Conference vaxuum::document_ft

814.0. "Change bar requirements" by BOOKIE::SCHORR (ZK02-2/N53 - Mark Alan Schorr - 381-2445) Mon Aug 17 1987 16:54

Our writing group (Rdb/VMS documentation) has used change bars
extensively in field test documentation.  Currently we distribute
field test materials in online form as well as line printer copy.
In FT1 documentation we use vertical bars, and in FT2 documentation
we redefine the change bar character to be "+"s.

As we change over to DOCUMENT, we miss this one particular feature
for both online and hardcopy documents.  I hope that this doesn't
sound like complaining because we are otherwise very pleased with
DOCUMENT's feature set.

Our readers particularly appreciate change bars that flag changes
in latter stages of the field test with a different character
because:

        - they have less to reread
        - they can monitor things already changed.

For the above reasons, we hope that you will consider implementing
change bars with user-definable characters in the near future.
Perhaps if the change bar character is user-definable it will show
up in line printer and online output as well.

Thanks for considering this change to the DOCUMENT production system.

                         -- Mark Schorr 
                            Rdb/VMS Documentation

    
    Enhancements to revision character support are on the wishlist.