Information Technology News: Technical Documentation Archives

Syncro Soft Announces New Release of Oxygen XML Editor, Schema Editor and XSLT/XQuery Debugger

Version 9.2 introduces a new XML Author edition specially tuned for content authors providing a well designed interface for XML editing by keeping only the relevant authoring features. The major additions in Oxygen XML Editor 9.2 are related to the WYSIWYG-like editing support and in particular to the DITA support. The general visual editing improvements include displaying the resolved content in the editor and navigation through links. With the new DITA features that include a new DITA map editor, actions for inserting conref links, a tight integration of the latest version of the DITA Open Toolkit, Oxygen XML Editor becomes an easy to use DITA editor. Other improvements are browsing of XML databases using WebDAV connections, better handling of Chinese, Japanese and Korean (CJK) text, support for the Intel XML Software Suite and multiple component updates. The new Oxygen XML Author is available both as a separate product (standalone and Eclipse plugin) and also as a part of Oxygen XML Editor. The new DITA maps manager allows viewing and editing DITA map files and also acts as a project manager allowing to open different topics for editing. The tool chain for generating DITA output in a multitude of formats (XHTML, PDF, HTML, JavaHelp, Eclipse Help, DocBook, etc.) is ready to use out of the box. Oxygen XML Editor and XSLT Debugger is available immediately in 3 editions: Multi-platform XML Editor Academic/Non-profit license costs USD 48, Multi-platform XML Editor Professional license costs USD 299, and Multi-platform XML Editor Enterprise license costs USD 366. Oxygen XML Author is available immediately in 2 editions: Multi-platform XML Author Professional license costs USD 179, and Multi-platform XML Author Enterprise license costs USD 220. http://www.oxygenxml.com/

Inmedius Debuts S1000Dmanager V3.0 S1000D Publication Lifecycle Management System

Inmedius, Inc. announced the release of S1000Dmanager V3.0, the next evolution in their S1000D management. The system's new platform facilitates the professional management of content, delivering the tools and information needed to efficiently manage the S1000D publication process. Manager's technical publication lifecycle architecture adds a library and centralized control center to the system's S1000D project setup and management support capabilities. The combination of a flexible library system, Dashboard approach, and integrated business intelligence provides complete command over information assets. New functionality in the S1000Dmanager V3.0 release includes a library system where users access and view information organized by Standard Numbering System (SNS). S1000D projects are managed from within the document library where multiple users, with security access, can edit project information. Another new feature is managing Data Module Requirements Lists (DMRL) as separate XML documents that may be checked out, issued, approved, and that have their own workflow. With quantitative metrics, the new, centralized Dashboard provides transparency and a visual representation of the S1000D technical documentation process. Publication managers are able to monitor organizational efficiency, identify problem or choke points in the process, and adjust resources as necessary to ensure project deliveries are on time and within budget. In conjunction with the upcoming release of S1000DauthorPro, Manager V3.0 will include editing and management capabilities in support of S1000D Specification Issue 3.0 requirements. Manager and AuthorPro are two of seven modules in the Inmedius S1000D Publishing Suite. http://www.inmedius.com

XyEnterprise Release ContentaView 3.5

XyEnterprise announced the release of ContentaView 3.5. ContentaView 3.5 adds support for advanced applicability filtering for the S1000D V3.0 applicability model and process data modules. It also provides enhanced content reuse, searching, reporting and audit trail capabilities. All of this is readily configurable to support specific customer requirements. Users can ensure they are working with the current approved version of content via the new One Click update feature, which provides an immediate method to install incremental updates from within ContentaView. ContentaView 3.5 can be configured to track not only the manual updates for each work station where it is installed, but also each section viewed, and every keystroke entered by a maintenance technician. A log of each session is captured in XML format, and can be routed as appropriate to confirm regulatory compliance or improve the maintenance function. The enhanced applicability feature allows consumers to filter the content they see based on applicability criteria relevant to their organization and document types. For example, an end user may select the "expert" version of content for one product while another may choose to view the "novice" content for a second product. ContentaView V3.5 now includes a new generic forms utility which provides the ability to create online forms that can capture any type of information to help improve the product, process or user experience. From within ContentaView, a user can then access, complete and print these forms. http://www.xyenterprise.com/

