Authoring Tools Team Evaluating authoring tools/XML editors Contact: Paul Carnogursky - Chair/Executive Sponsor Robin Etherington - Project Manager Todd

Authoring Tools TeamEvaluating authoring tools/XML editors

Contact: Paul Carnogursky - Chair/Executive Sponsor

Robin Etherington - Project Manager

Todd Jones - IS Representative

January 5, 2001

Authoring Tools Team 010501 R. Etherington - 2

Delivering the Vision Story

Helton/Allen

Cronin/CarboneStewart/ Sullivan

Lockard/Allen

ChangeMgmt.

ChangeMgmt.

Proofs/Pilots

Proofs/Pilots

GlobalProcessGlobal

Process

RepositoryRepository

E-Solutions

E-Solutions

ProgramMgmt.

Ondovcik/McFarlane

Westwood/Carbone

Evans/Tate

Etherington/CarnogurskyVan Steele/

Hood

ContentMgmt +

Info Model

ContentMgmt +

Info Model

AuthoringTools

AuthoringTools

InfoDeliverySystem

InfoDeliverySystem

Jarvo


= Interdependencies

Implementing the Vision Story

Information Model

Julia Cronin

Content RepositoryLiza Westwood

ePerformanceSolutions

Ken Tate

InformationDelivery System

Rachelle Helton

Authoring Tools

Robin Etherington

Content ManagementMarjorie Stewart

Global ProcessPaul Ondovcik/Bill McFarlane

Validating End-to-End Processes and Tools BTE Alpha Team Susan Lockard

TestingCustomer

Experience

Just Enough Just-in-Time Just for Me


Authoring Tools Team

• has representation from various candles & globally

• worked with representatives in the Design Community

• worked with all BTE teams to ensure its efforts were in sync with other aspects of the BTE. The authoring tool component of a global toolset is clearly dependent on its compatibility with other process and tool elements.

• Mandate: collect, rationalize and publish the requirements for the global authoring tool component of the BTE (Business Transformation Effort) program. Develop use & test cases, and participate in tool testing.


Business Drivers for BTE• Customers want consistent, predictable and ready

access to all Nortel Networks technical information via multiple delivery media

• Just enough, Just in time, Just for me: streamline information for immediate customer needs

• Contribute to Nortel Network’s ‘network solutions’ for customers - information modules

• XML is the international standard for data markup with the most momentum and the richest toolsets

• Competitors are going this route

• T&DS: be an active part of the Internet, along with all of Nortel Networks


What will be different?Authoring in the 21st Century

• away from books and document suites

• create modular information solutions that dovetail into the overall network solutions that Nortel Networks offers our customers

• the information modules are task-based

• we provide ‘customized modular information solutions’ to our customers via ‘multiple media.’

• we use an “XML Editor,” not a desktop publishing tool

• we work at web speed & with constant change

• we are an active part of the Internet revolution


What will be different?

Authoring in the 21st Century

• new tool set is a change for all Information Developers

• represents the information solutions paradigm shift and facilitates its implementation

• the XML Editor in unison with the Repository, Information Delivery System (IDS), and e-solutions tools

• works with global processes, content management, User Interface, IDS, e-solutions, change management, as well as marketing and sales and supply chain management

• contribute to the overall success of making T&DS think like a start up & act like an IP organization



Boundaries: New Paradigm

The BTE is dynamically changing how information is created, managed, assembled and delivered.

The BTE vision includes a ‘decoupling’ of authoring and publishing. The Information Developer will not control formatting, and the Information Developers’ view of information during content creation does not have absolute fidelity with the published version of that information.



XML - Extensible Markup Language

• people & computers search for specific content-based information within a document– HTML - format-based structures– XML - content-based structures/architecture

• XML manages documents• puts structure to a text file• markup languages allow for ‘search’ ability throughout files

& databases (repositories) of files.• XML works with programming languages - JAVA script

– XML is becoming the markup language of the web


Authoring Tools TeamEvaluating authoring tools

The Training and Documentation Technical Solutions Team, in conjunction with the Authoring Systems Requirements Team, decided that Arbortext Epic is the authoring tool component of the global Training and Documentation toolset.



The tools considered were Adobe's FrameMaker+SGML, SoftQuad's XMetaL and Arbortext's Epic Editor.

The requirements gathering and testing were exhaustive and detailed.

The alignment of Epic's feature set and performance with our requirements is clear.

Epic met every requirement, produced superior performance figures and demonstrated the greatest reliability when compared to FrameMaker+SGML and XMetaL.



Notable Findings: FrameMaker+SGML does not operate with XML as a native file

source. Therefore, it cannot accept many forms of XML. XMetaL provides no UNIX support and SoftQuad has no plans to

offer UNIX support with their product. This was a critical requirement for many authoring communities.

Epic handled large files -with several attributes & elements better than either Framemaker or XMetaL


Training

• Arbortext Epic is an extremely powerful XML Editor.

• User interface is different than FrameMaker’s & a learning curve for Information Developers is a reality.

• Information development process will be different.

• Training on Epic will occur within the context of the other aspects of the BTE.


