Re: Trends in (PRINTED) Page Layout

[PETER STEPHEN ONG <pong -at- SFSU -dot- EDU>]

Ms. Burke:

Here is the questionaire I sent out on the list.  (I said last month, but
it was during Feb.  Sorry :-)).  Twelve writers responded, of which I
cited from four or five for my report.

I just wanted to send this to see if it was what you are looking for.  You
do not need to reply to the questions.

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

Peter


On Sun, 23 Feb 1997, PETER STEPHEN ONG wrote:

  David:
>
> Sorry, I got a little side-tracked on the last letter.  Thank you for
> pointing that out.  Allow me to explain what I need.
>
> What are the current trends?  I know they differ from document to document
> (such as procedures, manuals, specs.), but what is common in all
> practice to use in documents?  Here are some questions that I cannot find
> in books or magazines at my library, nor can I answer since I have not
> graduated yet.
>
> I will incorporate the most important trends into my report and give an
> oral presentation to my class.  In effect, your replies will influence the
> next generation of Technical Writers!
>
>         I am limiting all these questions to white legal 8.5 X 11 inch
>         paper. (Mainly because that is only what I can print on! :-)).
>
>         1) Use more or less white space?  When and where to scarifice?
>
>         2) Have one to three huge paragraphs on a page or divide a page
>            into several mini paragraphs?
>
>         3) What is the norm for subheads?  Bold or underlined?
>
>         4) Bars running above or below headers and footers?  Are H&Fs
>            centered, justified, or flush left?
>
>         5) Is the trend towards in-house printing or taking it to a
>            printshop? (For 8.5 X 11).
>
>         6) If in-house, what is the norm for pinting? Laser, inkjet, or
>            color inkjet? (I use color inkjet).
>
>         7) What are DPI standards for in-house and public documentation?
>
>         8) Are more people using PageMaker or FrameMaker and why?
>
>         9) Do writers prefer to use steps, numbered steps, round bullets,
>            or diamond bullets?  What do the majority feel is the best way
>            to get the message across?
>
>         10)  Are writers told to write more or less to explain and convey
>              the message these days?
>
>         11)  Are writers expected to know how to use graphics software
>              (Photoshop) and include them in their pages?  Or is text
>              still the main form of communication in this field?
>
>         12)  Do writers spell everything out in manual form or are
>              they drifting towards more of a "Reference Sheet,"
>              "numbered steps," or "bulleted" style?
>
>         13)  Is the use of color beginning to become standard for most
>              projects involving heavy text?
>
>         14)  Is page layout and document design done all by computer or do
>              writers still do cut-and-paste and blueline printouts before
>              the final version?
>
>         15)  Roughly how many people get to lay out a page design and
>              decide how it should look? Mainly one? Two? Three? Eight?
>              The boss?  Project manager?
>
>         16)  S.F. State teaches: Instructions & Procedures should use
>              numbered steps, bullets, headers/ footers, and subheads.
>              Manuals and descriptions should have title, subhead, block
>              text paragrpahs.  Are there other conventions out in the
>              workplace for these documents?
>
>         17)  Do most writers write in 10pt, 12pt, or 14pt?
>
>         18)  What are the most popular serif fonts and sans serif fonts
>              used?  What were the former popular fonts and why did they
>              "die?"
>
>         19)  Do most writers use the software templates and their
>              company/ own style guides to write or start from
>              scratch?
>
>         20)  Any other trends I may have missed?
>
>
> Thank you for reading.  I appreciate your experienced comments.  I realize
> that replies and trends will differ from company to company, but rest
> assured, sorting them out will be MY problem :-).
>
>
> Peter
>
>  TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
> to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot-  Send commands
>    to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
>   Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/  or search and
> browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
>

 TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot-  Send commands
   to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
  Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/  or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html