quick question: symbol for multiple versions

[tamaranth]

I'm trying to come up with a symbol / icon to indicate that information in a paragraph applies only to the current version / differs in previous versions / has changed. Have considered and discarded 'pencil editing', 'multiple folders' and the actual version number. Can anyone think of a symbol that conveys 'look out for different info elsewhere'?

Comments

[easterbunny.livejournal.com]

Change in font colours?

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Good thought: would be fine onscreen but not so good in the dead-tree version ...

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

Must admit I tend to use something like

[v9.2 only]

[pre v9.0]

[changed 1st Jan 2007]

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I need a symbol to tag paras, a single entity that I can include or exclude on the basis of the 'audience' attribute in DITA. Specific text-based information may or may not be included depending on other factors (role, publication medium).

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

We have icons for v9.2, v9.3 etc. that we can tag sections with ... but I think we're using DITA to pull in tagged paragraphs that are release specific so that the entity you're looking for we just wouldn't show.

Sorry I can't be of help :-(

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

The issue isn't so much the release-specific stuff as that the audience need to be aware that some areas are dramatically different and old techniques won't work. (Context: starting with the current version and going forward, we're implementing certification for new support staff, who will also be supporting older versions. Some of the functionality remains unchanged: other bits are dramatically different. And the same document will be published externally -- for an audience who don't need to know about previous versions -- and for internal support staff who Know All This and just need a reference manual.)

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

Pick up 'Windows XP for Dummies' or any similar book in the series. They make effective use of paragraph icons and probably have what you need, as they were forced to address changes from the previous vesions of Windows.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

windoze? does not have. (Not quite true, but we are a Linux house and Windows documentation is thin on the ground.) I think I probably did pick up this idea of paragraph-icon design from the Dummies books, though, so thanks for pointing me at them!

[avirr.livejournal.com]

I'd probably go with an indented paragraph, maybe in a box, with a little text reminder heading about the exact old version number. The more you set it off like that, the easier for the non-target audience to skim down and ignore it.

I think I once had a dream about you and tech writing!