RE: Naming template styles

["Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>]

I prefer to use Word's default styles so that I continue to use my shortcuts
(e.g.: <Ctrl+Alt+F1> for Heading 1) and so that I can keep my list of styles
rather tidy.  I do not like having lists of styles with more than one
Heading 1 style.  So I use the defaults since they cannot be deleted,
shortcuts are mapped to them, and they are in every Word document.  

When I inherit a document with multiple styles and the client does not need
a particular set of styles, then I change them to use the defaults as much
as possible.  Especially, if the original author is not available to explain
what the styles mean, as is frequently the case.

I don't base any style on none unless I am sure that it should be based on
none.  Normal and note styles are based on none, but most styles are based
on Normal.  With Normal as the base, I can globally change elements that
need to be changed for every style.  For example, the primary font and line
spacing do effect the document globally.  Draft copies of documents have 1.5
or 2 line spacing, while final copies have 1 line spacing.  This is an easy
change by changing Normal.  

I worked for one company that changed its corporate font while I was still
working on documentation.  This change was easy to implement by changing
Normal.  If I had to change each style based on none, then I would need to
change every form of Body Text, list style, and table style.  As it was, a
global change in Normal worked.  Headings and other styles often override
the base font, but these overrides do not usually need to be changed during
a global change.

I might try basing numbered styles on none to see how that works, but if I
liked it, I would probably create a new style based on none to use for the
base of the numbered styles to keep the convenience of global changes
available.

Lauren

> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> ] On Behalf Of Hemstreet, Deborah
> Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 5:20 AM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: RE: Naming template styles
> 
>  I usually name my styles based on the target and type of document.
> 
> For example, I don't want my Heading 1 to be mixed with Word's
> default... 
> 
> So I might name the style H1_WI for Heading 1 work instructions.
> 
> The other thing I do - which is very important in Word, is to 
> make sure
> that NONE of my styles are based on another style, unless I'm 100%
> certain this is what I want.
> 
> For example,
> 
> Body Text WI would be based on none
> 
> Then all subsequent custom variations for Body Text will be 
> based on the
> first one.
> 
> H1_WI based on none,
> But H2_WI etc. will be based on H1
> 
> This way, I know my heirarchies and which changes will be carried
> through.
> 
> By the way - assigning custom styles based on none is the best way to
> get Word's numbering (V2003) to hold. It's been working great 
> - a major
> improvement over Word 2000!
> 
> Deborah
> 
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