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Subject:Re: Numbering the headings. What is the point? From:edunn -at- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com To:TECHWR-L -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com Date:Thu, 21 Oct 1999 12:04:31 -0400
How do numbers help? To me it's simple: No matter how clean and amazing YOU
think your design is, how clear do your readers notice the distinction between
first, second, third, and fourth level headings? How easy is it for a reader to
be reading a fourth level heading on the 10th page of your procedure, need a
refresher, and jump back to not the encompassing third level heading but the one
before it? With numbers, impossible. Without, the possibility of confusion
arising is always there.
Numbers or any other design addition that gives the reader instant perspective
as to where they are in the "big picture" are a great advantage. If your fourth
levels are identified only by indent and heading size, then as soon as you have
a page without the next higher level on it then the reader no longer has a view
of the "big picture".
