Alan Litchfield wrote: > I need to create a Word template for use by contributors to a > large document. Most of the content will have passed through > various approval committees and courts before finally being > added to the document. Once the content has been approved it > cannot be varied, regardless of what ever horrible formats > have been used.
Scott replied: > You mean to say that your powers that be don't differentiate > between content and format? > > That is crazy. Format has nothing to do with content. This is > a self-inflicted wound. To which I say, Amen! In fact, I can't help but wonder if you or your supervisor are misinterpreting what's actually required. "Once the content has been approved it cannot be varied" -- well, changing the font, leading, left indent, etc., does NOT change the CONTENT. What is the deliverable? -- A Word doc? (As a .doc, .docx, or .rtf file? On a floppy, CD, DVD, email attachment, or what?) -- A PDF? (Created how? With what job options? Fonts embedded? What zoom level and view settings on open? Any security settings?) -- A hard copy? (What size paper? Single-sided or double-sided? Letterhead? Watermark?) The content in all of them may be identical, but the framework -- the container, formatting, layout, presentation, or whatever you want to call it -- will be radically different for each. For electronic versions, there will most likely be binary file changes even from just resaving. You simply *have* to differentiate between content and format. Admittedly, there is some overlap -- the _relative_ level of a heading shouldn't change because it's relationship to others in the hierarchy conveys meaning and thus affects content. But to forbid a font change is indeed crazy. "It's my opinion and it's very true." Richard ------ Richard G. Combs Senior Technical Writer Polycom, Inc. richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom 303-223-5111 ------ rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom 303-777-0436 ------
