Last week’s blog entry on zoning code construction included multiple graphics illustrating the difference between static and scrolling table headers. Scrolling headers make online codes much easier to use because it eliminates the need to scroll up to reference the headers for a single (or multiple) columns. Scrolling headers is one of our most popular advanced features, yet underutilized in the codification industry.

Today, we’ll further examine CPC’s capabilities across all platforms using some of the larger, more complex tables we handle. First, we have a video demonstration (see above) of Burien Zoning Code which shows how our tables and scrolling headers appear in the online code. We’ve also taken the steps to show you how the code looks when saved as either RTF files (Microsoft Word) or PDF files.

Code Publishing’s “Print/Save Selection” options also include mobile, HTML, XML and plain text versions of selected code sections. To further illustrate how the code appears on other platforms, here’s a screenshot of Section 4-2-060 of the Renton Municipal Code, a Zoning Use Table, as it appears on a PC:

It’s an enormous table (multiple headers, 19 columns) with a lot of moving parts. Naturally, headers won’t scroll in a hard copy version, but CPC’s coding ensures that the spacing and alignment remain consistent and intact no matter what platform the user intends to read it on. Here’s the same table as a Word document (saved from the online code):

Here’s the same table as a PDF document (saved from the online code):

As you can see, there isn’t much difference. Not only that, in addition to consistency between the desktop version and Word/PDF files, the tables also adapt seamlessly to mobile versions, including iPhones, Androids and tablets. Here’s how Burien’s table looks on a Samsung Galaxy:

The small tab that opens and collapses the phone’s menu is a minor blemish, but it doesn’t affect using the code. Also, hovering over definitions still brings up a dialogue box. As we discussed in the zoning code blog, it’s vital to have such consistent, efficient and navigable features that make the user experience much easier across a multitude of platforms.