Re: chunking, was "RE: Documentation on the Web"

[Jean Weber <jean -at- wrevenge -dot- com -dot- au>]

Depends on how you define "chunk." If you define it as "the amount of stuff 
on a page," then yes it can be annoying to have to click to more pages.

However,you can have more than one "chunk" on a Web page, just as you do on 
a physical page, for example by inserting headings at appropriate places.

You may need to present the information a bit differently online. Some 
possibilities are: shorter paragraphs or more material set out as 
definition lists (the "definition terms" act almost as headings, but don't 
take up so much space), or any other technique that's appropriate to the 
material. The goal is to assist skimming and finding your way back to 
wherever you were on the page when you glanced away. That's one of my big 
problems with reading online: getting distracted and then not being able to 
quickly find where I was. Suitable chunking helps a lot.

"Chunking" is one of those wonderfully vague words that conjures up 
different images in people's minds, leading to interesting arguments about 
apples and oranges. "Editing" is another one <grin>.

Regards, Jean
Jean Hollis Weber
mailto:jean -at- jeanweber -dot- com
The Technical Editors' Eyrie  http://www.jeanweber.com/