Recently in Authoring Category

Version 13 introduces Oxygen XML Developer as a new product in the Oxygen XML family of products. This aggregates XML development features offering a cost effective tool for people that do not need the visual editing support. The Oxygen XML Editor is the union of Oxygen XML Developer and Oxygen XML Author offering both the XML authoring and XML development capabilities. Version 13 is focused on user interface improvements related to visual XML editing, XML attributes editing, presentation of results for validation, transformation, spell checking and search operations, XML Diff and SVN support. The EPUB support was extended with visual rendering of EPUB specific files and enhanced validation. New built-in transformation scenarios allow the conversion of TEI documents to EPUB, ODF and DOCX. DITA improvements include search references (where used) within a DITA map, map validation under multiple condition sets (ditaval files), use of subject scheme defined values and more. The Data Source Explorer view features drag and drop capabilities that allow copy/move operations even between different databases. The new version adds support for JSON document editing, validation and conversion. Browser specific CSS extensions are now supported in the CSS editor. http://www.oxygenxml.com/

Google announced support for authorship markup—a way to connect authors with their content on the web. They are experimenting with using this data to help people find content from great authors in our search results. They now support markup that enables websites to publicly link within their site from content to author pages. For example, if an author at The New York Times has written dozens of articles, using this markup, the webmaster can connect these articles with a New York Times author page. An author page describes and identifies the author, and can include things like the author’s bio, photo, articles and other links. The markup uses existing standards such as HTML5 (rel=”author”) and XFN (rel=”me”) to enable search engines and other web services to identify works by the same author across the web. If you're already doing structured data markup using microdata from schema.org, they will interpret that authorship information as well. http://www.google.com

SpringCM announced the latest release of its cloud enterprise content management platform. This latest release features new case management capabilities, helps SpringCM customers deliver more consistent execution, enhance team productivity and increase management visibility of key business processes. In addition, mobile support for iPad uses intuitive-gesture interface, but also gives access to cloud capabilities such as full-text search of corporate-content repositories. Other highlights include: Enhances quality-of-service and compliance with defined rules; Provides a status view to all case participants to improve team and customer communication; Faster responsiveness to objectives and process changes; Enables more effective internal collaboration on cases; Improves communication with customers and other service requesters; and it requires minimal IT resources. http://www.springcm.com/

Crowell Solutions, Inc. has announced the pending release of RocketSled: a fully-functional XML editor that works within Microsoft Word. RocketSled is aimed at overcoming common obstacles of XML implementation in companies: user acceptance and cost. Word users don’t need to change to a different authoring tool when authoring XML content Companies can significantly reduce implementation costs because RocketSled brings XML authoring into a true WYSIWYG word processor RocketSled combines two technologies: desktop publishing and XML authoring. Typical XML authoring separates content from format completely; there is no WYSIWYG printing. Word processing traditionally provides WYSIWYG printing but not XML structure. RocketSled allows users to choose the XML structure of their choice (Schema or DTD) and presents the XML content in Microsoft Word. RocketSled editing and printing are WYSIWYG and uses the XML of your choice at the same time. Crowell Solutions, Inc. specializes in software development and customization, system architecture and implementation, and XML-based content reuse systems. RocketSled is the culmination of many years experience in working with XML-based authoring and reuse systems, as well as software development, customization, and integration. http://www.crowsol.com/

Adobe Systems Incorporated introduced the Adobe Acrobat X software family – Acrobat X, Reader X, the Acrobat X Suite and new document exchange services at Acrobat.com. Acrobat X features new guided Actions to simplify multi-step document preparation and publishing processes as well as customization capabilities in PDF Portfolios to unify multiple file types into a presentation. Integration with Microsoft SharePoint encourages consistency of PDF documents across the enterprise, and the re-use of content is now easier with an improved function for exporting to Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. New Acrobat X Features include: Automate routine, multi-step tasks with new guided Actions and share them with coworkers and collaborators; Change how users view and interact with content and its context with PDF Portfolios using new layouts, visual themes and color palettes; Synergy between Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat  for creating more dynamic communications; Capture, edit and combine digital content right from the desktop; Microsoft SharePoint integration; Check-in, check-out PDF files for reviewing and editing shared documents; Streamline the process for deploying, configuring and managing updates and conform to ISO standards; ans well as the ability to display the most commonly used tools in one pane with the updated user interface. New in Adobe Reader X: Commenting is now available in Adobe Reader X, with Sticky Notes and Highlighter tools available to all users; Expands PDF access to mobile devices with free Adobe Reader X for Android, Windows® Phone 7 and Blackberry Tablet OS; and safer viewing of PDF files with new Protected Mode security capabilities in Reader X. www.adobe.com

Across Systems and the Institute of the Society for the Promotion of Applied Information Sciences at the University of the Saarland (IAI) have established Congree Language Technologies as a joint venture. Congree aims to be a leading supplier of technology solutions for authoring assistance. Congree will deliver integrated solutions for the formulation of consistent document texts, taking into account defined style rules and corporate wording. Congree's products combine the various technologies available in the area of authoring assistance into integrated solutions. Essential elements include a terminology system for unifying word selection, an authoring memory for re-using complete formulations and text segments, and components for rule-based quality checking. The rule-based methods include grammar and spell-checking as well as adherence to company-specific style guides to provide controlled language. Congree technology can be used with all common source text editors, from MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel, to Adobe FrameMaker, Just XMetaL, and PTC Arbortext, on through to Adobe InDesign and Madcap Flare. It can be used in real time, during text processing, or as a batch process for the subsequent quality-checking of completed content. Congree's products are available in various configurations, scalable from a single workstation license up to client/server-based enterprise solutions. Bundled expertise With the establishment of Congree Language Technologies, Across and the IAI are bundling their previous activities in authoring assistance. http://www.across.net

