A Modest Definition List Proposal (David E. Wheeler)

[Aristotle Pagaltzis]

* Michel Fortin <michel.fortin at michelf.com> [2009-02-25 12:55]:

> If you want multiple lines per cell, I'd suggest using a more

> explicit grid, something like this:

>

>        id |  name   |  description     |      more info

>       ====|=========|==================|=====================

>         6 | Inset   | An inset element | just one element

>       ----|---------|------------------|---------------------

>         8 | Stories | Another element  | another element

>           |         |                  | with 2 lines

>       ----|---------|------------------|---------------------

>         9 | Other   | Another element  | another element

>           |         |                  | with 2 lines

>       ----|---------|------------------|---------------------

>         5 | Illust. | An illustration  | line breaks are not

>           |         | andn I think you | possible in a table

>           |         | know what I mena.|

>

> This is totally unambiguous and easy to scan for the reader.

> The problem is that, even though it's easy to read, it's also

> more tedious to write.


You can make a lot easier to write with a very simple tweak:

         id |  name   |  description     |      more info
        =======================================================
          6 | Inset   | An inset element | just one element
        -------------------------------------------------------
          8 | Stories | Another element  | another element
            |         |                  | with 2 lines
        -------------------------------------------------------
          9 | Other   | Another element  | another element
            |         |                  | with 2 lines
        -------------------------------------------------------
          5 | Illust. | An illustration  | line breaks are not
            |         | andn I think you | possible in a table
            |         | know what I mena.|

That is æsthetically less pleasing, but it’s no less legible, and
it’s most definitely *far* less tedious to write.

Regards,
-- 
Aristotle Pagaltzis // <http://plasmasturm.org/>