MIL-STD-38784 Manuals, Technical: General Style And Format RequirementsThis standard covers the general style and format requirements for the preparation of standard Technical Manuals \(TM\) and changes thereto intended for military applications. This includes all technical documents assigned a TM identification number and controlled by a TM management information system, or subject to requisition from an inventory control point. This standard provides for Standard Generalized Markup Language \(SGML\) Document Type Definition \(DTD\) usage \(see Appendices B through E\) required for electronic data delivery, including PDF. This standard supplements the performance of detail specifications used for specific TM types and related publications, but does not deliver any technical data. Unless specified otherwise herein, the examples at the end of this standard are typical and may be adapted to fit the specific equipment or situation being covered. All appendices are intended for compliance when applicable.

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MIL-STD-38784A

(A) Table cutline for RDC, the point at which a table or (when appropriate) chart is to be placed shall be

indicated by a break in the text and the insertion of the table number and title see igure 5. Cutlines shall

be placed at the end of the irst paragraph or subparagraph to which they pertain. The table number shall

begin at the left margin and there shall be a double space above and below the cutline. For the PTM or

FRC, the table is mounted in place and the cutline becomes the table title.

Print presentation: Full page tables, placed sideways on a page, shall be turned 90 degrees counterclockwise.

The table number and title for a turned table shall also be turned 90 degrees counterclockwise to

stay centered above the table.

(F) Electronic presentation: Landscape tables shall not be used in electronic viewing.

4.2.7.2 Boxhead titles and rules. (see 3.2.2) Tables shall be vertically ruled as required for clarity. A

horizontal rule shall be placed at the beginning (head) and at the end (foot) of a table and following column

heads (boxhead titles). The irst letter of the irst word and of each principal word of boxhead titles shall be

capitalized; the remaining letters shall be lowercase. Tables shall be so designed that related entries in different

columns are aligned. Carry over lines shall be indented two spaces unless adequately spaced between entries.

Print presentation: The closing rule is omitted at the foot of a continued table; the opening rule is omitted

at the head of the continuation of the table. For preprogrammed tables, with columns ruled for continued

tables, the opening rule may be included at the head of the continuation of the table.

(F) Electronic presentation: Closing rules shall not be omitted--continued tables do not apply in a scrollable

view. The header and footer rows of a table shall be displayed as ixed if the table is scrollable.

4.2.7.3 Continued table material. Print presentation: When a table is continued on a following page, the

number and title shall be repeated at the head of the columns on all following pages of the table, followed

by a dash and the word "Continued." Boxhead titles shall also be repeated. The above information shall not

be repeated on a following page when the page is a foot page of a head to foot tabular arrangement. When

a table entry is continued, the entry or its identifying number or letter from the irst column shall be

repeated in the irst column followed by a dash and the word "Continued." The abbreviation "Cont" may be

used when table columns are too narrow for "Continued" to be spelled out.

(F) (M) Electronic presentation: If the table is too large to it on a 800 X 600 resolution screen, the table

shall be rendered with contents of the table being scrollable to allow the table to it into the scrollable view.

4.2.7.4 Footnotes to tables. Print presentation: Numbering of footnotes to tables shall be in accordance with

4.2.2.2.3. The footnotes, which shall be kept to the minimum consistent with clarity, shall be placed

immediately below the table in which they are referenced. If a table is continued onto other pages, all

footnotes shall be placed at the bottom of the page on which they are referenced or at the end of the table

and the directory note "See footnotes at end of table" shall be placed at the bottom of pages containing

footnote references. For footnotes coming before the end of the table, and for a directory note, a one inch

horizontal rule shall be placed lush left below the table and the footnote or directory note placed under the

rule. Footnotes at the end of the table shall be started on the second line below the closing rule. All

table notes and footnotes shall be indented ive spaces from the left margin of the table and carry over

lines shall return to the left margin of the table.

(F) (M) Electronic presentation: Footnotes may either be implemented with superscripts at the point of

reference and the explanation after the table, or by linking the superscript references to the explanations, or

by displaying a tooltip when the mouse is held over the superscript reference.

4.2.8 Illustration placement and legends. See 4.3.9 and 3.2.20.

4.2.8.1 Figure titles. Illustrations shall be assigned igure titles. The title shall follow two spaces after the

igure number and shall be centered below the applicable illustration. The irst letter of the irst word and of

each principal word shall be capitalized. Figure titles should begin with an identifying name. For example:

"Figure 3-1. Guidance System Gyroscope Assembly." The title shall be short and describe the contents or

purpose of the illustration. Illustrations applicable to one Service, in a manual that will be used by more

than one Service, shall be identiied. For example: "Figure 2-3. (Army Only) Fuel Indicator."