Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?

Subject: Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?
From: Lin Sims <ljsims -dot- ml -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "Wright, Lynne" <Lynne -dot- Wright -at- kronos -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2018 11:09:08 -0400

I like the idea, if I can find a font that has numbers in circles (we both
put our callout labels in colored circles) so that I can use it as part of
the autonumbering style I've set up. I'll see how my coworker feels about
that before I spend too much time trying to find a font that does that!

On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 10:41 AM, Wright, Lynne <Lynne -dot- Wright -at- kronos -dot- com>
wrote:

> Use number bubbles to label different elements in the diagram, and use
> number bubbles in the callout table to create an obvious association
> between the callouts and the diagram.
>
> Use a regular numbered list for procedures. I also add a "To" statement
> before procedures (ie. "To configure the x module), formatted in a
> different color than the procedure text, so that its easy to differentiate
> a procedure from other content.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> <techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> On Behalf
> Of Lin Sims
> Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 10:30 AM
> To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?
>
> I should say that my coworker is being extremely reasonable about this.
> He's perfectly happy to use numbers if we (or I, rather) can come up with
> a way to ensure there's no possibility of ambiguity or confusion on the
> reader's part by having a labeled diagram followed by a callout table
> followed by a procedure. He has run into that when documenting fire control
> panels at a previous job, so it's a very valid reason for using letters for
> callouts and numbers for procedures. I just think there should be a way of
> making clear what's going on without having to use two separate systems to
> label a diagram.
>
> So maybe I'm wrong? I dunno at this point.
>
> On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 10:22 AM, Lin Sims <ljsims -dot- ml -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
>
> > No, it's one or the other, not both. The problem he sees is that if
> > the procedure immediately follows the callout table that immediately
> > follows the labeled graphic, then you have three "1" in a row and he
> > finds that ambiguous. He's worked at prior positions where it has
> confused the user.
> >
> > I can see his point on that.
> >
> > He's not amenable to using a different font or inserting the word "Step"
> > into the numbering, though.
> >
> > On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 9:56 AM, <sharipunyon -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> >
> >> So, if there are both procedure references and callouts in the same
> >> diagram? In that case, use different formats for the numbers.
> >>
> >> If you are just worried that users will see a graphic with callouts
> >> and a separate procedure, just keep the callouts with the graphic,
> >> and separate them graphically from the rest of the text- for example
> >> in a table, or a smaller font. It should just be clear that the
> >> callouts travel with the graphic. Iâve seen it down frequently, with
> great clarity.
> >>
> >> > On Apr 24, 2018, at 9:38 AM, Lin Sims <ljsims -dot- ml -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > Resolution: he's fine with numbers if we can figure out a way to
> >> > ensure that people don't get confused if there is both a graphic
> >> > with a number
> >> key
> >> > AND a procedure. I can get behind that--ambiguity is bad.
> >> >
> >> > Now to figure out a way to remove the ambiguity. If anyone has
> >> > pointers
> >> on
> >> > that, let me know. I'll consult the book for a bit and see if it
> >> > has
> >> ideas.
> >> >
> >> > Thanks for all the feedback.
> >> >
> >> >> On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 8:50 AM, Rosalma Arcelay
> >> >> <rosie -at- cpanel -dot- net>
> >> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> No one is spelling out numbers. I use Arabic digits when I label a
> >> >> diagram. My coworker uses letters.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Oh, that makes more sense now! :)
> >> >>
> >> >> Maybe a coin toss?
> >> >>
> >> >> Rosie Arcelay
> >> >> Technical Writer II
> >> >> cPanel, Inc.
> >> >> rosie -at- cpanel -dot- net
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> On Apr 24, 2018, at 7:30 AM, Lin Sims <ljsims -dot- ml -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> No one is spelling out numbers. I use Arabic digits when I label a
> >> >> diagram. My coworker uses letters. We want to be consistent
> >> >> between
> >> the two
> >> >> of us, and we're disagreeing on which is better to use when
> >> >> labeling
> >> areas
> >> >> in a piece of hardware, locations in a floorplan, or in a software
> UI.
> >> >>
> >> >> I did do some research on the book I showed him, the one he
> >> >> rejected as "the writer doesn't know what he's talking about".
> >> >> Turns out the
> >> writer is
> >> >> a trained graphic designer, has a 350-cite bibliography, and this
> >> >> book
> >> is
> >> >> referenced in a lot of other books about illustrating technical
> >> information.
> >> >>
> >> >> We'll see how it goes after I point this out to him. We've not
> >> >> been working together too long, but so far we've managed to
> >> >> compromise on
> >> pretty
> >> >> much everything where our personal styles differ. I'd say we're
> >> >> about
> >> 50/50
> >> >> on that, which is good.
> >> >>
> >> >> On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 8:18 AM, Rosalma Arcelay
> >> >> <rosie -at- cpanel -dot- net>
> >> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >>> I donât think I have ever seen a graphic with numbers spelled out.
> >> >>> That being said, the first question I would ask isâ Who is your
> >> >>> user
> >> and
> >> >>> how will they be using this graphic?
> >> >>> If itâs a graphic thatâs meant to be scannable (aka, read
> >> >>> quickly), I would go with the numbers. Same if itâs being
> translated.
> >> >>> If itâs not, and itâs something thatâs going into a magazine, for
> >> >>> example, where people are taking their time to read it, then
> >> >>> spelling
> >> out
> >> >>> numbers might work (even though it would be weird, imo).
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Rosie Arcelay
> >> >>> Technical Writer II
> >> >>> cPanel, Inc.
> >> >>> rosie -at- cpanel -dot- net
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>> On Apr 24, 2018, at 1:54 AM, Erika Yanovich <ERIKA_y -at- rad -dot- com>
> wrote:
> >> >>>
> >> >>> If not too much text is involved, I'd used call-outs/bubbles with
> >> >>> the actual explanation inside.
> >> >>> HTH,
> >> >>> Erika
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> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> Lin Sims
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Lin Sims
> >> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >> > Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content
> >> > strategy
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> >> >
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> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Lin Sims
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Lin Sims
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and
> content development | http://techwhirl.com
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--
Lin Sims
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Follow-Ups:

References:
Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Lin Sims
RE: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Erika Yanovich
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Rosalma Arcelay
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Lin Sims
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Rosalma Arcelay
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Lin Sims
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: sharipunyon
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Lin Sims
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Lin Sims
RE: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Wright, Lynne

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