Avoiding Traumatic XML/SGML Transitions: Moving to XML/SGML Without Losing Your Writers Along the Way  

When moving to single-sourcing through XML and SGML, management often spends considerable time on tools evaluation and content management, but not enough on preparing the writers for the paradigm shift to the new environment. This presentation provides some hints for a successful transition for your personnel as well as your documentation.

Gelb, Janice. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Writing>XML>Technical Writing

XML Authoring: Coming to a Desktop Near You

XML for use in technical publications is growing in popularity. As the author explains, technical writers are likely to become more and more involved in XML document production in the future. This article looks at the many benefits of XML authoring and the trend that's moving technical publications toward structured content.

Abel, Scott. Writing Assistance (2007). Articles>Content Management>XML>Technical Writing

Paradigm Shifts are Never Pretty: Advice on Making the Move to XML Authoring

The move toward XML-based authoring in technical publications is a classic paradigm shift. It requires content creators to change their writing process and learn new concepts.

O'Keefe, Sarah S. TechCom Manager (2008). Articles>Writing>XML>Technical Writing

Structured Authoring for Everyone

Structured authoring isn't just for technical writers. Just about any department in an organization can benefit from it. This article looks at one way of bringing structured authoring to the masses: by adopting the authoring concepts used in an obscure word processor called Yeah Write.

DMN Communications (2009). Articles>Information Design>Technical Writing>XML

Technical Writing and XML: Reconciling Editorial License with Structured Markup

In writing reference material, consistency of organization and presentation is key. If the same information is presented in a consistent order and style throughout the publication or information set, it enhances the readability and usability of the material for the consumer. Ease of use is vital. XML provides a means to assist in the standardization of reference material from both an organizational and a semantic/content-oriented standpoint. Standardization based on structure and content enhances the potential for reuse of the XML-tagged information for both print and electronic delivery.But while there can be a strong relationship between the authoring and editing of content and structured markup, all too often conflicts arise between technical writers and DTD/schema designers and programmers. The perceived need for editorial license and creative freedom by many authors/editors clashes with the need for rigid structure to facilitate ease of programming for markup technologists and programmers. The disagreements are commonly between format and structure, looseness and rigidity, and are often more philosophical than practical.

Rudder, Douglas. IDEAlliance (2004). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>XML

Syntext Serna and New Trends in XML Content Authoring

Recent trends in XML content authoring demonstrate increasing shift towards advanced reuse patterns and multi-source compound document architectures. This imposes completely new requirements for the XML authoring tools, most of which were originally developed for narrative document authoring and architectures like Docbook or TEI. The key requirement is the ability to provide a single, transparent, directly editable view for such complex documents.

Antonov, Paul. IDEAlliance (2005). Articles>Information Design>Technical Writing>XML

Structured Authoring for Everyone

While the concepts of structured authoring are more than just slightly useful for technical writing, they can be beneficial for just about any writing task within an organization. But how do you bring XML-based structured authoring to the masses? Perhaps by taking a cue from a word processor called Yeah Write.

Nesbitt, Scott. DMN Communications (2009). Articles>Documentation>XML>Technical Writing