Re: Size of Manuals

[Sharon Burton-Hardin <sharonburton -at- EMAIL -dot- MSN -dot- COM>]

Actually, the reason why software manuals, at least, are 7x9 is even simpler
than usability. The standard packaging box is 8x10. The manual fits in the
box.

I always ask my students why these manuals are this size and I get all sorts
of fun responses. The truth? It fits in the standard box.

sharon

Sharon Burton-Hardin
President of the Inland Empire chapter of the STC
www.iestc.org
Anthrobytes Consulting
Home of RoboNEWS(tm), the unofficial RoboHELP newsletter
www.anthrobytes.com
Check out www.WinHelp.net!
See www.sharonburton.com!

-----Original Message-----
From: Burns, Nancy <nburns -at- BREAULT -dot- COM>
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU <TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU>
Date: Tuesday, 13 April, 1999 1:02 PM
Subject: Re: Size of Manuals


|Manuals that are in the 7 x 9" range (such as yours) seem to be most
|commonly used. This size preference may have to do with it's convenience:
|fits compactly on the desk, close to the computer without taking up a lot
of
|valuable real estate, easier to hold in our hands or lap, and fits in a
|briefcase. Most of the 3rd party computer books are printed in this size
|range too, probably for the same reason. With appropriate layout and fonts,
|readability need not be sacrificed. You didn't say why your tech support
|person is adamant about 8.5 x 11. If she or he has the user in mind, I'm
|curious as to the perceived benefits to the user from the larger books.
|
|Nancy Burns
|nburns -at- breault -dot- com
|-----Original Message-----
|From: Brian Doonan <bdoonan -at- CORECO -dot- COM>
|
|
|...one of our tech support people...is
|adamant in his belief that a technical manual..., should be
|8.5 by 11 inches in size. We produce manuals in 6.5 by 8.5 and believe it's
|the best option for us. ...
|
|From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000==
|
|
|

 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=