TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
While I agree that the target audience are the techs in the field, I would
not go as far to say that the manager says they prefer one bullet over
another. Is this the truth, or is he saying this to back up his preferences?
However, I would not settle on a style just because that is what you use in
Frame. You may have to match your Frame template to Word instead of the
other way around.
Al Geist-Geist Arts, LLC
Fine Art Photography - Exceptional Note Cards
Mobile: 231-301-5770
E-mail: al -at- geistarts -dot- com
Website: www.geistarts.com
Blog: www.gooterschmeltz.com
Facebook: Geist Arts
See Also:
Technical Communication, Help, Documentation Management
?We can?t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used to
create them." (Albert Einstein)
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+al=geistarts -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+al=geistarts -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
Dan Goldstein
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 2:47 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Bullet Styles
I would go with whatever bullet style your manager says the field
technicians prefer. They might have odd preferences, but they're the target
audience - right?
I'm having a discussion with my manager (I report into the Engineering dept.
as the only writer) about bullet styles. I use a square bullet for the main
bullet and another bullet style for a sub bullet. I use the main bullet
style regardless if the list is in the main body or a step.
My manager thinks because the bullet list is in a step, that the bullet
should not look the same as if it's in the body. He uses Word as his
guide-that when you press the indent arrow that the bullet style changes. I
develop templates in Word and FrameMaker and want the Word templates to
match with what I have for Frame, which is my main tool.
He also said that field technicians may be scanning down for say square
bullets and get confused if they see a square bullet in a step list.
I've never heard this complaint, but that doesn't mean it's not
relevant-just seems odd.
I found several examples on Microsoft.com for Word styles as well as the
Microsoft Manual of style, where the same bullet icon is used for a list in
the body or in a step. Any opinions on this?
This message contains confidential information intended only for the use of
the addressee(s). If you are not the addressee, or the person responsible
for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified that reading,
disseminating, distributing, copying, electronic storing or the taking of
any action in reliance on the contents of this message is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify us,
by replying to the sender, and delete the original message immediately
thereafter. Thank you.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need.
Try Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.
Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online
magazine at http://techwhirl.com
Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public
email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help. Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need.
Try Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.
