This site is about Structured Authoring. That is a broad subject, but will focus on SGML and XML and the implementation. Tools used to author, manage, communicate and deploy data usually in the maintenance world from some small widget to a large weapon system. I no plans to endorse any vendors, but I will mention vendors when I use their tools. The posts on this site will not be marketing information, there are plenty of sites that announce new tools, versions and capabilities. I am not doing that because I want to show real examples as in getting something done.
Tools are a personal choice. You can edit SGML/XML in something as simple as using Notepad (not recommended) or inside Content Management Systems (CMS). The choice is usually cost which is contrasted to quality. Typically, the more expensive a tool the higher the quality of the output or its content. For example, managing 15,000 XML data modules from the S1000D specification using notepad, would be out of control, but managing those modules under CMS is doable. Quality would rise, because the tool would allow more reuse of items and tracking all of the associate items.
This site is a learning site. I am not a well known expert, but do have over 10 years experience working with structured authoring. I work in the Aerospace business, so my exposure to structuring authoring may be different than yours. I began this site as an adventure to learn a whole lot more information and rounding out my experience. I am convinced from my life’s experience is to learn something; you have to teach it (or in my case present it on a blog).
I am not really a Technical Communicator, but started out as a Technical Illustrator, then I wrote Illustrated Parts Information (hated it) and then move to over to Software Engineering, where I am today. I still work in the field of Technical Communications, working with Structured Authoring.
Douglas
