Collapsing ToCs inonline hHelp

[Sandra Charker <scharker -at- connectives -dot- com>]

A Friday debate:

Let's assume we have a collapsing ToC--let's use WinHelp as the 
example--with a number of multi-topic chapters. We also have quite a number 
of single topic "chapters." For example:

WIDGETS
Widgets Overview
Making Widgets
-- At home
-- At work
Widget Disposal
Widget Uses
-- In Eating
-- In Bathing
-- In Recreation
Widgets in Space
Widget Variations

One school of thought is that the single-topic entries get folded up under 
their own collapsing chapter heading. For example, Widget Disposal might 
expand as follows:

Widget Disposal
-- Disposing Old Widgets

Another view is that standalone topics are standalone topics and don't get 
collapsed, just as I presented in the first example, above.

What's the going opinion?


Second issue.

When I click on the main (chapter) entry in a collapsing ToC, should I 
immediately see relevant info? Or should that click just expand the chapter 
into its component topics without presenting anything new? Microsoft pretty 
routinely does nothing but expand a chapter when you click the chapter 
heading, leaving the previous topic's text onscreen. However, others (and 
MS in some instances that I've seen), not only expand the chapter, but also 
display some introductory info. In other words, whether you click a chapter 
heading or a topic heading, you see some relevant text.
Again, what's the going opinion?

Thanks,

Sandra Charker
scharker -at- connectives -dot- com


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How about a Fountain of Smart.