It sounds to me like we're all discussing the same philosophy: That things should be easy, controllable, and understandable.
If a print paradigm is most comfortable, then create books with chapters & the requisite # of headings. If topic-based authoring seems most straightforward, then go that route. AFIK, all the tools one might consider will give a nod to print (Word, PDF, and good ol' File > Print), to Help output, and to structure via DITA or another model. I've always preached that the xrefs should be complete units where possible. This allows for consistency and accuracy in entering them, and for better understanding, albeit less variety, for the end user. Now that documentation=printed/PDF manuals=Help=training, the ability to manage xref formats from 1 template per output is (for me & my clients)is non-negotiable. I choose to limit the choices in xref formats to the minimum, mapping to appropriate formats for various outputs (read as "on import to RoboHelp") I limit my formatting to 95% of what I want to keep my doc's under control, rather than jumping thru the endless hoops needed to achieve 100% of what others perceive as "perfect" -Matt Matt Sullivan GRAFIX Training matt at grafixtraining.com www.grafixtraining.com office 714 960-6840 cell & txt 714 585-2335 sms message skype: mattrsullivan twitter: mattrsullivan -----Original Message----- From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Sharon Burton Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 1:48 PM To: 'Mike Feimster'; framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: RE: Cross-ref formats Right now she's doing print. But in 6 months? I like to build for this possibility. And I'm lazy and don't want to have to worry about what template is applied and checking the xref formats to make sure it's all as it should be and... I'm not saying Nancy is wrong, I'm just giving my philosophy on what I prefer to do. sharon Sharon Burton IM: sharonvburton at yahoo.com 951-369-8590 -----Original Message----- From: Mike Feimster [mailto:mike.feims...@acstechnologies.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 1:33 PM To: sharon at anthrobytes.com; framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: RE: Cross-ref formats Considering she's setting up a template for a print document, it makes sense to include the page numbers in the x-ref formats. If she's outputting to a different format, she can create a separate set of x-ref definitions in the tool she is using to create her other output. Mike -----Original Message----- From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Sharon Burton Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 4:18 PM To: 'Nancy Allison'; framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: RE: Cross-ref formats Given that more and more information is being repurposed, I've become against making things fit the old printed model. The xref formats you describe are from print. But I'm thinking more and more of formatting and content as separate. I would set the xrefs as simple as possible in Frame to handle other outputs. But that's just me. I'd rather not have writers trying to figure out what to use when and I'd really like to not have checking these formats in the preproduction list. sharon Sharon Burton IM: sharonvburton at yahoo.com 951-369-8590 -----Original Message----- From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Nancy Allison Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 12:52 PM To: framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: Re: Cross-ref formats Some follow-up questions: 1. I've been looking at the Chicago Manual, 15th edition. I'd expect a great honking treatment of this subject, but I'm not seeing it. All the cross-reference i9nformation is presented with reference to indexes and bibliographies. The sections referring to cross-references "in text" are discussions of the editor's obligation to check cross-references! Is there an exhaustive section on x-ref format, in text, that I'm missing? 2. I'm shocked, shocked, I tell you , to discover just what a stick-in-the-mud I really am. I thought italics were sacrosanct for referring to the titles of separately bound publications. (Although how purely electronic publications can be "bound" is a topic for another day.) But .. . you've all gotten over this hurdle and use italics to identify cross-references? Like: "See <open italics> Pots and Pans <close italics> on page 85," where "Pots and Pans" is a couple of paragraphs with header in a much longer chapter of a much larger *separately bound* publication, whether physical or digital? Really? I must sit down. In that case, do you also put your italicized x-refs in a different color, so as to distinguish them from the titles of separately bound publications, which you might also mention in your text? Thanks! --Nancy _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as mike.feimster at acstechnologies.com. Send list messages to framers at lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscribe at lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/mike.feimster%40acst echnologies.com Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as matt at grafixtraining.com. Send list messages to framers at lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscribe at lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/matt%40grafixtraining.co m Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.