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Subject:Re: In reference to number of steps From:"Dan Roberts" <droberts63 -at- earthlink -dot- net> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 19 Oct 2000 19:09:01 -0400
>It seems to me that in performing a procedure, one needs to do whatever
>it takes to complete the procedure. No more. No less. If there are 15
>steps in a procedure, or if there are 50 steps, that is really a
>function of how the procedure was designed, which is not a writing
>function but a system design function.
>
>The writing function is to document the procedure, step by step, from
>beginning to end. Setting an arbitrary limit of 5, 7, or 9 steps would
>seem to me to lead to procedure "steps" where more than one action was
>included in one step simply to keep within this arbitrary number.
>
I dunno. 50 steps would lead me to think "Gawd, does it ever end?" So even if
all 50 steps are in one flow, and that flow can be ...not broken out, no
subdivided, not sectioned...perhaps "phased" is the word I want...phased into a
few main phases, then I can hold that idea in my head better. And I guess, if
you can determine "phases" then steps 14-26 are simply little parts of one major
step.
>I much prefer to see procedures that are one step per task. (Do this;
>this happens. Do that; this other thing happens.)
Just out of curiosity, what do you do when there are bunches of fields to fill
in one window/dialog/panel--is each field a step, or are they all pieces of the
one step of filling out the window/dialog/panel?
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