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Subject:RE: Binding printed doc From:"McDonald, Guy A." <Guy -dot- A -dot- McDonald -at- usa -dot- conoco -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 8 Feb 2001 10:51:34 -0600
You can argue this one all day. I think I'll use Jared Spool's mainstay
comment about usability and say - "it depends."
Hardcopy format depends on what suits your needs. If you want large training
documents with plenty of whitespace - use 8 1/2" x 11" monsters with tabs
and Mylar strips down the gutter of each page.
If you need a handy dandy reference that lays flat and takes up less desk
real estate - print a small spiral bound book. They fit in briefcases a
whole lot better than the 3-ring version. Of course, as Bryan mentioned,
fluid documents are hard to update in this format short of running another
print job.
Or go 100% paperless if you want to make that mistake. With *that* said ---
don't flame me if you are a paperless shop. It's almost Friday and so far my
week is going well.
Guy A. McDonald
Information Development Manager
Technical Information Architects, Inc.
7880 San Felipe Suite #200
Houston, Texas 77063
<mailto:gmcdonald -at- tiainfo -dot- com>
Direct 713.975.0081
Conoco office 281.293.6422
Fax 713.975.9812
Cell 281.935.0721 http://www.tiainfo.com
-----Original Message-----
From: bryan -dot- westbrook -at- amd -dot- com [mailto:bryan -dot- westbrook -at- amd -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 10:25 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: Binding printed doc
Are your managers ex-military. 3-ring binders are a standard documentation
format for the U.S. military.
There are several advantages: price, ease of updating, easy to lay open for
hands free reading, easy to remove pages to photocopy. I have also heard
from guys in the field that a huge binder makes an excellent doorstop.
One thing you may want to point out to them is that the holes tend to tear
after long-term use and pages will hang loose or fall out completely. There
may also be the temptation for users in large offices to remove pages for
their own use and return the rest of the book to the library.
-----Original Message-----
From: Joyce Fetterman [mailto:JoyceF -at- gtsoftware -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 9:51 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Binding printed doc
The management of my company decided LONG ago that they wanted our product
(mainframe & PC software) documentation distributed to our customers in
3-ring binders. It's been that way ever since. They like the way the binders
look on their bookcases. They think it's a *good* look.
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