Standard formatting
Standard formatting
(OP)
Is anyone familiar with an industry standard for typeface and font size in engineering documentation?
The ISO/IEC directives part 3 avoids this subject matter, as does the IEEEE Standards Style Manual. However, Joan G. Nagle's book 'Handbook for Preparing Engineering Documents'identifies 'the most commonly used body typefaces are Times Roman, Century Schoolbook, Garamond, and Bodoni.'
Any advice or other sources to search?
Auminer
The ISO/IEC directives part 3 avoids this subject matter, as does the IEEEE Standards Style Manual. However, Joan G. Nagle's book 'Handbook for Preparing Engineering Documents'identifies 'the most commonly used body typefaces are Times Roman, Century Schoolbook, Garamond, and Bodoni.'
Any advice or other sources to search?
Auminer





RE: Standard formatting
Also, it seems like I remember reading that people can read upper- and lower-case, serif fonts better, but machine reading equipment is better suited to all upper-case, non-serif fonts.
If I come across any more info, I'll be sure to pass it along.
RE: Standard formatting
Ben Loosli
CAD/CAM System Analyst
Ingersoll-Rand
RE: Standard formatting
RE: Standard formatting
I'd like to know if your organizations have standardardized on a font type - or have felt that that was a minor item (to hard to tackle?)that distracts from the quality of the content of the document.
My research has suggested that documents that require time to read through should be in font similar to Times New Roman, and that shorter documents (including presentations) should be in Arial.
Any comments?
Auminer
RE: Standard formatting
In the UK, BS8888:2002 "Technical Product Documentation(TPD) - Specification For defining, specifying and graphically representing products" is now the definitive standard for all Technical Documentation. However, it's not perfect and appears to overlook the written 'technical report' style document entirely, concentrating on drawings:
This standard cross-references EN ISO 128 "Technical Drawings" (in dozens of sections) and also BS EN ISO 3098 "Technical Product documentation - Lettering"
3098-0 Part 0 - TPD Lettering general requirements
3098-2 Part 2 - TPD Latin alphabet numerals and marks
3098-3 Part 3 - TPD Greek Alphabet
3098-4 Part 4 - TPD Diacritical and other marks Latin
3098-3 Part 5 - TPD CAD Lettering of the Latin alphabet
3098-3 Part 6 - TPD Lettering - cyrillic alphabet
Part 5 refers to the font for drawings which is the basis for Autodesks and others 'ISO' font.
This font provides excellent clarity but can make large documents look like 'first steps in reading' kids books because the font is so unmistakable.
Times Roman fonts are not good for the clear reading of mission-critical text. (They were, when originally created by the UK Times Newspaper 100 years ago, but then the priority was to create the maximum size with minimum surface area = minimum ink use) I can understand a Uni liking Times because it provides an old look to modern documentation and minimised toner use in printers.
For clarity and ease of recognition, I suggest you as a company standardise on a typeface as the basis for a 'house style'. Consistency in the appearance of documentation across a project is as important as the typeface used. It may sound beaurocratic, but half a day spent with project mamagers agreeing the format of text, titles and page layout can transform a big project from a load of disparate parts into a really superb cohesive whole.
I hope you can use some of these ramblings!
Regards,
Bob aka MadManxCadMan
RE: Standard formatting
However, details such as font sizes etc. are automatic within the "ISO Template" that is now required for all ISO work from DIS (Draft International Standard) onwards. ISO has a special website for standards developers:
http://isotc.iso.ch/Livelink/livelink.exe/fetch/2000/2123/SDS_WEB/sds_home.htm??Redirect=1
and click on "Proceed to public areas" (you do not have to log in for this).
The ISO template is specifically at:
http://isotc.iso.ch/livelink/livelink/fetch/2000/2123/SDS_WEB/sds_temp.htm??Redirect=1
ALternatively, several ISO committees have their own websites, for example the oil and gas industry has many authoring hints and learnings that may be found at http://teched.tc67.net/
Kind regards,
an oil industry standards professional
RE: Standard formatting
Many thanks for your help in advance
--Amr
RE: Standard formatting
http://online.standardsline.net/
Many of these organisations have free indexes and/or bibliographies; but almost all require you to buy (pay for) the content (because it is Intellectual Property). A notable exception is NORSOK - everyone can access and download any and all NORSOK (Norwegian oil industry) standards for free - use the web portal mentioned above.
Kind regards.