SDL, a provider of Global Information Management solutions, announced the release of SDL Trisoft 2011 for DITA, the XML standard for technical writing. With this new release of the company’s Component Content Management software, SDL offers DITA capabilities. One strength of SDL Trisoft is the ability to manage large volumes and variations of DITA topics that comprise a company’s technical product information set. With DITA 1.2 support, SDL Trisoft can now be used with the DITA Learning and Training specialization, the new task model and the machine-industry specialization. Users can also take advantage of new ways of managing content variations and achieving reuse with DITA 1.2’s new capabilities of “keyref”, “conkeyref”, “conref push” and “conref ranges”. In addition to supporting the DITA 1.2 standard, SDL Trisoft offers new authoring and publishing capabilities that enhance the user experience. A new search architecture gives the ability to search for information faster and with more granular precision. The new search includes the ability to search and find content inside XML elements and attributes, variables and conditions and to identify the context in which content resides. New capabilities are offered in the SDL Trisoft Publication Manager that include the ability to save a new version of an open publication, to check in / out from the Browse Repository dialog, to find most recently used items, to save output formats in the next version of a publication, to see an InContext Preview of Content, and to add additional fields to the Baseline tab and to autocomplete items that are added when building a publication. To address the growth and adoption of DITA in Japan, SDL Trisoft is also releasing a version of its desktop clients as Publication Manager and Authoring Bridge in Japanese. SDL Trisoft now supports Adobe Flash in the Publication Manager, enabling synchronization of technical content with Flash and other multimedia graphics. To support interaction with the community of content consumers, SDL Trisoft now supports round-tripping of comments from SDL LiveContent back to SDL Trisoft, providing a closed-loop feedback mechanism between the community and the information developer. SDL Trisoft is also now integrated with SDL XPP, the company’s advanced XML Professional Publisher for customers who have high volumes or advanced layout requirements. SDL Trisoft provides support for Transparent Data Encryption in Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008, as well as platform support for Windows® Server® 2008 R2 64-bit. The system also supports 64-bit Support Desktop Clients based on Windows 7 and Internet Explorer® 8 support for the SDL Trisoft Web Client. SDL Trisoft is integrated via an authoring bridge to Adobe FrameMaker® 9.0, PTC Arbortext® Editor 5.4 and Just Systems XMetaL® 6.0. Support for XMetaL 6.0-J, the Japanese version of XMetaL, will follow soon. www.sdl.com/

MathType has announced the release of MathType 6.7 for Windows, which is compatible with all modern versions of Windows. The key feature in this release is the ability to integrate with Microsoft  Office, from 2010 back to the XP version. Equations can now be entered by hand, by using the built-in handwriting recognition in Windows 7. Point-and-Click Editing with Automatic Formatting: Create equations quickly by choosing templates from MathType's palettes and typing into their empty slots. MathType applies mathematical spacing rules automatically as you type. MathType has customizable keyboard shortcuts for symbols, templates, and commands. If you already know the TeX typesetting language, you can enter equations directly into MathType or Microsoft Word documents. TeX editing can be mixed with point-and-click editing so you get the best of both worlds. You can even paste in equations from existing TeX documents. Furthermore, pre-written equations can now be copied-and-pasted it directly into MathType, ready to edit or use in your work. Drag frequently used equations and expressions to the MathType toolbar so they can be inserted later with just a click or a keystroke. MathType's Insert Symbol dialog allows you to explore the available symbols and insert them. http://www.dessci.com/en/

SDL, the provider of Global Information Management solutions, announced the availability of an integration between SDL Trisoft and Leximation DITA-FMx, the DITA plugin for Adobe FrameMaker. By providing a bridge between SDL Trisoft and Leximation DITA-FMx, SDL gives the ability to use SDL’s advaComponent Content Management capabilities with Adobe FrameMaker. The new integration combines technologies for authoring and managing structured content. Together SDL and Leximation share several major clients that want a joint solution. www.sdl.com www.leximation.com

XBRL US, the non-profit consortium for XML business reporting, has released a second version of its XBRL Consistency Suite with improved functionality and additional checks that now cover detailed footnote tagging. The new version also now provides a way to compare the 2009 Taxonomy Release to the 2011 Pre-release of the US GAAP Financial Reporting Taxonomy, recently published by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The XBRL Consistency Suite has three primary functions: it runs automated checks that help public company preparers test their XBRL documents for problems that may occur related to the use of the US GAAP Taxonomy, such as missing concepts, incorrect signs and concepts used incorrectly; it enables quick and easy peer analysis to help companies identify extensions created and concepts used by other companies within their industry; and allows preparers to compare one taxonomy release to another to streamline the XBRL preparation process. The new release features: 60% more checks that now cover detailed footnote tags in addition to the face financials; detailed information on extensions created by peer companies including name, presentation label, definition, and even presentation and calculation hierarchies that preparers can leverage in their own creation process; ability to compare disclosure notes between multiple companies; and an advanced filter for more complex searching on data in XBRL submissions. The checks were developed by the same team that developed the US GAAP Taxonomy based on their experience in developing the taxonomy and in conducting a thorough and ongoing review of XBRL submissions received into the SEC's EDGAR database.  http://xbrl.us/