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Subject:Questions about Page Numbering Style From:Dan Lupo <Dan_Lupo -at- DELL -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 9 Oct 1996 11:02:00 CDT
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From: <o=rfc987/p=dell computer/a=attmail/c=us/dd.RFC-822=Joanne(u)Saathoff(a)crow.bmc.com>
Date: 10/9/96 10:19AM
To: <s=Dan Lupo/o=ccmail/p=dell computer/a=attmail/c=us>
Subject: Questions about Page Numbering Style
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Subject: Questions about Page Numbering Style
I'm hoping some of you can provide some input on this usability
question.
Writers in our group disagree about whether to switch from folio page
numbering to sequential page numbering. Is anyone aware of research
that supports one page-numbering style over the other.
By folio page numbering, I mean that Chapter 1 starts on page 1-1 and
continues to page 1-30; Chapter 2 starts on page 2-1 and ends on page
2-34; and so on.
By sequential numbering, I mean that Chapter 1 starts on page 1 and
continues to page 30; Chapter 2 starts on page 31 and continues to
page 65; and so on.
Because we already use folio-numbering in our books, I think it makes
sense to maintain that style. Changing our numbering style might
confuse customers (albeit briefly), and the possible usability payoff
of sequential numbering is not worth the confusion.
On the other hand, those who advocate the sequential numbering style
say that the usability payoff is worth any initial confusion the
customer might have. For example, when looking up a topic in the
index, the user will find it easier to process and locate a sequential
page number rather than a folio number.
Our next step is to check with some of our customers to see if this is
something they even care about. Some say they won't even notice a
change like this. But, in the meantime, I hope that any of you with
information on this subject will respond.
Please send your responses to me directly, as I don't subscribe to
this list. I'll summarize the responses and post them on the list.
Thanks.
Joanne Saathoff
joanne_saathoff -at- bmc -dot- com
BMC Software, Inc.
Austin, Texas