XyEnterprise Releases New Version of Contenta S1000D

XyEnterprise has released an update to their Contenta S1000D content management software that provides expanded support for the S1000D specification. It is used by authors, editors and publishers for the creation, management and delivery of technical documentation. Contenta S1000D provides an integrated workflow that can clearly distinguish between work-in-process and approved or published content. It can control access to data modules based on user roles and project status, provide locking mechanisms to prevent inadvertent parallel editing, and provide reports on due dates and status throughout the entire editorial and publishing process. This update to Contenta S1000D includes enhancements that automate many of the tasks required in an S1000D environment. Tools for creating and managing Standard Numbering Systems, Data Module Requirements Lists, Data Dispatch Notes and S1000D project management have been improved to provide an out-of-the-box S1000D environment that will work well for organizations at any stage in the adoption of S1000D. The Contenta S1000D software leverages Contenta's object-oriented architecture, history, version control and automated workflow. It can also manage and store legacy SGML and XML content written to other standards, as well as graphics and unstructured content such as FrameMaker and Word. Contenta S1000D provides the infrastructure, application integration and comprehensive tool set required to work with the S1000D standard across the information lifecycle. http://www.xyenterprise.com/

IXIASOFT Announce Availability of DITA CMS Framework 2.1

IXIASOFT announced the availability of the DITA CMS Framework 2.1. Not only is the latest version compatible with DITA 1.1. With its new capabilities, the DITA CMS Framework provides technical communicators with advanced project management features and support WYSIWYG for DITA bookmaps. The project management functionality offers an overview of multi-deliverable projects that may include documents as diverse as installation instructions, training packages and reference documentation. Project managers will use this feature to select the staff who will be responsible for documentation and review, for setting up review dates for the maps that make up a project and for specifying the languages in which each map should be translated to. In its latest version, the DITA CMS Framework supports DITA bookmaps directly within its DITA Map editor. Therefore, technical communicators now have a user friendly interface not only to create DITA bookmaps but also to help them qualify specific sections of a book. All of the already available DITA Map editor features - including map comparison, drag and drop of topics between maps and nesting and cloning of maps - will also be accessible to manage DITA bookmaps. http://www.ixiasoft.com

JustSystems Announces DITA Maturity Model Co-Authored with IBM

JustSystems, Inc. announced the availability of the “DITA Maturity Model,” which was co-authored with IBM and defines a graduated, step-by-step methodology for implementing Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA). One of DITA's features is its support for incremental adoption. Users can start with DITA using a subset of its capabilities, and then add investment over time as their content strategy evolves and expands to cover more requirements and content areas. However, this continuum of adoption has also resulted in confusion, as communities at different stages of adoption claim radically different numbers for cost of migration and return on investment. The DITA Maturity Model addresses this confusion by dividing DITA adoption into six levels, each with its own required investment and associated return on investment. Users can assess their own capabilities and goals relative to the model and choose the initial adoption level appropriate for their needs and schedule. The six levels of DITA adoption include: Level 1: Topics - The most minimum DITA adoption requires the migration of the current XML content sources; Level 2: Scalable Reuse - The major activity at this level is to break down the content in topics that are stored as individual files and use DITA maps to collect and organize the content into reusable units for assembly into specific deliverables; Level 3: Specialization and Customization - Now, users expand the information architecture to be a full content model, which explicitly defines the different types of content required to meet different author and audience needs and specify how to meet these needs using structured, typed content; Level 4: Automation and Integration - Once content is specialized, users can leverage their investments in semantics with automation of key processes and begin tying content together even across different specializations or authoring disciplines; Level 5: Semantic Bandwidth - As DITA diversifies to occupy more roles within an organization, a cross-application, cross-silo solution that shares DITA as a common semantic currency lets groups use the toolset most appropriate for their content authoring and management needs; Level 6: Universal Semantic Ecosystem - As DITA provides for scalable semantic bandwidth across content silos and applications, a new kind of semantic ecosystem emerges: Semantics that can move with content across old boundaries, wrap unstructured content, and provide validated integration with semi-structured content and managed data sources. http://www.ibm.com, http://na.justsystems.com

SiberSafe Hosted XML CMS Service Now Available On-Demand

SiberLogic announced SiberSafe On-Demand, a monthly subscription approach to XML content management for technical documentation teams who are looking for significant efficiency gains in producing long-lived, complex, evolving content. SiberSafe On-Demand delivers full SiberSafe functionality as an ASP service in a secure data center. Each team has full access/administrative rights to their server for system administration and configuration. SiberSafe On-Demand also includes daily content backups and SiberLogic’s technical support service. SiberSafe On-Demand “out of the box” configuration offers your choice of DTD – DITA, DocBook, or MIL-STD 2361 – with sample templates and stylesheets. Also included are SiberSafe Communicator (our XML authoring tool) and our integrated publishing tool. Alternatively, you can continue to use your own editor, such as XMetaL, Epic, or FrameMaker, or your own publishing tools. SiberSafe On-Demand costs only $799 per month for the first pair of users (one author and one reviewer) and as little as $275 per user monthly for 10+ users. There are no additional upfront costs. Anyone who signs up for SiberSafe On-Demand before the end of January 2008 will receive access for one additional author free of charge for the first year. http://www.siberlogic.com/

