Chapter 11: Hub Documents

11.1 Definition

A handy universal bucket (hub) document is similar to an airport hub in that it is a center of information flow. The manual need only reference this one document in each major clause, and the hub document will then take the reader to the appropriate supplementary lower tier documents.

For example, in a structured, hypertext system (i.e., online), there would be only one icon per key clause of the Standard. Then, once you are in that referenced document, other icons would transfer you to the appropriate supplemental document. It is unnecessary to have a hypertext system to structure a hub system. This degree of simplicity is available regardless of the word processor design.

Section 11.2, which follows, offers an example of how a system can be simplified and made more user friendly without compromising the system's basic integrity.