Decades of Experience
Dedication to Excellence
XML-based content management from data model to publication outputs
And everything in between
Architectural Areas
XML-based content management solutions consist of three architectural areas. Our experience covers all three.
Model Content
Information models are the beginning of your solution. The world of XML provides a array of established data models that you can select. Or you can develop a custom data model if your information requires it. You will also decide which validation constraints to apply to your content.
Create and Process Content
Creating content structured in your data model starts your business actions. You might convert content from one format to XML. Or you might use an XML editor. However it’s created, you content will be processed in various ways to prepare it for the different publication outputs that your business requires. There are a number of XML technologies that are used for processing tasks.
Publish Content
Your business depends on publishing your content. But the number of ways to publish content seems continually to grow. All the more reason to adopt proven technologies that can meet new requirements while never forgetting the classics.
Where Business and Technology Intersect
Set
Content Modeling and Validation
The XML world has produced a number of standardized vocabularies that do the work of data modeling for you. In many cases one of these will serve your business quite well and should be your choice. Among the most prominent of these vocabularies are:
- DITA
- S1000D
- JATS
- ATA
- DocBook
- MathML
If you have a unique content set that none of these vocabularies fit well then a custom data model can always be designed.
Content Validation
There are several ways to validate XML content:
- DTDs
- XML Schema
- RelaxNG Schema
- Schematron
Which validation language to use depends upon a variety of issues and your requirements. Don’t settle for a one-size-fits-all solution unless you know it’s right for you. We can provide guidance in navigating the relation between your requirements, the technical options, and optimal business implementation.
Build
One Step at a Time
Creating you content is where the journey begins. You might use an XML editor to create content. You might convert content from some other format to XML. You might use a combination of approaches. The key is not to try and fit your business into one peg; nor is it to preserve existing bad practices simply because they are familiar. What you need is the right fit that optimizes your staff skill set, business capabilities, and potential for growth into new technologies.
Creating Content Using an XML Editor
Commonly used in Technical Publication departments, XML editors present a straight-forward way to create XML content when you have a staff that is comfortable with the basics of XML structures, editing, and validation. There are a number of XML editors on the market today and we have experience with all of them and can provide consulting and training on using the editor.
Creating Content Using a Conversion
There are cases where using an XML editor isn’t a good fit for you business — or perhaps an important portion of your business. The most common case is when using Microsoft Word for creating and editing content is the only practical option. In this case the Word content can be converted to XML. We have many years experience implementing this approach and can provide the guidance and solution that you team needs.
A Processing Autobahn
Between content creation and publication stands a crucial step where the almost-magic happens: processing that content so that it’s right for each publication type. Experience has taught us valuable lessons here: a pipeline approach is much to be desired over the traditional one-giant-transform approach. More steps. Simpler code. Easier trouble-shooting. Easier maintenance. We will be happy to work with you to determine how best to implement the processing that’s require to produce your publications.
Present
Show the World
Just a few years ago “multi-channel” publishing meant HTML and PDF output. But today HTML output alone can mean output that fits presentation on TVs, monitors, tablets, and phones — which may have fold-able screens. Social media has increased the number of potential outputs more than we expected. Keeping up requires a sprint; in reality it’s a marathon. In addition, coordination with portions of the business that have traditionally worked independently is no longer acceptable. We can work with you to develop an approach that addresses all your publication requirements in the order that makes most business sense.
Want to know more? Have questions?
Let’s talk.