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View Full Version : Long lines (of text) harder to read



CSummer
08-16-2011, 12:02 AM
Is it possible to shorten the line length - other than by using manual line endings? For me, it would make the text of posts easier to read.

Barry
08-16-2011, 09:04 AM
Is it possible to shorten the line length - other than by using manual line endings? For me, it would make the text of posts easier to read.
How do you read the posts? The website, digest and individual emails should wrap based with of your window. Is that not happening?

ericvonk
08-16-2011, 09:10 AM
In pre-computer screen days, it was a rule in typesetting that no line should exceed 1.5 alphabets, or 39 characters. This is
universally ignored nowadays, which is why it is difficult to read most internet copy.

Other violators of easy-reading rules are the electronic highway signs; with only 2 to 4 seconds of reading time, messages must be short; the "rule" for outdoor advertising was "6 words, no more!". The Auto Row electronic reader board in north Petaluma along 101 is a major violator of this rule, putting the entire Gutenberg Bible onto a screen that, at 65mph (or more, often), means: the message is lost, or more truthfully, just never received. But what does a car dealer know about brevity? (This means you, Mr. Hansen).

CSummer
08-16-2011, 11:11 AM
I read the posts on the web site using Google Chrome. They don't wrap when I make the window smaller - I would have to scroll back and forth to read them. Haven't tried it with Firefox.

Any improvement you can make would be appreciated, Barry!

Clint


How do you read the posts? The website, digest and individual emails should wrap based with of your window. Is that not happening?

Barry
08-16-2011, 11:19 AM
You're right and I'm wrong! I'll be changing the website (probably later this year) to introduce a side widget column which will reduce the width of posts. Please hang in there!

Barry

CSummer
08-16-2011, 11:29 PM
Thanks, Barry. I also tried it with Firefox and the lines still don't wrap. Could be something about my version of Win XP?

Clint



You're right and I'm wrong! I'll be changing the website (probably later this year) to introduce a side widget column which will reduce the width of posts. Please hang in there!

Barry

Shandi
08-17-2011, 07:04 AM
What about those who post with without paragraph space? I don't even bother to read
those huge blocks of type, with no "eye relief" space.

Barry
08-17-2011, 01:38 PM
What about those who post with without paragraph space? I don't even bother to read
those huge blocks of type, with no "eye relief" space.
I agree. I fix alot of those blocks (add a paragraph break). At somepoint I'll post an "Elements of Style" for Wacco (FWIW - For What It's Worth). In the meantime I just try to fix some of the formatting issue and hope to set a good example.

Using Firefox on the Mac (new 6.0!) I also find that zooming, zooms the full page, including the width, so it doesn't help. WaccoBB.net is currently laid out to use a full 1024 pixel wide window. Again, sometime in the future I'll be introducing a side column at some point which will reduce the size of the post window. I'll look forward to your support for the change, while other folks are sure to complain! :waccosun: