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Subject:Re: Numbering From:Beverly Parks <bparks -at- HUACHUCA-EMH1 -dot- ARMY -dot- MIL> Date:Mon, 30 Oct 1995 06:30:47 MST
Apparently, not all Data Item Descriptions (DID) are created
equal. Loren said
> A simple way to satisfy everybody is to write a paragraph like this:
> 2.2 Non-Government documents. None.
> I would do this only if I had to provide a paragraph 2.3 to satisfy a
> requirement in the DID.
I'm looking at a DID for a software requirements specification
and an item in block 10 under Content and Format Instructions,
says
"In the event that a paragraph or subparagraph has been tailored
out, a statement to that effect shall be added directly
following the heading of each such (sub)paragraph. If a
paragraph and all of its subparagraphs are tailored out, only
the highest level paragraph heading need be included."
This particular DID has an approval date of 880229; I have no
idea if it's still current. The point is, however, that
government documentation is sorely inconsistent and we can't
generalize a rule based on a single, "typical" DID.
Bev Parks
bparks -at- huachuca-emh1 -dot- army -dot- mil
=============
Here's the rest of Loren's message:
Loren Castro <lfc -at- SOL -dot- CHINALAKE -dot- NAVY -dot- MIL> wrote-->
(...background snipped...)
> I'll provide an example from real life.
> A typical Data Item Description (DID) for DOD-STD-2167A (titled
> "Defense System Software Development") requires a Section 2 for
> listing references:
> Applicable documents. This section shall be numbered 2
> and shall be divided into the following paragraphs.
> Government documents. This paragraph shall be numbered 2.1.
> <details deleted>
> Non-Government documents. This paragraph shall be numbered
> 2.2 . . . . <details deleted>
> The DID does not require text under the section heading, and I supply
> none. And being small minded and an extremist for consistency, I don't
> write text under any other section headings.
> If I don't refer to any "non-Government documents" in the document I'm
> writing, I don't need a paragraph 2.2. But if I refer to "Government
> documents, I still need a paragraph 2.1. The DID requires it.
> A simple way to satisfy everybody is to write a paragraph like this:
> 2.2 Non-Government documents. None.
> I would do this only if I had to provide a paragraph 2.3 to satisfy a
> requirement in the DID.
> Well, that's my story, and I'm stuck with it. It's a different world
> here.
> lfc -at- sol -dot- chinalake -dot- navy -dot- mil