work with and there are far fewer things you have to remember. Just pick  
 the next number in the list, record the relevant details and move on.
>
> 3)  Are/should functional factors included in the numbering schematic?

See number 2.
>
> 4)  Is intranet distribution the vehicle of publication?
>
> Does anyone have any recommendations for a simpler system?
>

I hope this helps somewhat.

Tom Johnson
Marketing Coordinator/Technical Writer
Elk Rapids Engineering Div., Star Cutter Company

johnsont -at- starcutter -dot- com - work
thomasj -at- freeway -dot- net - personal