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 ____________________________________ Scripto bvba Asselsstraat 65 9031 Gent Belgium T: +32 494 12 01 89 F: +32 9 366 50 23 BTW (VAT) BE 0886.192.394 skype: yves.barbion ____________________________________ 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 > ======================== > > - CONFIDENTIAL- > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential, and may > also be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you may > not review, use, copy, or distribute this message. If you receive this email > in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply email and then > delete this email. > _______________________________________________ > > > You are currently subscribed to Framers as yves.barbion at gmail.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/yves.barbion%40gmail.com > > Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit > http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. >