In.vision and Trisoft Announce Partnership to Boost Technical Publishing

In.vision Research and Trisoft have announced a partnership to integrate their products to meet the needs of content management and publishing for a variety of industries including telecom, high-tech, software, mechanical equipment and automotive. The In.vision and Trisoft partnership will use In.vision's Xpress Author for Microsoft Word add-in to allow non-technical writers to create XML content in Word. When the non-technical writer saves the document into the Trisoft InfoShare Content Management System, technical writers will be able to incorporate the content into their documents with ease, and continue with the various review, translation, and publishing processes that InfoShare provides. http://www.tri-soft.com, http://www.invisionresearch.com

IXIASOFT in OEM Partnership with 4DCONCEPT

IXIASOFT announced the signature of an OEM partnership with 4DCONCEPT. 4DCONCEPT will leverage IXIASOFT's TEXTML Server, a native XML database and search engine, within its Doc'Advance solution to optimize the management of XML content. 4DCONCEPT is headquartered in France where it conducts the majority of its business. Aimed at the aviation industry, Doc'Advance is a document management solution which offers authoring, management and publishing modules. Customizable, the solution supports the specific requirements of various aircrafts and helicopters including those established for the A400M, RAFAEL, FELIN, NH90 and TIGRE. Doc'Advance provides a modular approach to content management and is composed of a number of modules: Module Author: authoring environment for Data Modules, Module 3D Author: authoring environment for 2D / 3D data graphics, Module Manager: management of environment for Data Modules, Module Publisher: publishing framework, and Module S2000M: production environment and procurement management. The DocAdvance solution based on TEXTML Server is now available. http://www.4DCONCEPT.fr, http://www.ixiasoft.com

Syncro Soft Announces New Release of Oxygen XML Editor, Schema Editor and XSLT/XQuery Debugger

Syncro Soft announced a new release of Oxygen XML Editor, Schema Editor and XSLT/XQuery Debugger for working with XML frameworks (DocBook, DITA, TEI, XHTML, etc). The CSS-based visual XML editor introduced by version 9 allows WYSIWYG like editing of XML documents. Version 9.1 adds a number of fetaures related to the WYSIWYG like XML editor and with the WebDAV support. The new version allow in place editing for XML attributes. The "in-place editing popup" can be triggered with a configurable shortcut (by default that is Alt+Enter). Both XML attribute names and possible values can be selected by typing their prefixes. The visual Author mode from Oxygen XML editor was also enhanced with support for bookmarks. DITA map documents can be converted to HTML or PDF. A new pre-configured scenario was added for the default DITA configuration for transforming a DITA Map document to HTML. The already existing DITA to PDF scenario can now also handle DITA map files so you can use it to convert a DITA map to PDF. The WebDAV support has been improved by adding WebDAV locking support. Oxygen XML editor now supports SOAP 1.2. The SOAP version is detected from the WSDL definition file and the appropriate headers are set in the SOAP request. The TEI framework was updated to the latest P5 1.0 schemas, DITA Open Toolkit to the latest 1.4.1 and Saxon B XSLT processor from Saxonica to the latest 9.0.0.2 version. Oxygen XML editor also supports the Saxon SA 9.0.0.2. Oxygen XML Editor and XSLT Debugger are available immediately in three editions: Multi-platform Academic/Non-profit license costs USD 48.00 Multi-platform Professional license costs USD 225.00 Multi-platform Enterprise license costs USD 275.00 http://www.syncrosvnclient.com, http://www.oxygenxml.com/

Syncro Soft Announces Major Release of Oxygen XML Editor, Schema Editor and XSLT & XQuery Debugger

Syncro Soft Ltd announced the immediate availability of version 9.0 of its XML Editor, Schema Editor and XSLT/XQuery Debugger. The main feature of version 9.0 is a CSS-based visual XML editor allowing WYSIWYG like editing of XML documents. Oxygen allows you to work with XML frameworks (DocBook, DITA, TEI, XHTML, etc) easier than before. Version 9 adds a new concept called Document Type that allow users to provide ready to use support for a framework or an XML language and share that with other users. This version also brings improved error reporting for validation against Relax NG schemas and Schematron, additional side view helpers, some component updates and a number of other features. The WYSIWYG like rendering of the visual XML editor is driven by CSS stylesheets conforming with the W3C CSS 2.1 specification. Oxygen XML Editor and XSLT Debugger is available immediately in three editions: Multi-platform Academic/Non-profit license costs USD 48.00, Multi-platform Professional license costs USD 225.00, and Multi-platform Enterprise license costs USD 275.00. http://www.oxygenxml.com/, http://www.syncrosvnclient.com

Inmedius Enters DITA-Based Software Market with Acquisition of DITA Storm

Inmedius, Inc. announced the acquisition of LogPerspective’s DITA Storm, a full-featured DITA editing tool that enables authors to easily create DITA-compliant content in WYSIWYG mode regardless of their DITA XML knowledge. The editing environment is 100% browser-based and is completely customizable for a superior DITA user experience. DITA Storm will be available for purchase worldwide through Inmedius’ international network of offices and resellers. http://www.ditastorm.com, http://www.inmedius.com

New Enterprise Search Engine Specializes In Engineering Documents

Elmo Solutions, experienced in the extraction and processing of CAD and engineering metadata, announced the official launch of Agni Enterprise Search 2008. Agni Enterprise Search is an enterprise search solution designed to meet the distinct needs of CAD, R&D, Engineering and IT managers, end-users and senior managers. Agni Enterprise Search 2008 allows CAD and non-CAD users to index and retrieve a wide range of document formats, including AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Office, eMail, Acrobat, image formats, SolidWorks, Lotus Notes, Visio, etc. Agni Enterprise Search 2008 was designed specifically to maximize document usability and reusability. Agni Enterprise Search allows not only free-form keyword-based searches, but also structured-form metadata-based searches as well. Agni Enterprise Search 2008 features include: Display of document thumbnails, Stemming, Phonic searches, and a query language. The software ships in English and French, and is available as a free, fully functional, 30-day trial license for download directly from the Elmo Website. http://www.elmosolutions.com/

Xyleme Unveils Xyleme LCMS 3.1

Xyleme Inc. announced the immediate availability of Xyleme LCMS 3.1. This is Xyleme's newest version of its single-source solution for learning content reuse. Organizations use reusable learning objects from Xyleme LCMS to leverage training materials across any learning modality and to create a customized and contextual learning experience for each learner. Xyleme LCMS ease-of-use has been enhanced for its authoring component. A new configurable workspace provides multiple editor windows for simplified drag-and-drop and image and hotspot utilization, and new virtual document features such as find-and-replace and visual displays of version differences. A new tool allows organizations to automatically convert PowerPoint presentations into reusable XML learning objects. Text, bulleted lists, images, and tables are automatically transformed to individual assets that can be mixed, matched and reused across all blended learning solutions. Users have the ability within Xyleme LCMS to define the content assets to be included in any given output. Custom filtering also allows for the on-demand publishing of custom content that is based on user profiles, providing organizations the vital ability to provide a contextual learning experience. Xyleme has added mobile learning to supported outputs via the optimization of its search and navigation features. Reusable learning objects including text, images, audio and Flash can be pushed on-demand to mobile devices supporting these formats for real-time performance support. SCORM 2004 Release 3, is supported. http://www.xyleme.com

Adobe Unveils Technical Communication Suite

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) announced Adobe Technical Communication Suite software, an integrated solution for authoring, managing, and publishing technical information and training content across multiple formats and languages. Using the Adobe Technical Communication Suite, technical communicators and instructional designers can create documentation, eLearning courses and user assistance programs containing both traditional text and graphics along with rich media, including Adobe Flash Player compatible video and 3D. The suite includes Adobe RoboHelp 7, a major upgrade to Adobe's help system and knowledge base authoring tool, as well as Adobe FrameMaker 8, Adobe Captivate 3 and Adobe Acrobat 3D Version 8 software. Product and workflow integration and support for rich media formats, including Adobe Flash Player compatible video, SWF, MP3 and AVI files, Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), XML and Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) are included. Adobe Technical Communication Suite will be available for Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows XP and is expected to ship by the end of October 2007 at an estimated price of US$1,599. Users can upgrade for an estimated price of US$999 if they have prior versions of Adobe Captivate, FrameMaker or RoboHelp. http://www.adobe.com

In.vision and Vasont Systems Partner to Speed Multi-channel Publishing

In.vision Research and Vasont Systems announced a partnership designed to closely integrate their products in order to further meet the needs of publishing clients. Under the terms of the agreement, Vasont Systems, whose content management system enables organizations to manage and store multilingual content, will create an extension that allows Xpress Author for Microsoft Word users to access, store, search, and reuse structured content stored in Vasont databases. http://www.vasont.com, http://www.invisionresearch.com

PTC Delivers Solution for Service Manuals

PTC (Nasdaq: PMTC) announced the availability of a comprehensive out-of-the-box solution for creating, publishing and delivering technical service manuals. Built on Arbortext dynamic publishing software, this solution enables customers to publish service manuals with embedded interactive illustrations quickly with minimal configuration. The service manual application includes capabilities to create text and interactive graphics, collaboration, content management and configuration, and dynamic publishing. It is enabled by the latest release of Arbortext dynamic publishing software. Built on the Arbortext dynamic publishing software, this application is now available. http://www.ptc.com

Design Science Releases MathType 6 for Windows

Design Science announced the release of MathType 6 for Windows, a major upgrade that is compatible with Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows Vista. New features include TeX input, the ability to copy equations to and from Wikipedia, and more. MathType is the full-featured, professional version of the Equation Editor in Microsoft Office and many other products, and is used by math and science educators, engineers, research scientists, students and publishing professionals to include mathematical notation in printed documents, presentations and web pages. MathType 6 takes full advantage of Office 2007's new Ribbon user interface by adding a new MathType tab in Word and PowerPoint to do equation operations in documents and presentations, and introduces new equation numbering and browse features that work with all Word 2007 equation types. MathType 6 enables the user to copy equations from existing TeX documents, and scientists who already know the TeX typesetting language can now type expressions directly into MathType. MathType is US $57 for academic users, $97 for non-academic users; upgrades are US $37 for academic users, $49 for non-academic users. http://www.dessci.com

OASIS Approves Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) 1.1 as OASIS Standard

OASIS announced that its members have approved DITA version 1.1 as an OASIS Standard, a status that signifies the highest level of ratification. DITA builds content reuse into the authoring process, defining an XML architecture for designing, writing, managing, and publishing many kinds of information in print and on the Web. DITA supports single sourcing across books, help files, training, and multimedia. It enables modular, topic-based authoring through rich, semantic markup. It incorporates special features for localization, accessibility, and robust conditional processing. Version 1.1 of DITA provides enhanced print publishing capabilities with new DITA Bookmap specialization, including extended book metadata. The standard offers more indexing capabilities with new elements for "see" and "see-also" references. It features new elements for defining structured metadata as well as the ability to add new metadata attributes through specialization. DITA was developed under the Royalty-Free on Limited Terms Mode of the OASIS Intellectual Property Rights Policy. http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/dita/, http://dita.xml.org/

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Information and content technology industry news reported bythe Gilbane Group NewsShark team. Comments are welcome and are moderated.

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May 9, 2008

Syncro Soft Announces New Release of Oxygen XML Editor, Schema Editor and XSLT/XQuery Debugger

May 7, 2008

Inmedius Debuts S1000Dmanager V3.0 S1000D Publication Lifecycle Management System

May 6, 2008

XyEnterprise Release ContentaView 3.5

April 21, 2008

XyEnterprise Releases New Version of Contenta S1000D

April 7, 2008

IXIASOFT Announce Availability of DITA CMS Framework 2.1

February 4, 2008

JustSystems Announces DITA Maturity Model Co-Authored with IBM

January 9, 2008

SiberSafe Hosted XML CMS Service Now Available On-Demand

January 8, 2008

In.vision and Trisoft Announce Partnership to Boost Technical Publishing

December 19, 2007

IXIASOFT in OEM Partnership with 4DCONCEPT

December 18, 2007

Syncro Soft Announces New Release of Oxygen XML Editor, Schema Editor and XSLT/XQuery Debugger

November 2, 2007

Syncro Soft Announces Major Release of Oxygen XML Editor, Schema Editor and XSLT & XQuery Debugger

October 16, 2007

Inmedius Enters DITA-Based Software Market with Acquisition of DITA Storm

October 1, 2007

New Enterprise Search Engine Specializes In Engineering Documents

September 28, 2007

Xyleme Unveils Xyleme LCMS 3.1

September 25, 2007

Adobe Unveils Technical Communication Suite

September 14, 2007

In.vision and Vasont Systems Partner to Speed Multi-channel Publishing

September 12, 2007

PTC Delivers Solution for Service Manuals

Design Science Releases MathType 6 for Windows

August 13, 2007

OASIS Approves Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) 1.1 as OASIS Standard

Information and content technology industry news reported by
the Gilbane Group NewsShark team. Comments are welcome and are moderated.