Re: Are chapter numbes a thing of the past?

[Char James-Tanny <charjtf -at- gmail -dot- com>]

> I'd hope that content is grouped logically by chapter. The reason for
> finding a chapter is that it has the content-type most appropriate for
> your question. The number is a way of labeling the chapter in a way
> easy to follow the sequence.

LOL Yes, it was organized by chapter. (It wasn't my organizational
structure and I discovered years ago that "logically" is subjective,
not objective.)

And I do understand why chapter numbers are used. I just don't like
them in footers with page numbers.

> You aren't going to chapter 5 because you want a 5. You are going to
> the chapter because it contains the configuration information for the
> XYZ-3 Conflagurator. The 5 just makes it easier to refer someone else
> to the chapter.

You are absolutely correct.

> It would have been worse if they also had to look in chapter 1-10

And they did. They had to look in a variety of chapters, depending on
the information they wanted.

Here's my issue. There's a book with 600 pages on my desk. Someone
says to me, the information you want is on page 6-103. OK then. Let's
see...maybe halfway through? Nope, that's page 4-23. Hmmm...ok, maybe
if I divide the remaining book in half and look there?

I could spend (or waste) several minutes just trying to find the dratted page.

Now picture that same book, only someone says to me, the information
you want is on page 275. Ah, just a bit before middle. If I open the
book there, I should be within 25 pages either way of the page I want.
No stumbling around the book trying to find the right chapter...just
go right to the area where the page is.

(And this process works when the book is printed to PDF, too.)

I understand the reasons why people use chapter references with page
numbers. I produce docs that way for clients that request it. I just
find it very unusable, which to me is unacceptable given that most
users aren't picking up this book because they need something good to
read...they're picking it up because they need answers. Preferably
sooner than later.

Char James-Tanny ~ JTF Associates, Inc. ~ http://www.helpstuff.com
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