On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:19:40 -0400, Randy wrote:
Question: Is there any reason this couldn't or shouldn't be done for the copy of the manual on the web site?
Not much. I personally just don't like if it is not wrapped because then it looks very ugly and is harder to read on my 22" wide screen. But this is a very personal thing, not really counting. Still not sure if we should change it.
I'm curious: Are you talking about when you read it in a browser--I ask because your browser would wrap it to the width of the browser window, wouldn't it? Or are you talking about viewing the HTML file sort of "raw" in an editor?
I'm talking about viewing the HTML in a browser, like most people do, I guess :). Btw, resizing the browser window does work but is not that comfortable as Lex already said, especially when working with tabs.
I looked at some web design guidelines that take into account human usability factors--the ones I found all recommend a quite short line based on the eye's area of acute focus. (And the subsequent need to move your eyes or your head to scan longer lines.) I take it you don't notice a problem?
Well, I completely understand your issue. And basically I tend to agree that a fixed width is not good. OTOH I just like the reduced width as it does read better for me on my widescreen (as already pointed out). But yes, not everybody has a widescreen, not everybody likes tiny fonts as I do and so on.
So, maybe we should indeed remove the fixed width to make it easier for most users to read.
Regards, Enrico