RE: Styles: To Base or Not To Base

["Steve Hudson" <steve -at- wright -dot- com -dot- au>]

Yes and no <chuckles at his std word answer>

Here's the variables you need to assess:

Problems With Built-In Styles
=============================

1) Difficult to identify which styles you use and which are not when it
comes time to work with them using VBA.

2) There may be no style with a suitable name to describe the style's
intended application.

3) If the template is NOT included on the viewing machine, AND the styles in
the document have been set to Update, the document formatting WILL go
ker-plunk.


Problems With Custom Styles
===========================

1) Can only be applied by using the correct template.

2) If used to replace common built-in styles (eg Heading 1, Body Text, List
Bullet), there is a danger that the author will use the built-in styles
through ignorance.

3) You cannot fully hide the built-in styles.


Conclusion
==========

Its almost irrelevant if you don't have styles set to update automatically.
Use built-in styles where one exists that has a suitable name for its
intended usage, and make a custom one where they don't. Its rare I see
untweaked settings used, just about every tech pubs dept has a style guide
after all...

BTW: You were also after folks style definitions, here's a repost of mine:


Publish type Draft

Body Text	Generic + Font: Arial, Space  after 6 pt, Hyphenate, Outline
numbered, Tabs:Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Body Text C	Generic + Font: Arial, Centered, Hyphenate, Tabs:Not at  141.75
pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Body Text R	Generic + Font: Arial, Flush Right, Hyphenate, Tabs:Not at
141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Code	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Courier New, 10 pt, No Proofing, Raised
1 pt, Pattern: Clear
Copyright	Generic + Font: Arial, 7 pt, Space before 0 pt  after 0 pt,
Hyphenate, Tabs:Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Default Paragraph Font	The font of the underlying paragraph style + English
(Australia)
Emphasis	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Bold, Not Italic, Pattern: Clear
FollowedHyperlink	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Not Italic, Underline, No
Proofing, Font color: Gray-50%, Pattern: Clear
Footer	Header +
Generic	Font: Times New Roman, 10 pt, English (Australia), Flush left, Line
spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3 pt, Widow/orphan control, Keep
lines together, Suppress line numbers, Don't hyphenate, Tabs: 141.75 pt,
283.45 pt, 425.2 pt
Glossary	Default Paragraph Font + Pattern: Clear
Header	Generic + Font: Arial Narrow, Tabs: 235 pt centered, 471 pt right
flush,Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Heading 1	Heading 4 + Font: 26 pt, Kern at 16 pt, Space  after 21 pt, Level
1, Numbered
Heading 1 No TOC	Heading 4 + Font: 26 pt, Space  after 21 pt
Heading 2	Heading 4 + Font: 22 pt, Space  after 15 pt, Level 2
Heading 2 No TOC	Heading 4 + Font: 22 pt, Space  after 15 pt
Heading 3	Heading 4 + Font: 16 pt, Space  after 15 pt, Level 3
Heading 4	Generic + Font: Verdana, 12 pt, Bold, Space before 12 pt  after 12
pt, Keep with next, Not Keep lines together, Level 4
Heading 5	Heading 4 + Level 5
Heading 6	Heading 4 + Level 6
Heading 7	Heading 4 + Level 7
Heading 8	Heading 4 + Level 8
