Re: Using tables for content

Subject: Re: Using tables for content
From: Sean <seanb_us -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 06:04:39 -0700 (PDT)

Here is the table-based approach:

One row and three columns per step.
Col 1 = step number
Col 2 = action
Col 3 = result

So,

1.  |   Click File, and then click Open.   |   The file opens.

There is no accounting for substeps in this layout. So,

1.   | Open a file   | A File opens.
      | Click File.
      | Click Open.
      | Select a file.

2.  | Edit the file.   | Some result text here?


As you can see, my example is squirrely, but that's the table-based construction.

Sean
      




On Thursday, October 24, 2013 4:23 PM, Lauren <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net> wrote:

On 10/24/2013 12:59 PM, Janoff, Steven wrote:
> On October 24, 2013 12:14 PM, Lauren wrote:
>> This is useful but not directly relevant.
>> http://affect.media.mit.edu/pdfs/05.larson-picard.pdf
> This is excellent, and actually *very* relevant.

Thanks. I thought it was relevant to learning but not to tabled lists.

> The kind of tabular procedure Sean is talking about is different, I think, from the example shown on the court page.  In that one, "Step n" is in the left column, and the step text is in the right column.  In Sean's example (if I remember right), the action to perform is in the left column (with the step number, I assume), and the outcome or result is in the right column.

I know it wasn't exact. It did provide a comparison between a table list
and and a paragraph list. I didn't think the numbering was a factor in
the comparison.

Here is the list (mostly) with the numbers in the first column. I didn't
format the numbers to look right and I don't know what the table will do
when email converts it to text. If the second column was changed to step
names it would be closer to accurate. I like the table layout in some
contexts and the paragraph layout in others. For multiple editors and
ease of reorganization for the non-savvy, a table is best for editing
*and* for showing errors that writing professionals are less likely to
make than amateurs, like repetition, missed steps, and ordering issues.

1. -

   
   
   
   
   

Step 1:

   

You must be able to pay the full bail, plus $61.00 (fee for traffic
school) within 90 days from the date of this request. Your total bail
can be obtained by reviewing the online traffic index located on our
website http://www.saccourt.ca.gov/traffic/citation-index.aspx .

2. -

   
   
   
   
   

Step 2:

   

Complete this request and submit to the Court. This request must be
received by the Court on or before the due date listed at the bottom of
your citation or as otherwise ordered by the Court.

3. -

   
   
   
   
   

Step 3:

   

Complete Traffic Violator School. Once your request for traffic violator
school request has been granted, you will receive an information packet
from the Court.

4. -

   
   
   
   
   

Step 4:

   

Submit the Traffic School Completion Certificate:. When you have
completed attendance at traffic violator school, you will be provided
with a completion receipt. It is not necessary to send your certificate
receipt to the court. All certificates of completion will be
electronically sent to the court.


> I can cite no examples of research right now, but a quick search on Google Scholar shows lots of papers associated with "brain learning visual cortex."  I do NOT know if there is an advantage to the left-to-right sweeping that you'd have in Sean's example, versus a vertical scan as in the normal, ordered list form of step-by-step procedures.  I think it would be a decent subject for study, though.

It would be something worth following.





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Follow-Ups:

References:
Using tables for content: From: Sean
RE: Using tables for content: From: Janoff, Steven
Re: Using tables for content: From: Haim Roman
RE: Using tables for content: From: Paul Hanson
RE: Using tables for content: From: Janoff, Steven
Re: Using tables for content: From: Robert Lauriston
RE: Using tables for content: From: Janoff, Steven
Re: Using tables for content: From: Robert Lauriston
RE: Using tables for content: From: Janoff, Steven
Re: Using tables for content: From: Lauren
RE: Using tables for content: From: Janoff, Steven
Re: Using tables for content: From: Lauren

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