Frame's lame callouts

[Yves Barbion]

Indeed, Carla,

text expansion is something to consider when your English text will be
translated.

However, I would use letters instead of numbers and lines (straight lines or
polygons) for the following reasons:

   - numbers may be confused with the numbers of numbered steps
   - arrows indicate movement, so in some cases, the user may think that
   he has to move something, whereas you (the writer) just want to indicate a
   component or part of the graphic.

Kind regards


-- 
Yves Barbion
Documentation Architect
Adobe-Certified FrameMaker Instructor
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On Nov 15, 2007 5:47 PM, Martinek, Carla <CMartinek at zebra.com> wrote:

> One thing to consider if you have callouts that will need translating is
> the expansion in the length of the callout. What terms might fit in the
> space allotted in English may or may not in other languages. If they
> don't fit, then the translators will need to manually resize the callout
> frame (extra cost). Or they'll have to pick a smaller font size to fit
> (not following the styles AND extra cost).
>
> For these reasons, we do our callouts using numbers and arrows only on
> the graphic itself and a table below the graphic. Yes, it takes up more
> room, and is slightly less user-friendly, but it keeps the graphics much
> cleaner and makes translations easier.  It was a compromise we chose to
> make after consulting with our translators, and has worked well with us
> for several years now.
>
> -Carla
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com
> [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Diane Gaskill
> Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 5:01 AM
> To: Ann Zdunczyk; framers at frameusers.com
> Subject: RE: Frame's lame callouts
>
> Adding to what Ann said, ALL text in frames is picked up by the
> Translators Workbench and can easily be translated as part of the body
> text flow.  Free text winds up at the end of the file.  Although it is
> translatable, it take more time and you will be charged for it becasue
> they have to look at it separately.  My advice to anyone whose docs have
> even the remotest chance of being translated - use text frames for
> anything that will be translated, including callouts of course.
>
> I did not see this mentioned so I also wanted to say something about
> shortcuts when creating callouts.  Create a callout-sized text frame and
> tag the empty paragraph with your callout tag.  Move the frame to the
> side of he page.  Then copy and paste the empty frame wherever you need
> a callout.
> Edit the text in each callout.  Much easier and faster than creating a
> new text frame and tagging the text every time.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Diane Gaskill
> Hitachi Data Systems
> ========================
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