Authoring Systems: An Authoring Systems: An Overview Overview

Presented byPresented byDave Murphy Dave Murphy

Senior Managing EditorSenior Managing EditorLippincott Williams and Wilkins Lippincott Williams and Wilkins

530 Walnut Street 530 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 Philadelphia, PA 19106

215 521 8747 215 521 8747

Authoring Systems Objective Authoring Systems Objective

A tool that is flexible enough to allow rigidly and A tool that is flexible enough to allow rigidly and loosely enforced structural rulesloosely enforced structural rules

A tool that includes content management A tool that includes content management featuresfeatures

Check-in / check-outCheck-in / check-out Workflow processingWorkflow processing Collaborative authoring for an environment that is Collaborative authoring for an environment that is

not media neutral, but targeted for all medianot media neutral, but targeted for all media

Authoring Tool Process Goals Authoring Tool Process Goals Help writers and editors concentrate on writingHelp writers and editors concentrate on writing Achieve gains in production by passing well Achieve gains in production by passing well

structured content or XML to the production structured content or XML to the production processesprocesses

Eliminate the problems associated with managing Eliminate the problems associated with managing unstructured filesunstructured files

Provide the publisher with some workflow Provide the publisher with some workflow management and reporting toolsmanagement and reporting tools

What is an Authoring tool? What is an Authoring tool?

A Word template?A Word template?– YES! Sometimes the solutions can YES! Sometimes the solutions can

be simple. be simple. – You need to balance the cost of You need to balance the cost of

technology against the needs to technology against the needs to the project.the project.

– A template can help guide your A template can help guide your authors in writing to a pre-authors in writing to a pre-established pattern. established pattern.

The Five Minute SeriesThe Five Minute Series

Needed to distribute hundreds of topics to hundreds of authors

No XML but some level of structural control and some page count management.

What is an Authoring tool ? (continued)What is an Authoring tool ? (continued)

A slightly more sophisticated version is a Word A slightly more sophisticated version is a Word template with some scripted featurestemplate with some scripted features..– Sample that follows set up with Univers Condensed for box Sample that follows set up with Univers Condensed for box

text, set to 7.5/9 as in specstext, set to 7.5/9 as in specsIncludes Font check during validation also now checks and Includes Font check during validation also now checks and resets leadingresets leading

– Includes a "Paste" macro on the toolbar--if the author uses Includes a "Paste" macro on the toolbar--if the author uses this instead of the regular paste function, it will clean the this instead of the regular paste function, it will clean the text automatically for them and prevent a possible error if text automatically for them and prevent a possible error if they are trying to paste line/page breaks into text boxes, they are trying to paste line/page breaks into text boxes, which Word will not allow.which Word will not allow.

– This template designed to help control the content depth This template designed to help control the content depth during the authoring stage. during the authoring stage.

– Not 100 % accurate but effective at limiting the author to Not 100 % accurate but effective at limiting the author to the space allocated for an individual topicthe space allocated for an individual topic..

LAUNCH TEMPLATELAUNCH TEMPLATE

Templates the up-side Templates the up-side

Low costLow cost Easy to createEasy to create Nominal learning curveNominal learning curve Aids in guiding author to write to a predetermined Aids in guiding author to write to a predetermined

structurestructure

Templates the down-side Templates the down-side Distribution issues, especially when an update is Distribution issues, especially when an update is

needed. Getting authors to change templatesneeded. Getting authors to change templates Macro and Macro virus paranoia - alerts go up, IT Macro and Macro virus paranoia - alerts go up, IT

managers don't want to allow the functionsmanagers don't want to allow the functions Compatibility across various versions of WordCompatibility across various versions of Word Word files have many issues. If the template Word files have many issues. If the template

doesn't kill off word features like text boxes, the doesn't kill off word features like text boxes, the author can still break all rulesauthor can still break all rules

Conforming and control issues - dealing with Conforming and control issues - dealing with hundreds of fileshundreds of files

Real virus problems - template may actually get Real virus problems - template may actually get infected, and can spread viruses.infected, and can spread viruses.

Authoring and Composition toolsAuthoring and Composition tools

Adobe InCopy® and InDesign® Adobe InCopy® and InDesign® – Plus SidePlus Side

Well integrated systemWell integrated systemWYSIWYG environment for copyfittingWYSIWYG environment for copyfitting

– Negative SideNegative SideCost to licenseCost to licenseLearning curveLearning curve

The Next Step Power X Editor The Next Step Power X Editor Authoring System Authoring System

Developed by TechbooksDeveloped by Techbooks

Developed to support compositor Developed to support compositor internal editorial processesinternal editorial processes

Has been modified to include Has been modified to include additional editorial features needed additional editorial features needed for a collaborative work flowfor a collaborative work flow

Is being reviewed for potential to Is being reviewed for potential to work with an internal content work with an internal content management system (Documentum)management system (Documentum)

Production AdvantagesProduction Advantages

Can Provide XML at Any Time for Can Provide XML at Any Time for Marketing, Publish-Before-PrintMarketing, Publish-Before-Print

Author Productivity Enhanced as Focus is Author Productivity Enhanced as Focus is on Content, Not Presentationon Content, Not Presentation

Development Team Can Provide Specific Development Team Can Provide Specific Customization to the InterfaceCustomization to the Interface

Preview Mode Provides a “Galley View”Preview Mode Provides a “Galley View”

Real Life Real Life

Real people are finickyReal people are finicky Need to be able to break out of system for special Need to be able to break out of system for special

casescases The system must be supported by competent The system must be supported by competent

helphelp

Summary Summary There are no one size fits all solutions. For some There are no one size fits all solutions. For some

titles none of these are necessary, for some task titles none of these are necessary, for some task a template or a scripted template is the way to a template or a scripted template is the way to go. go.

For multi-authored complex books, for annuals For multi-authored complex books, for annuals and for titles where structural integrity is required and for titles where structural integrity is required to facilitate repurposing the data a full blown to facilitate repurposing the data a full blown authoring system is worth investigating.authoring system is worth investigating.

It is a system that is evolving as our It is a system that is evolving as our understanding of its strengths and weaknesses understanding of its strengths and weaknesses grow.grow.