Michele Zarri wrote:
I agree on the need to swap chapters 5 and 6, create first, format later
sounds very logical.
Re the use of the term "Graphics" I think so far we have been using it
consistently, but if we now create a stand alone chapter for pictures we
need to be a bit careful. Sections describing how to position, move and
re-scale graphics apply to both pictures and graphic objects therefore
in the new chapter structure we can choose to duplicate them or to
create cross references across chapters. Cross references of this type
are OK in a book, but not so easy to maintain when working on each
chapter in isolation. Besides some of the info are rather fundamental so
I will probably start by duplicating them.
In general, I think it would be better to have x-refs if at all
possible (not duplicating material) -- as well as perhaps
amending some headings or text in the sections that apply to
both. The x-refs do not have to be detailed or specific; many of
the existing x-refs say something like "see Chapter 2 for
details" and I think that is quite okay, if not ideal. The
Getting Started book and the Writer Guide are full of that sort
of x-ref.
Last week we had a discussion about whether to duplicate material
between books. I support duplicating material between books, but
I'm not in favour of duplicating material between chapters within
a single book unless it is essential to do so.
Maybe we could add some kind of note to remind us that if we ever make a
book out of all the chapters, some sections will be redundant.
As soon as all the chapters are done, I will compile the book.
We could look at making some of the duplicated material into
sections that will be hidden in the full book (as the copyright
pages and chapter ToCs are), but I do not think this is a good
idea because many people will get very confused if a stand-alone
chapter has material that they don't find in the same chapter in
the full book.
Anyway, I will start then to do the copy & paste + terminology revision.
Optimistically, I hope to have the three chapters up for revision in a
week or so (depends how busy I will be in the weekend :) ).
Thanks, Michele!
Meanwhile, if anyone else has opinions or relevant experience to
share, please do so. I personally am beginning to feel I'm too
close to the trees to see the forest properly any more.
--Jean
