doc release numbering

[Joe Malin]

Hi!

What I do is assign a product/part number to the document, and also a
revision number.

for example DD12345-01 is the initial release and DD12345-02 is the next
revision *of the document*.

The part number for a document does *not* have to match the part number
for the product it documents.

*Most importantly*, the *revision numbers* do not have to match. A
customer determines the document for a particular product from
information in the document itself. Your company matches the document to
a product revision through the product's bill of materials (BOM). 

Particularly for hardware, a BOM and a kitting/pick list are
indispensable. Paul, I'd be stunned if your company did not have a BOM
for the product that included the manual complete with its part number.

My standards are based on many years' work in both the hardware and
software sides of the computer business, in which I've done as much
management/release work as anything else. I find that knowing "how the
sausage is made" helps in integrating my documents into the company's
overall process. In my new startup company, I'm finding I have to make
up the process as I go!

Joe

Joe Malin
Technical Writer
(408)625-1623
jmalin at tuvox.com 
www.tuvox.com
The views expressed in this document are those of the sender, and do not
necessarily reflect those of TuVox, Inc.	

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jmalin=tuvox.com at lists.techwr-l.com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jmalin=tuvox.com at lists.techwr-l.com] On Behalf
Of obair81 at comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 9:40 AM
To: techwr-l at lists.techwr-l.com
Subject: doc release numbering

Due to things beyond my control, we (I) had to turn out a doc set last
week for a new hardware product, and next I will have to turn out
another (updated) doc set for the same product.  The product name/number
have not changed.

Is there any sort of standard for numbering versions of the docs, if the
product is not changing?

I have not dealt with this question before.

The voice(s) of experience would be welcome.

Thanks.

best,
Paul