TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Fascinating discussion, especially the historical perspectives on printing
technology. I remember cold type too - the smell of the ink, and the sound
of the press. My uncle was a printer, and this thread brought back some fond
memories.
I'm in the "it depends" camp on chapter page numbering. I think Madelyn's
"green" argument is most compelling, but others made great cases for keeping
it simple.
This discussion also made me wonder if one of my page-numbering pet peeves
is shared by anyone else. Are roman numerals for front matter a thing of the
past? My company's template goes from Title page to 2.
That seems stylistically abhorrent, but maybe it's something I should just
get used to. Any takers for extending this interminable conversation?
Al, you have us all beat with your story about "Mushing". I hope your unique
piece of Americana ended up in a museum somewhere.
Bee
On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 6:17 PM, Al Geist <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>wrote:
> Madelyn Boudreaux wrote:
>
> "I concede that if it's just down to "easier for writer" vs "easier for
> user," we should err toward the user. But when trees get tossed into the
> mix, I will typically err toward the environment, within reason."
>
>
> Unfortunately, our customers want their manuals printed on "clean room
> paper;" although, most will probably end up on a shelf somewhere and never
> be opened because a phone call to Customer Service is easier.
>
>
> "I also have to refer to the existing manuals a good bit, and yes, it can
> be a pain to find the right page. 7-14 may be 75 pages in, or it may be
> 150 pages in, and you just don't know."
>
> I've never had that problem. I scan the bottom of the pages as I proceed to
> the page I want. To me it's easier finding page 7-25 than it is page 175,
> so
> I guess the use of chapter number-page number is relative. In Acrobat, I
> use
> the TOC to get me in the ball park.
>
> "Still, that's maybe 6 seconds vs 3 seconds (I just timed myself, picking
> random numbers -- 3-17 in a printed manual and 42 in the MSMoS), so it's
> not a huge hit on my productivity."
>
>
> I think you hit the nail on the head here...we aren't talking hours. We are
> talking seconds, which is the overall scheme of things doesn't matter. As
> for your use of plastic tabs...plastic tabs are more environmentally
> destructive than not tabs. However, I personally don't use them because
> they
> also add to the manual's cost and in these financial times, cost savings is
> paramount. (Then again, how much does it cost in labor to take 6 seconds to
> locate information that could take 3 seconds?)
>
>
> Al Geist
> Technical Communicator, Help, Web Design, Video, Photography
> Office/Msg: 802-872-9190
> Cell: 802-578-3964
> E-mail: al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com
> Website: www.geistassociates.com
> See Also:
> Fine Art Photography
> Website: www.geistarts.com
>
> "...I walked to work, quit my job, and kept walking. Better to be a pilgrim
> without a destination, I figured, than to cross the wrong threshold each
> day." (Sy Safransky)
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Are you looking for one documentation tool that does it all? Author,
> build, test, and publish your Help files with just one easy-to-use tool.
> Try the latest Doc-To-Help 2009 v3 risk-free for 30-days at:
>http://www.doctohelp.com/
>
> Help & Manual 5: The all-in-one help authoring tool. True single- sourcing
> --
> generate 8 different formats and as many different versions as you need
> from just one project. Fast and intuitive. http://www.helpandmanual.com/
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as beelia -at- pacbell -dot- net -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit
>http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/beelia%40pacbell.net
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
>http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.
>
> Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
>http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat
>
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Are you looking for one documentation tool that does it all? Author,
build, test, and publish your Help files with just one easy-to-use tool.
Try the latest Doc-To-Help 2009 v3 risk-free for 30-days at: http://www.doctohelp.com/
Help & Manual 5: The all-in-one help authoring tool. True single- sourcing --
generate 8 different formats and as many different versions as you need
from just one project. Fast and intuitive. http://www.helpandmanual.com/
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
