RE: Chapter-page numbering, reasons for

Subject: RE: Chapter-page numbering, reasons for
From: "Pinkham, Jim" <Jim -dot- Pinkham -at- voith -dot- com>
To: <beelia -at- pacbell -dot- net>, "Al Geist" <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 08:28:12 -0600

We're still using Roman numerals for front matter, Bee, and page numbers
of the 7-14 variety.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of beelia
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 9:52 PM
To: Al Geist
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Chapter-page numbering, reasons for

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)
>
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Follow-Ups:

References:
Chapter-page numbering, reasons for: From: Nancy Allison
Re: Chapter-page numbering, reasons for: From: Margaret Hassall
RE: Chapter-page numbering, reasons for: From: Boudreaux, Madelyn (GE Healthcare, consultant)
RE: Chapter-page numbering, reasons for: From: Al Geist
Re: Chapter-page numbering, reasons for: From: beelia

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