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Subject:Re: One publication or two? From:"Dan S. Azlin" <dazlin -at- SHORE -dot- NET> Date:Sat, 16 Sep 1995 01:53:08 -0400
I don't know of any research on readable lengths, but my experience has
been that the length of a given document is a function of the material to
be covered and the method of printing. For example:
One client I had needed a cheap installation and operation manual for a
user-installable circuit board. The final document was about 5x7" and 12
pages in length. The 12 page goal was due to the fact that the printer
would print in a "4 up" setup of pages. Three such pages were thus
needed for each document (plus a cover page printed seratately). Another
client was more concerned with comprehensiveness and the ability to mix
and match addendums to the main document; so we opted for a 1.5" D-ring
binder. Print runs will also dictate optimum length as the cost-per-copy
of one printing method might be significantly better than another, even
though a practical page limit for binding has to be allowed for.
It's not an easy question to answer. However, I guess that making that
kind of judgement is what we get paid the big bucks for. :)
On Fri, 8 Sep 1995, Romay Jean Sitze wrote:
> On Thu, 7 Sep 1995, Geoff Bradbury wrote:
> >
> > I've another question that follows on from publication splitting, and might
> > sound a little weird on first read. Can anyone point me to a reference that
> > discusses the issues of the physical size of publications? Most references
> > I've searched describe, at great length, the pros and cons of layout, reader
> > navigation aids, etc. But what about the 'optimum' number of pages in a
> > publication? Is there any research available that examines this question?
> I am also interested in this question. At first glance, I would simply
> say that the optimum number of pages would be the number that would cover
> the topic adequately--and still leave the completed pub. a manageable
> size. (Can you still lift it with one hand? :)) I don't know of any
> specific research on the subject, so I'll be looking forward to replies.
> RoMay Sitze, rositze -at- nmsu -dot- edu
Dan Azlin ** WORD ENGINEERS, Technical Writing & Publishing **
Ph/Fax: 508-921-8908 18 School Street
Internet: dazlin -at- shore -dot- net Beverly, MA 01915-4851