Heading 9	Heading 4 + Level 9
Heading-table-centred	Heading-table-left + Centered
Heading-table-left	Generic + Font: Arial Narrow, 13 pt, Bold, Hyphenate
Heading-table-right	Heading-table-left + Flush Right
Hyperlink	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Not Italic, Underline, No Proofing,
Font color: Blue, Pattern: Clear
Index 1	Generic + Font: Arial, Hyphenate
Index 2	Generic + Font: Arial, Indent:  Left  21 pt First  21 pt, Hyphenate
Index 3	Generic + Font: Arial, Indent:  Left  42 pt First  42 pt, Hyphenate
Input	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Tahoma, 11 pt, Bold, No Proofing, Char
scale 100%, Pattern: Clear
KeyPress	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Tahoma, 10 pt, Bold, Not Small caps,
All caps, No Proofing, Char scale 100%, Pattern: Clear
List Bullet	Font: Arial, 10 pt, English (Australia), Flush left, Line
spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3 pt, Widow/orphan control, Keep
lines together, Suppress line numbers, Outline numbered, Tabs: 141.75 pt,
283.45 pt, 425.2 pt
List Number	Font: Arial, 10 pt, English (Australia), Flush left, Line
spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3 pt, Widow/orphan control, Keep
lines together, Suppress line numbers, Outline numbered, Tabs: 141.75 pt,
283.45 pt, 425.2 pt
List Number Outline	Font: Arial, 10 pt, English (Australia), Flush left,
Line spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3 pt, Widow/orphan control,
Keep lines together, Suppress line numbers, Outline numbered, Tabs: 141.75
pt, 283.45 pt, 425.2 pt
Normal	Font: Arial, 10 pt, English (Australia), Flush left, Line spacing
single, Widow/orphan control, Keep lines together, Suppress line numbers,
Tabs: 141.75 pt, 283.45 pt, 425.2 pt
Output	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Verdana, 10 pt, No Proofing, Font
color: Auto, Pattern: Clear
Page Number	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Arial, Bold, No Proofing,
Pattern: Clear
Subtitle	Title + Font: 18 pt, Space before 12 pt, Body text
Terminal Screen	Generic + Font: Courier, 9 pt, No Proofing, Indent:  Left
17 pt Right  17 pt, Space before 1 pt  after 0 pt, Border: Top(Single solid
line, Auto, 1 pt Line width), Bottom(Single solid line, Auto, 1 pt Line
width), Left(Single solid line, Auto, 1 pt L...
TextBox	Generic + Font: Arial Narrow, Bold, Space before 0 pt  after 0 pt,
Hyphenate
TextBox C	TextBox + Centered
TextBox R	TextBox + Flush Right
Title	Generic + Font: Tahoma, 36 pt, Bold, Kern at 14 pt, Centered, Space
before 72 pt  after 12 pt, Not Keep lines together, Level 1
TOC 1	Generic + Font: Verdana, 12 pt, Bold, All caps, No Proofing, Space
before 18 pt, Keep with next, Not Keep lines together, Tabs: 0 pt, 471 pt
right flush ?,Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt, Automatically update
TOC 2	TOC 1 + Font: Not Bold, Not All caps, Indent:  Left  10 pt, Space
before 3 pt, Automatically update
TOC 3	TOC 2 + Font: 10 pt, Indent:  Left  21 pt, Automatically update
TOC 4	TOC 3 + Indent:  Left  42 pt, Automatically update
TOC 5	TOC 2 + Font: 10 pt, Indent:  Left  40 pt, Automatically update
TOC 6	TOC 5 + Indent:  Left  50 pt, Automatically update
TOC 7	TOC 5 + Indent:  Left  60 pt, Automatically update
TOC 8	TOC 5 + Indent:  Left  70 pt, Automatically update
Version	Subtitle + Font: ITC Franklin Gothic MedCd, 14 pt, Not Bold, Space
before 6 pt


