NastyWoman
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 20:50:37 GMT -5
Posts: 14,893
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Post by NastyWoman on May 15, 2017 13:41:47 GMT -5
Not exactly related, but I got this email today about the naming protocols of reports we are submitting on a project we are working on. The world really is a Dilbert cartoon..... Sorry, Xxxxx, but I must reject the reports you’ve sent me. All your reports MUST come through Berlin, your prime on the project. Also, please use the file naming protocol listed below for all reports: FOR THE WORKFORCE REPORT: HB-BERLIN WT WE 10-22-2016 (HP) FOR THE CERTIFIED PAYROLL REPORT: HB-BERLIN CP WE 10-22-2016 (HP) Xxx-Xxxx Xxx-Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Diversity Compliance Officer Another email from the diversity officer: Please, please, please MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE you’re using the 2 digits for the month and day and 4 digits for the year. I will not accept any file that’s not name correctly. If the "Berlin" mentioned in this request refers to the actual capital city of Germany than the "diversity officer" is a stupid *ss. He should have asked for an alphabetic reference to the month rather than a numerical one. Europe uses the dd/mm/yyyy format unlike the US mm/dd/yyyy. Ask me how I know that can be confusing...
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Virgil Showlion
Distinguished Associate
Moderator
[b]leones potest resistere[/b]
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 15:19:33 GMT -5
Posts: 27,448
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Post by Virgil Showlion on May 15, 2017 14:27:12 GMT -5
Not exactly related, but I got this email today about the naming protocols of reports we are submitting on a project we are working on. The world really is a Dilbert cartoon..... Sorry, Xxxxx, but I must reject the reports you’ve sent me. All your reports MUST come through Berlin, your prime on the project. Also, please use the file naming protocol listed below for all reports: FOR THE WORKFORCE REPORT: HB-BERLIN WT WE 10-22-2016 (HP) FOR THE CERTIFIED PAYROLL REPORT: HB-BERLIN CP WE 10-22-2016 (HP) Xxx-Xxxx Xxx-Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Diversity Compliance Officer Regs like this can be related to software tools that scan for particular codes. As for the OP, you Yankees have got nothing on the Canadian government. NSERC (research grants for university students) formatting guidelines are so specific and intransigent that universities have a staff, even entire offices, devoted to pre-screening all applications and ensuring zero formatting errors before the applications are actually sent out to the government. Some of the regs have to do with ensuring the applications are compliant with software tools, but many of them (such as line spacing, font size, etc.) have to do with the fact that inconsistencies annoy application evaluators (who are forced volunteers from academia, since they're the only ones qualified to evaluate such proposals). These annoyances can lead to minor deductions that, while minor, dwarf the difference between accepted and non-accepted applications near the cutoff line. The thinking is: if an evaluator is going to deduct 1 mark out of 1,000 for being ticked off that they can't write between the margins of a 1.5-spaced (as opposed to double-spaced) application, and the difference between applications is < 0.01 marks near the cutoff line, you might as well throw out the applications with the 1 mark deduction a priori. And so they do.
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quince
Senior Member
Joined: Sept 23, 2011 17:51:12 GMT -5
Posts: 2,699
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Post by quince on May 16, 2017 19:41:02 GMT -5
Strict formatting rules are in place for academic papers too. I think it is for the ease of reading for reviewers, and so ONLY content is considered when being reviewed, instead of judging on density/different look of paper. People actually can be influenced by font and strict formatting guidelines eliminate that cause of bias.
At least where I've seen, though, there are submission tools that check this kind of thing. In the electronic age no one ought to have to eyeball spacing.
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quince
Senior Member
Joined: Sept 23, 2011 17:51:12 GMT -5
Posts: 2,699
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Post by quince on May 16, 2017 19:41:12 GMT -5
ack. What others said.
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whoisjohngalt
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:12:07 GMT -5
Posts: 9,140
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Post by whoisjohngalt on May 16, 2017 23:52:43 GMT -5
I am very very strict with my kids about following exact instructions, putting their names and dates on papers, etc etc etc (they don't use computers yet)
I do think it's very important to follow those "silly" rules.
That being said - I do not know how to format a Word document. It takes me FOREEEEVER! If I have to update my resume, I ask my husband to do it
When I was sending letters to IRS and states' DOR - I used the same template or I would have spent a LOT more time formatting than doing the work and writing the letter.
So, all that being said - I think kids should be taught "silly" formatting. Hopefully before they get out of High School, but if not, at any point after that.
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buystoys
Junior Associate
Joined: Mar 30, 2012 4:58:12 GMT -5
Posts: 5,650
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Post by buystoys on May 17, 2017 9:21:23 GMT -5
Strict formatting rules are in place for academic papers too. I think it is for the ease of reading for reviewers, and so ONLY content is considered when being reviewed, instead of judging on density/different look of paper. People actually can be influenced by font and strict formatting guidelines eliminate that cause of bias. At least where I've seen, though, there are submission tools that check this kind of thing. In the electronic age no one ought to have to eyeball spacing. I suspect that is exactly what kicked out some of the applications. For one of my classes, we had to submit the homework first to the submission tool to have the paper "marked" before submitting it for grading. If it wasn't "marked" then the drop box wouldn't accept the paper. There was some type of electronic signature attached to the paper when it was tested I think.
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quince
Senior Member
Joined: Sept 23, 2011 17:51:12 GMT -5
Posts: 2,699
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Post by quince on May 17, 2017 12:35:11 GMT -5
In the cases I've seen, though, you get notice that something is rejected, and you can correct and resubmit. It isn't just a rejection stamp on the backend so no one has to review the submission, without the submitter knowing until it is too late.
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