TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Odd Pages From:Richard Lippincott <rlippinc -at- BEV -dot- ETN -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 15 Mar 1995 14:40:16 EST
Kelly Burhenne said that all chapters should start on page 1:
>This is so standard (for good reason) that it's really not even
>worth talking about!
I'm sorry, I missed the reason.
I can only -assume- that each chapter starting on page 1 derives from
a page numbering system of: 1-X, 2-X, 3-X, and so forth.
Why are we so adverse to page numbering like a novel? Was there a study
done on enhanced usability that I've missed? Why is it important for the
user to know that the task in use is on the 27th page of chapter 3, as
opposed to being on page 87? As Bev pointed out, if it's a matter of trying
to chunk subjects together, there are other ways to do this.
At the very least, "novel" page numbering makes my life easier, as I don't
have to struggle with FrameMaker's # -at- %! system of chapter numbering.
Rick Lippincott
Eaton Semiconductor
Beverly, MA
rlippinc -at- bev -dot- etn -dot- com