MadCap Launches Flare 5.0 and Blaze 2.0

MadCap Software announced the availability of MadCap Flare 5.0 and MadCap Blaze 2.0, featuring DITA support. Flare is a native XML multi-channel publishing software for print and online content, and MadCap Blaze is a native XML alternative for long print documents. The newest versions of Flare and Blaze support transformation and publishing from the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) standard-without requiring Java development or third-party toolkits. MadCap Flare 5.0 and Blaze 2.0 join MadCap Lingo 2.0 in providing DITA support, which will be extended across MadCap's family of content authoring and publishing software in 2009. Flare 5.0 and Blaze 2.0 can import DITA maps and associated DITA topic files at the same time and transform and publish the content in other traditional outputs, such as Microsoft XPS and Word, Adobe PDF and FrameMaker, and plain XHTML. At the same time, both products can also import content in traditional formats and publish or export it as DITA content. Flare and Blaze allow users to mix and match DITA content with other existing content into a single project. Both products can, for example, import a DITA map, three Word documents and a FrameMaker file, and then publish the content without changing any of the formatting. Also new to Flare 5.0 is the ability to generate automated thumbnails. Authors simply drop in an image, apply a single image style, and Flare automatically makes a thumbnail. Additionally, the newest version of Flare features a topic toolbar function that lets authors insert a customized "WebHelp" toolbar anywhere inside any topic in any Web-based output. New to both Flare 5.0 and Blaze 2.0 is enhanced JPEG compression and PDF support for higher quality print documents. MadCap Flare 5.0 and MadCap Blaze 2.0 are available today. Pricing per license is $899 for Flare and $699 for Blaze. Flare is also available as part of the MadPak, a single-source suite for multi-channel publishing. Other solutions in the MadPak, which sells for $1,299 per license, include MadCap Analyzer, MadCap Capture, MadCap Mimic, and MadCap Echo for Web 2.0 audio functions. Maintenance (support and subscription) fees start at $199 per year for the Bronze Level, $299 for the Gold Level, and $499 for the Platinum Level. http://www.madcapsoftware.com/