Ian said, I know you like coloured symbols, Skip. So do I. But there are issues with them.
Skip says: Actually, I have no preference for colored or un-colored symbols in the text. PackRat suggested in his post to use a red exclamation point for "need to know" topics, so that is what I implemented. Since most all of J consists of symbols, we just need a symbol that will stand out against all of the symbols already in the text. Color can help that, but it isn't necessary. The symbol just needs to be markedly different than the other ASCII symbols on the page. The symbols I propose to use essentially take the place of the standard superscript footnote numbers in text, since both things indicate that there is more information available about the specific topic. Hyperlinked symbols are more flexible than footnotes, since a hyperlinked footnote symbol can instantly link the reader to the specific text that they need to read anywhere in the document, without having to search for the correct footnote number at the bottom of the page. The integer footnote numbers are not needed because each new instance of the same footnote symbol can be hyperlinked to go to a different place in the document, without having to increment the number each time. Just hyperlinking words and phrases in the text doesn't give the novice enough information to know whether they should follow the link or not. Som elinks are just "nice-to-know" stuff. and some are "must know". We need a good way for a reader to be able to distinguish between the two. Ian said: Always put the icon to the left of written text (e.g. the explanation). Skip says: No. footnote symbols are always placed to the right of a word or concept, not to the left. Better yet, the symbols can pop-up text when the mouse is hovered over them. This allows the author to put short hints with each footnote symbol, to remind a forgetful reader of a key point, without having to actually follow the hyperlink. Of course, true novices should always take the "must read" links the first time they encounter a specific unknown word or phrase marked with the footnote symbol. There really needs to be only two special footnote symbols for this usage, one symbol to indicate "must know" issues, and one for "nice to know" issues. It might be useful to make these symbol somewhat unobtrusive, similar to the superscript footnote integers, so they don't clutter up the page too much. Those two symbols will be defined in a key list on the opening vocabulary page, so beginners will "get it" right off. I like the "footnote" metaphor, as it communicates the intent perfectly, but the reality is much more powerful. . I re-designed the footnote "Must read" symbol on the greaterdot page to be black & white and smaller, so it won't be so obtrusive. Here's the link again: http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/Vocabulary/greaterthan./ I still haven't figured out how to hyperlink that symbol to a new page, but I can at least get the pop-up text to work. Anyone know how to hyperlink graphics in moin moin and still have a pop-up text? Or, we can just hyperlink the actual text word or phrase, and then use the footnote symbol to indicate the "must know" or "nice t know" issues. The pop-up text on the graphic can still be used to give brief hints about the concept that is footnoted. Skip Cave . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