Publish type Press

Body Text	Generic + Font: New Aster, Condensed  0.2 pt, Char scale 95%,
Space  after 6 pt, Hyphenate, Outline numbered, Tabs:Not at  141.75 pt,
283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Body Text C	Generic + Font: New Aster, Condensed  0.2 pt, Char scale 95%,
Centered, Hyphenate, Tabs:Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Body Text R	Generic + Font: New Aster, Condensed  0.2 pt, Char scale 95%,
Flush Right, Hyphenate, Tabs:Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Code	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Courier, 10 pt, No Proofing, Raised  1
pt, Pattern: Clear
Copyright	Generic + Font: New Aster, 7 pt, Condensed  0.2 pt, Char scale
95%, Space before 0 pt  after 0 pt, Hyphenate, Tabs:Not at  141.75 pt,
283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Default Paragraph Font	The font of the underlying paragraph style + English
(Australia)
Emphasis	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Bold, Not Italic, Pattern: Clear
FollowedHyperlink	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Not Italic, Underline, No
Proofing, Font color: Gray-50%, Pattern: Clear
Footer	Header +
Generic	Font: Times New Roman, 10 pt, English (Australia), Flush left, Line
spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3 pt, Widow/orphan control, Keep
lines together, Suppress line numbers, Don't hyphenate, Tabs: 141.75 pt,
283.45 pt, 425.2 pt
Glossary	Default Paragraph Font + Pattern: Clear
Header	Generic + Font: ITC Franklin Gothic Book, Tabs: 235 pt centered, 471
pt right flush,Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Heading 1	Heading 4 + Font: 24 pt, Kern at 16 pt, Space  after 21 pt, Level
1, Numbered
Heading 1 No TOC	Heading 4 + Font: 24 pt, Space  after 21 pt
Heading 2	Heading 4 + Font: 20 pt, Space  after 15 pt, Level 2
Heading 2 No TOC	Heading 4 + Font: 20 pt, Space  after 15 pt
Heading 3	Heading 4 + Font: 16 pt, Space  after 15 pt, Level 3
Heading 4	Generic + Font: ITC Franklin Gothic BookCd, 12 pt, Bold, Space
before 12 pt  after 12 pt, Keep with next, Not Keep lines together, Level 4
Heading 5	Heading 4 + Level 5
Heading 6	Heading 4 + Level 6
Heading 7	Heading 4 + Level 7
Heading 8	Heading 4 + Level 8
Heading 9	Heading 4 + Level 9
Heading-table-centred	Heading-table-left + Centered
Heading-table-left	Generic + Font: ITC Franklin Gothic MedCd, 12 pt,
Hyphenate
Heading-table-right	Heading-table-left + Flush Right
Hyperlink	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Not Italic, Underline, No Proofing,
Font color: Blue, Pattern: Clear
Index 1	Generic + Font: New Aster, Condensed  0.2 pt, Char scale 95%,
Hyphenate
Index 2	Generic + Font: New Aster, Condensed  0.2 pt, Char scale 95%,
Indent:  Left  21 pt First  21 pt, Hyphenate
Index 3	Generic + Font: New Aster, Condensed  0.2 pt, Char scale 95%,
Indent:  Left  42 pt First  42 pt, Hyphenate
Input	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Glypha, 11 pt, Bold, No Proofing, Char
scale 108%, Pattern: Clear
KeyPress	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Glypha, 10 pt, Bold, Not Small caps,
All caps, No Proofing, Char scale 108%, Pattern: Clear
List Bullet	Font: New Aster, 10 pt, Condensed  0.2 pt, English (Australia),
Char scale 95%, Flush left, Line spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3
pt, Widow/orphan control, Keep lines together, Suppress line numbers,
Outline numbered, Tabs: 141.75 pt, 283.45...
List Number	Font: New Aster, 10 pt, Condensed  0.2 pt, English (Australia),
Char scale 95%, Flush left, Line spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3
pt, Widow/orphan control, Keep lines together, Suppress line numbers,
Outline numbered, Tabs: 141.75 pt, 283.45...
List Number Outline	Font: New Aster, 10 pt, Condensed  0.2 pt, English
(Australia), Char scale 95%, Flush left, Line spacing single, Space before 3
pt  after 3 pt, Widow/orphan control, Keep lines together, Suppress line
numbers, Outline numbered, Tabs: 141.75 pt, 283.45...
Normal	Font: New Aster, 10 pt, Condensed  0.2 pt, English (Australia), Char
scale 95%, Flush left, Line spacing single, Widow/orphan control, Keep lines
together, Suppress line numbers, Tabs: 141.75 pt, 283.45 pt, 425.2 pt
Output	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Stone Sans, 10 pt, No Proofing, Font
color: Auto, Pattern: Clear
Page Number	Default Paragraph Font + Font: ITC Franklin Gothic Med, Bold, No
Proofing, Pattern: Clear
Subtitle	Title + Font: 18 pt, Space before 12 pt, Body text
Terminal Screen	Generic + Font: Courier, 9 pt, No Proofing, Indent:  Left
17 pt Right  17 pt, Space before 1 pt  after 0 pt, Border: Top(Single solid
line, Auto, 1 pt Line width), Bottom(Single solid line, Auto, 1 pt Line
width), Left(Single solid line, Auto, 1 pt L...
TextBox	Generic + Font: ITC Franklin Gothic MedCd, 9 pt, Space before 0 pt
after 0 pt, Hyphenate
TextBox C	TextBox + Centered
TextBox R	TextBox + Flush Right
Title	Generic + Font: ITC Franklin Gothic BookCd, 36 pt, Bold, Kern at 14
pt, Centered, Space before 72 pt  after 12 pt, Not Keep lines together,
Level 1
TOC 1	Generic + Font: ITC Franklin Gothic BookCd, 12 pt, Bold, All caps, No
Proofing, Space before 18 pt, Keep with next, Not Keep lines together, Tabs:
0 pt, 471 pt right flush ?,Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt,
Automatically update
TOC 2	TOC 1 + Font: New Aster, Not Bold, Not All caps, Condensed  0.2 pt,
Indent:  Left  10 pt, Space before 3 pt, Automatically update
TOC 3	TOC 2 + Font: 10 pt, Indent:  Left  21 pt, Automatically update
TOC 4	TOC 3 + Indent:  Left  42 pt, Automatically update
TOC 5	TOC 2 + Font: 10 pt, Indent:  Left  40 pt, Automatically update
TOC 6	TOC 5 + Indent:  Left  50 pt, Automatically update
TOC 7	TOC 5 + Indent:  Left  60 pt, Automatically update
TOC 8	TOC 5 + Indent:  Left  70 pt, Automatically update
Version	Subtitle + Font: ITC Franklin Gothic MedCd, 13 pt, Not Bold, Space
before 6 pt


Publish type Help

Body Text	Generic + Font: Arial, 12 pt, Space  after 6 pt, Hyphenate,
Outline numbered, Tabs:Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Body Text C	Generic + Font: Arial, 12 pt, Centered, Hyphenate, Tabs:Not at
141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Body Text R	Generic + Font: Arial, 12 pt, Flush Right, Hyphenate, Tabs:Not
at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Code	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Courier New, 12 pt, No Proofing, Raised
1 pt, Pattern: Clear
Copyright	Generic + Font: Arial, 7 pt, Space before 0 pt  after 0 pt,
Hyphenate, Tabs:Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Default Paragraph Font	The font of the underlying paragraph style + English
(Australia)
Emphasis	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Bold, Not Italic, Pattern: Clear
FollowedHyperlink	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Not Italic, Underline, No
Proofing, Font color: Gray-50%, Pattern: Clear
Footer	Header +
Generic	Font: Times New Roman, 10 pt, English (Australia), Flush left, Line
spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3 pt, Widow/orphan control,
Suppress line numbers, Don't hyphenate, Tabs: 141.75 pt, 283.45 pt, 425.2 pt
Glossary	Default Paragraph Font + Pattern: Clear
Header	Generic + Font: Arial Narrow, Tabs: 235 pt centered, 471 pt right
flush,Not at  141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt
Heading 1	Heading 4 + Font: 28 pt, Kern at 16 pt, Space  after 21 pt, Level
1, Numbered
Heading 1 No TOC	Heading 4 + Font: 28 pt, Space  after 21 pt
Heading 2	Heading 4 + Font: 24 pt, Space  after 15 pt, Level 2
Heading 2 No TOC	Heading 4 + Font: 24 pt, Space  after 15 pt
Heading 3	Heading 4 + Font: 18 pt, Space  after 15 pt, Level 3
Heading 4	Generic + Font: Verdana, 14 pt, Bold, Space before 12 pt  after 12
pt, Keep with next, Level 4
Heading 5	Heading 4 + Level 5
Heading 6	Heading 4 + Level 6
Heading 7	Heading 4 + Level 7
Heading 8	Heading 4 + Level 8
Heading 9	Heading 4 + Level 9
Heading-table-centred	Heading-table-left + Centered
Heading-table-left	Generic + Font: Arial Narrow, 13 pt, Bold, Hyphenate
Heading-table-right	Heading-table-left + Flush Right
Hyperlink	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Not Italic, Underline, No Proofing,
Font color: Blue, Pattern: Clear
Index 1	Generic + Font: Arial, 12 pt, Hyphenate
Index 2	Generic + Font: Arial, 12 pt, Indent:  Left  21 pt First  21 pt,
Hyphenate
Index 3	Generic + Font: Arial, 12 pt, Indent:  Left  42 pt First  42 pt,
Hyphenate
Input	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Tahoma, 11 pt, Bold, No Proofing, Char
scale 100%, Pattern: Clear
KeyPress	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Tahoma, 11 pt, Bold, Not Small caps,
All caps, No Proofing, Char scale 100%, Pattern: Clear
List Bullet	Font: Arial, 12 pt, English (Australia), Flush left, Line
spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3 pt, Widow/orphan control,
Suppress line numbers, Outline numbered, Tabs: 141.75 pt, 283.45 pt, 425.2
pt
List Number	Font: Arial, 12 pt, English (Australia), Flush left, Line
spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3 pt, Widow/orphan control,
Suppress line numbers, Outline numbered, Tabs: 141.75 pt, 283.45 pt, 425.2
pt
List Number Outline	Font: Arial, 12 pt, English (Australia), Flush left,
Line spacing single, Space before 3 pt  after 3 pt, Widow/orphan control,
Suppress line numbers, Outline numbered, Tabs: 141.75 pt, 283.45 pt, 425.2
pt
Normal	Font: Arial, 12 pt, English (Australia), Flush left, Line spacing
single, Widow/orphan control, Suppress line numbers, Tabs: 141.75 pt, 283.45
pt, 425.2 pt
Output	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Verdana, 12 pt, No Proofing, Font
color: Auto, Pattern: Clear
Page Number	Default Paragraph Font + Font: Arial, Bold, No Proofing,
Pattern: Clear
Subtitle	Title + Font: 18 pt, Space before 12 pt, Body text
Terminal Screen	Generic + Font: Courier, 9 pt, No Proofing, Indent:  Left
17 pt Right  17 pt, Space before 1 pt  after 0 pt, Border: Top(Single solid
line, Auto, 1 pt Line width), Bottom(Single solid line, Auto, 1 pt Line
width), Left(Single solid line, Auto, 1 pt L...
TextBox	Generic + Font: Arial Narrow, Bold, Space before 0 pt  after 0 pt,
Hyphenate
TextBox C	TextBox + Centered
TextBox R	TextBox + Flush Right
Title	Generic + Font: Tahoma, 36 pt, Bold, Kern at 14 pt, Centered, Space
before 72 pt  after 12 pt, Level 1
TOC 1	Generic + Font: Verdana, 12 pt, Bold, All caps, No Proofing, Space
before 18 pt, Keep with next, Tabs: 0 pt, 471 pt right flush ?,Not at
141.75 pt,  283.45 pt,  425.2 pt, Automatically update
TOC 2	TOC 1 + Font: Not Bold, Not All caps, Indent:  Left  10 pt, Space
before 3 pt, Automatically update
TOC 3	TOC 2 + Font: 10 pt, Indent:  Left  21 pt, Automatically update
TOC 4	TOC 3 + Indent:  Left  42 pt, Automatically update
TOC 5	TOC 2 + Font: 10 pt, Indent:  Left  40 pt, Automatically update
TOC 6	TOC 5 + Indent:  Left  50 pt, Automatically update
TOC 7	TOC 5 + Indent:  Left  60 pt, Automatically update
TOC 8	TOC 5 + Indent:  Left  70 pt, Automatically update
Version	Subtitle + Font: ITC Franklin Gothic MedCd, 14 pt, Not Bold, Space
before 6 pt




Steve Hudson , HDK List MVP
Principal Technical Writer
Wright Technologies Pty Ltd (Aus)
EyeSpring - the future of graphics has been created.





-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Lefevers

1. Do most of you just use Word's Built-In Styles for your document and
perhaps tweak them a little, or do you create your own Custom Styles?

2. Do you break the Built-In or Custom Styles' Connection to the Normal
Style and base them on "No Style" or leave the Styles you use based on the
Normal Style?

Apparently, there are advantages and disadvantages to both methods.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Attention ForeHelp and Doc-to-Help Users! Upgrade your existing product to 
RoboHelp for FREE, through January 15th. RoboHelp can import your existing 
Help projects! Learn how else RoboHelp can benefit you. www.ehelp.com/techwr

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot-  Visit 
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.