Table continuation variable: philosophical question

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5 total messages Started by Ed_H Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:06

#2271

Author: Ed_H
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:06

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My apologies in advance if this is too off-topic.

The Table Continuation variable (and its companion, the Table Sheet variable) are useful tools. But how necessary are they?

I ask because using the variables involves a certain amount of overhead (particularly the Table Sheet variable, when used in a table footer), and I'm not convinced the effort is worth it. These are just software user guides we're doing here, not aviation specs or military schematics. I can't imagine that our users won't be smart enough to flip the page to see if there's more information.

Within my current group there are opposing forces on the necessity of using these variables. Does anyone here know of any studies into this? Or do any of you have any particular insight that will drive this standoff one way or another?

Thanks!

Re: Table continuation variable: philosophical question

#2272

Author: R._VanDyke
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:21

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Ed:

I find that the optimal place for a table continuation variable is in the table's caption, if the table's design includes a caption.

Alternatively, I place it in one of the columns in a table's heading. In this case, I place it in one or the table's wider columns at the extreme left or right side of the table; for example, a "Description" column. A wide column ensures that FrameMaker will properly display the variable...

I generally choose to use table continuation variables because I assume that a reader of the technical documentation I create will quite probably "dive bomb" into the middle of a doc looking for something; the table continuation variable helps them recognize that the table they've dived into begins on a preceding page...

Cheers & hope this helps,
Riley

Re: Table continuation variable: philosophical question

#2273

Author: Kenneth_Benson
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:04

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Interesting point of view. In my case, continueds are necessary when the 
client says they're necessary. But, yes, I always thought they were kind 
of silly. I mean, readers are smart enough to assume that the content on 
page 33 will be continued on page 34. Why aren't they smart enough to 
assume that the content in the table on page 33 will be continued in the 
table on page 34? Particularly unnecessary, I think, is the continued 
across a spread.

-- 
Kenneth Benson
Pegasus Type, Inc.
www.pegtype.com

Re: Table continuation variable: philosophical question

#2207

Author: Ed_H
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:25

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Thanks for the opinons. I think I'm going to recommend the Table Sheet variable in the table title. It's the lowest overhead, biggest bang option in my case.

Re: Table continuation variable: philosophical question

#2224

Author: Peter_Gold
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:12

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Hi, Kenneth:

The table variables are very helpful where a continued table's formatting seems to be the first sheet, rather than a later sheet.

HTH

Regards,

Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices

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