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Report Appendices and Page Numbers

Report Appendices and Page Numbers

Report Appendices and Page Numbers

(OP)
This is possibly not the correct forum for this, but I couldn't see anything better suited.

I have just prepared a design report with associated calculations and drawings and was having problems with the page numbering.  I asked the secretary for help sorting out the numbering which led to a discussion as to what was the correct way to deal with numbering appendices.

I typically attach drawings and calculations as appendices which are referenced within the body of the report.  I then number the entire report sequentially and amend the page numbers to suit.  For example:

Contents - Page 1
Text - Page 2
...
Conclusion - Page 29
Appendix I - Page 30
Appendix II - Page 56
Appendix III - Page 105

This way, if someone queries a calculation in an appendix, its easy to identify the page.

However, the secretary told me appendices are not part of a report and as such should not be numbered.  The contents should show they are there but they should just be numberered seqeuntially in the report, regardless of how many pages are in them.  And that it is contrary to company standard.  For example:

Contents - Page 1
Text - Page 2
...
Conclusion - Page 29
Appendix I - Page 30
Appendix II - Page 31
Appendix III - Page 32

After discussing, and explaining my reasoning she agreed my formatting was ok in this instance.  But it got me thinking, I never even queried my approach.  Should appendices by included as part of a report, or just considered supporting info which is just attached?
 

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

While technically appendices are adjunct to the report, in practicality we generally reference them as part of the report, particularly in engineering reports that contain photos, sketches and ather info relevant to the report.

I agree with number the appendix material, or at the least, number the start of multiple page appendix sections.

You might get around this purist approach by numbering the parts of the report and not calling your referenced items "appendix material"....such as instead of referencing something like "please see photo on appendix page 38" you might say "please see photo on page 4 of section 5 of this report".

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

Pages before the text body (contents, disclaimers, terms) are indicated usually with i, ii, iii, etc..

The secretary is right about the appendices....Let her take care of it.

If your report writing skills are weak, then rely on a manual like this one....

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

My CMoS says (at 1.100): "Modern books are paginated consecutively, and all leaves . . . are counted in the pagination whether or not the numbers appear." By that standard, the secretary is incorrect that each appendix counts for one page, regardless of how long it is.

On the other hand, company standard trumps anything else out there, so if that's your standard, then that's how you do it.  Of course, then you go and try to change the standard to something more sensible, and less likely to deceive the report's users into thinking that a 49-page set of calculations is only one page long.

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

I look up the AISC Mannual, it agrees with your numbering method - continue each page in numerical sequence, no difference for main text & appendix.

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

i number pages in the appendicies A1, A2, ... B1, B2, ... C1, C2, ...

i would never have thought to give the appendix a single page number (particularly one in sequence with the report) ... but i guess the "logic" is the data within the appendix is separate from the report, but the appendix front page is part of it ... sound way to pedantic for me.

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

As long as every page can be uniquely identified and referred to I don't see that it matters.

If left to my own choice, I would start numbering each appendix with page 1.

References to material in appendices would then be along the lines of:

"See figure 4 on page 3 of Appendix VII"

"The graph in Appendix IV, page 7 shows..."

"Pages 3 through 5 of Appendix I list the..."

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

MJ's way of doing it is also my way, but there is no hard and fast rule.  The main thing is that the company standard should be adhered to.

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

I also have always used Appendix page nos as A-1, A-2... and B-1, B-2.. etc.

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

One other thing to think about - if your report will be viewed frequently or predominantly as a pdf file, it's nice to have consistent pagination between the written text and the pdf file.

I hate having to open a pdf file, and then work out that "page 165" of the report is page 193 of the pdf file, so every time you look something up, you have to remember to correct the page you're looking for.

 

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

1 Dime:

Good point.
Hope don't mind the little kid-around.

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

Look at the US Army Corps of Engineers manuals which are full of appendices - they number the pages as does rb1957 - Appendix A starts with A1 . . .  Appendix B starts with B1 . . . etc.

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

Page App. J163 vs Page 1963 (App. J).

RE: Report Appendices and Page Numbers

(OP)

Quote:

As long as every page can be uniquely identified and referred to I don't see that it matters

I agree.  Unfortunately the company standard generally doesn't do that, only the first page is numbered.  It has to be said that the standard was developed by non-engineers.

In future I think I will number each appendix separately instead of sequentially. A.1, A.2 etc albiet we use roman numerals so I.1, II.34, IV.18 etc.  Not quite as tidy.  

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