RE: Using tables for content

Subject: RE: Using tables for content
From: Lynne Wright <Lynne -dot- Wright -at- tiburoninc -dot- com>
To: Sean <seanb_us -at- yahoo -dot- com>, "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:08:52 +0000

Are you asking whether it's a good idea to format a procedure (ie. a series of numbered steps that you follow to perform a task) as a table?

If so, I can't think of any advantages.

Aside from the obvious disadvantage of having to manually number each step, putting instructions in a grid form creates a dense block of information, so its harder to visually track/keep your place within the block of information.



-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=tiburoninc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=tiburoninc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Sean
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2013 9:45 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Using tables for content

Hi all,

So, whilst I search the archives, can we have a live discussion on the pros and cons of using tables for tech writing content. Consider a traditional procedure that uses step: in the left column, the action, and in the right column, the result. It seems, for Word, each row needs to be numbered manually.

Conversely, there is standard ordered list approach without using a table.

Thoughts?

Sean


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
New! Doc-to-Help 2013 features the industry's first HTML5 editor for authoring.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/ZeOZeQ

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as Lynne -dot- Wright -at- tiburoninc -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

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


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
New! Doc-to-Help 2013 features the industry's first HTML5 editor for authoring.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/ZeOZeQ

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

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


Follow-Ups:

References:
Using tables for content: From: Sean

Previous by Author: RE: Print vs. print out
Next by Author: Print vs. print out
Previous by Thread: Using tables for content
Next by Thread: Re: Using tables for content


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads