Table continuation variable: philosophical question

[_Ed_H_]

My apologies in advance if this is too off-topic.

The Table Continuation variable (and its companion, the Table Sheet variable) are useful tools. But how
i necessary
are they?

I ask because using the variables involves a certain amount of overhead (particularly the Table Sheet variable, when used in a table footer), and I'm not convinced the effort is worth it. These are just software user guides we're doing here, not aviation specs or military schematics. I can't imagine that our users won't be smart enough to flip the page to see if there's more information.

Within my current group there are opposing forces on the necessity of using these variables. Does anyone here know of any studies into this? Or do any of you have any particular insight that will drive this standoff one way or another?

Thanks!

[R__VanDyke]

Ed:

I find that the optimal place for a table continuation variable is in the table's caption, if the table's design includes a caption.

Alternatively, I place it in one of the columns in a table's heading. In this case, I place it in one or the table's wider columns at the extreme left or right side of the table; for example, a "Description" column. A wide column ensures that FrameMaker will properly display the variable...

I generally choose to use table continuation variables because I assume that a reader of the technical documentation I create will quite probably "dive bomb" into the middle of a doc looking for something; the table continuation variable helps them recognize that the table they've dived into begins on a preceding page...

Cheers & hope this helps,
Riley

[_Kenneth_Benson_]

Interesting point of view. In my case, continueds are necessary when the
client says they're necessary. But, yes, I always thought they were kind
of silly. I mean, readers are smart enough to assume that the content on
page 33 will be continued on page 34. Why aren't they smart enough to
assume that the content in the table on page 33 will be continued in the
table on page 34? Particularly unnecessary, I think, is the continued
across a spread.

--
Kenneth Benson
Pegasus Type, Inc.
www.pegtype.com

[_Ed_H_]

Thanks for the opinons. I think I'm going to recommend the Table Sheet variable in the table title. It's the lowest overhead, biggest bang option in my case.

[peter minneapolis]

Hi, Kenneth:

The table variables are very helpful where a continued table's formatting seems to be the first sheet, rather than a later sheet.

HTH

Regards,

Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices