DynaMark has extensive experience in using mark-up languages
including SGML, XML, XHTML and HTML. From project inception to completion,
we are experienced in developing simple and complex system architectures.
Using the finest available technologies, we assure that an organizations
data management capability is maximized for:
- Information Reusability
- Interoperability
- Rendering
- Interchange
- Localization
- Globalization
Our markup language skills include:
- Document Template Design including Document Type Definition
Design (DTD) and Schema
- All class type Interactive Electronic Technical Manual
(IETM) design and development
- Style Sheet Development
IETM Development
DynaMark’s experience allows us to offer all class
Interactive Electronic Technical Manual development allowing for features
such as:
- Human and Computer Interactivity
- Incorporated Video
- Simple or complex Interactive Graphics
- Real-time Diagnostics, Troubleshooting, Parts Ordering
and Inventory Control
- Publication delivered on CD-ROM, DVD, Internet, or a combination
of paper and electronic mediums
The advantages available in today’s high speed
world allow organizations to migrate from paper-based publications
towards robust IETMS that fully exploit available technologies. This
solid business decision provides long-term costs savings and streamlines
development times.
For most businesses much of the data required to produce
IETMs already exists, having been authored during different design
phases associated with manufacturing.
DynaMark takes advantage of this
by designing the content management solutions to capture and reuse
information that currently exists and to ease the effort for remaining
information that requires authoring.
This allows for single source
information updates which result in a significant cost reduction and
up-to-date information transfers.
DynaMark leverages the system architecture to realize
the advantages offered by open source languages such as Java, and Perl.
When used in conjunction with markup languages such as SGML, XML, XHTML,
and HTML, the full power is demonstrated by the dynamic production
of intelligent IETMs within all classes.
Document Templates (DTD and
Schema)
DynaMark specializes in document template design. Document
templates provide the overall definition of document objects that structure
information. There are two current forms of document templates available
for structuring data in a markup language: the Document Type Definition
(DTD) and Schema.
The document template provides the foundation for
data retrieval and interchange. A well structured template design allows
for the rendering of retrieved data into many document types including:
books; technical manuals; training modules; whitepapers; reports; and
IETM’s. DynaMark has the experience to produce templates that
add intelligence to the data and allow the content to be reused in
the desired end result.
Markup languages rely on the principles of inserting
tags containing content. Tagging methods may be either informative
or generic and each method will have advantages or disadvantages that
require careful analysis to determine the optimum method to be used.
DynaMark believes that wherever the functional requirements allow, Informative Tags provide greater advantages over Generic
Tags. Informative
tags provide a powerful tool when repurposing and reusing data which
offers significant advantages when information has a long lifecycle
and is subject to frequent amendment.
There are several factors that DynaMark considers when
developing a DTD or Schema such as:
These factors are defined as:
- Content-specific Markup: It’s all about
the content. Markup languages are designed to separate content from
format in order to enable the ability to reuse and repurpose information.
The markup itself must consider the implications on formatting. For
example, the use of elements or attributes such as “bold”, “italic” or “color” do
not allow for repurposing in various renderings. If a portion of
the data is required to be changed from bold to italic, the markup
must be modified manually rather than simply modifying the style-sheet
(format).
- Ease of Authoring: Markup
language allows authors to focus on content. This requires providing
the content author with intuitive tag names; clearly written authoring
guidelines; and detailed examples.
The provides a user friendly system
that assures the information assembly with proper tag sets and ensures
consistent usage which contributes to overall quality and accuracy.
- Style Sheet Requirements: The
document template designer must also consider the strengths and limitations
of the style sheet used for output formatting. For example, if the
style sheet and rendering engine will not provide for document restructuring
and transformations are not an option, then the DTD must provide
the required structure.
- Information Reuse: Reuse
of information is defined as producing single-source content in order
to provide the ability to apply data in multiple source documents.
For example, technical data may be reused within a technical manual
or a user’s guide. With respect to document templates this
is designed through template fragmentation.
This allows for the storage
and authoring of reusable information objects containing content
that is sharable among many documents (write-once, use-many). Data
reuse is maximized by the design of well-defined structures and tag
sets, allowing for consistency and standardization of content.
- Repurposing of Data: Repurposing
of data is defined as the ability to provide several rendered formats
using the same content. This includes the ability to render information
into several formats (rendering data into a linear or tabular format)
or into several application types (paper, PDF, RTF, or Web). Repurposing
is provided through the development of well-structured templates
and defined tag sets.
- Transformation: Documents
may require transformation for the purpose of converting information
to other document structures; providing functionality not provided
by formatting engines (such as sorting); or for data interchange.
This requires a strong understanding the database and documentation
structures used throughout the enterprise and external vendors. Transformations
are more easily developed from standardized instances produced with
a well structured and defined DTD.
- Translation: Translation
is not a requirement for all document template designs, however it
must be considered if the data may be used in a global environment.
When reusing information it is very important and cost-effective
to translate the information once and only once.
To achieve this
it is imperative that the storage an management of information allows
the translated text to be a associated with the original source text.
This assures accuracy in context and that textual modifications are
recognized and appropriate action is taken.
- Internationalization: Internationalization
is defined as the development of a system or software product so
that it works in multiple languages and provides the cultural perspective
of different locales, without having to redesign the basic elements
for each locale.
Document templates may be designed with globalization
in mind by providing content frameworks that allow for the enrichment
of cultural features appropriate for multiple locales.
Style Sheet Development
DynaMark provides style sheet development for all rendering
requirements. We use the finest available technologies such as FOSI,
DSSSL, and XSL-FO. Our experts are skilled in providing transformations
between various markup language document types using transformation
engines including XSLT.
Whether the rendering needs are Paper, PDF or Web-based,
we assure our quality style sheets meet all information formatting
requirements.
