Here's a recent discussion we had on that "comments shortened" question. Not sure if there is a perfect answer for it yet.
www.homeinspectorpro.com/index.php?optio...index.php&topic=3376
It makes a lot more sense to use "The window in the <<list>> bathroom could not be opened", than to list each and every possibility as an individual comment.
That's a good point. I've also replaced comment portions like the "could not be opened" part of your example with another list:
is painted shut
could not be opened
has a cracked pane
has missing hardware
has damaged hardware
is butt ugly
Ok, maybe not that last one, but the list has just about all the window defects which are possible. I took a closer look at my lists and it looks like I have two main types:
“component” lists – for example, “Roofing Components” would have “valley, ridge, attic vent, drip edge, etc.”, or “Structural Components” has “joist, beam, post, wall, piers, footing, etc.”
“defect” lists – for example, “Roofing Defects” has “torn shingles, cracking, curling, damaged, etc.”
I didn't really plan it but those two types of lists seem to hit 80-90% of my comments. I basically have a defect list and a components list for each major section of the template. This type of comment building and list usage seems to work best on defects which would have somewhat uniform recommendations. So for the roof, many of the defects one would find would lead to leakage and since it's not a good idea to recommend the client jump up there and fix it, the standard recommendation might be “Recommend repairs by a qualified roofing contractor to prevent or stop leakage.”
You could also have several recommendations which are in a “Recommendation” list and then insert them as well. The lists certainly make comment building flexible, but you do have to be careful you don't bog yourself down with ten clicks just to build one comment. Sometimes the list speed things up and sometimes they don't.