XML Editor User Interface- with Doc & Tags



Authoring Tools TeamEvaluating authoring/graphic tools

Graphic Tools Requirements Team

• sub-team established end of August 2000

• Mandate: develop graphic tools and file formats’ requirements and standards that are compatible with IDS– in 2 phases:

– 1) requirements for 2D or line drawings, & grey scale/ continuous tone;

– 2) requirements for animation, video and sound

– Illustrator is recommended for illustrations– PhotoShop is recommended for continuous tone– SnagIt is recommended for screen captures


Authoring Tools TeamEvaluating authoring/graphic tools• Categories - Graphic Tools

• Illustration: e.g. Illustrator• Grey Scale/Continuous Tone: e.g. PhotoShop; Snag-It• Video (streaming video): e.g. Premiere; RealPlayer• Animation 2D : e.g. Flash; GIF; Director• Animation 3D: e.g. MacroMedia 3D Studio• Sound: e.g. Sound Files - 1) MPEG (MP3); 2) WAVE; 3) AIFF;

4) Midi; 5) Real Audio (for the web)

– IDS Requirements:• adhere to the ”e-BO" requirements and standards for

multimedia, video and audio• IDS will support "RealPlayer" for video (compression and

delivery), FLASH for multimedia (animation) and RealPlayer is handling audio


Authoring Tools TeamEvaluating authoring/graphic tools• it is essential to author graphics and videos/multimedia and

sound projects strictly adhering to ‘eBO’ standards.

• creating graphic/multimedia projects that follow ‘eBO’ standards ensures that they are compatible with all web based delivery goals, including IDS.

• the fundamentals are: "RealPlayer" for video (compression and delivery), FLASH for multimedia (animation) and RealPlayer is handling audio. The primary graphic file format is 'EPS.’

• For additional information about eBO standards, please go to the eBO website: – Web Business Organization (EBO)

http://www.nortelnetworks.com/admin/ - for corporate web development standards.

• The username is ntadmin; The password is pluto9


What, specifically can I do?• Keep your ears open -

– attend information sessions– read notices on the T&DS website

• Invite BTE team reps to your staff meeting or forum

• Be tolerant of mistakes. Wow, we’re moving fast!

• Keep an open mind with respect to the new processes & tools

• Get involved. Join a BTE team. Be positive & proactive

• Become familiar with global processes, information model, Epic, XML, content analysis, minimalism– you will use them all in your daily work


What tools and support are available?

• The T&DS Global Process website http://zyrkh9.us.nortel.com/CITS_BPI/citsbpi/CPI.htm

• Call on core members of the Authoring Tools team

• Chat with members of the team in your regional or product area

• Use the Change Management website to submit ideas for process improvements (coming soon)

http://zyrkh9.us.nortel.com/CITS_BPI/citsbpi/CPI.htm







Authoring Tools TeamResources

• http://www.hotbot.lycos.com/?comefrom=nspanel-search&MT=XML

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/xml/tutorial/

• http://www.looksmart.com/r_search?l&search=1&key=XML+Tutorial

• http://www.lycos.com/srch/?lpv=1&loc=fromnetscape&src=NETSCAPE&query=XML+Users+group

• XML: Next step for the Web? http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/review/crg868.htm

• XML can do things that HTML can't: http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/cckev000.htm• Nortel Vision (Nortel's group that is prime for developing videos and multimedia projects within

Nortel Networks)• Web Business Organization (EBO) http://www.nortelnetworks.com/admin/ - for corporate web

development standards. - The username is ntadmin; The password is pluto9

Arbortext web site:

• http://www.arbortext.com/

• http://www.infomap.com/

• http://www.comtech-serv.com/

• XML-DOC main page: http://www.egroups.com/group/xml-doc/


Authoring Tools TeamResources• http://www.oasis-open.org/cover/sgml-xml.html a comprehensive online reference work for the Extensible

Markup Language (XML) and its parent, the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). The reference collection features extensive documentation on the application of the open, interoperable "markup language" standards, including XSL, XSLT, XPath, XLink, XPointer, HyTime, DSSSL, CSS, SPDL, CGM, ISO-HTML, and others.

• http://www.oasis-open.org/cover/xml.html - Q&A plus in-depth information for above site.

• http://www.w3.org/XML/ - The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C): keepers of the XML standard.

• http://www.ucc.ie/xml/ - Frequently asked questions about XML.

• http://www.sgmlu.com/ - Architag University has been conducting training on SGML and related technologies and the tools that support them

• http://www.asrl.com/sgmlwww.htm - List of links of SGML and XML Resources

• http://www.xmlinfo.com/ - This site aims to provide well organised information and resources on the Extensible Markup Language (XML), one of the most significant developments on the World Wide Web and in electronic publishing and electronic commerce.

• http://www.xmlephant.com/ - The Big XML information database.

• http://www.ibm.com/developer/xml/

• http://www.gca.org/whats_xml/default.htm

• http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/00/11/14/001114hnw3c.xml

• http://www.w3schools.com/

• http://xml.us.nortel.com/

• http://www.xml.org/


Authoring Tools TeamPaul Carnogursky – Training and Documentation SponsorRobin Etherington – Project ManagerTodd Jones – Information Solutions Prime

Michael Artwick – Wireless Training and DocumentationJames Bambrick – Data Training and DocumentationTimothy Baughman – Information SolutionsTerry Billingsley – Data Training and DocumentationKenneth Brown – Optical and Access Training and DocumentationKevin Lavergne-The Training Place @ 5 MultimediaLorrie Carter – Succession and Carrier DocumentationPat Cottrell – Document ManagementSpencer Garlick – ION Training and DocumentationSean Harris – Information SolutionsDavid Hirschler – Optical and Access Training and DocumentationRaymond Johnson – Data Training and DocumentationJulie Julian – Optical Networks DocumentationNathaniel Key – Optical and Access Training and DocumentationSuzanne Laskosky – Optical Networks DocumentationClaire Le Moing – Wireless Training and DocumentationMary-Ellen Lynn – Optical Networks DocumentationJosh McCarty – Information SolutionsMichelle Montminy – Optical Networks DocumentationDelores Newell – Data Training and DocumentationGuy Patenaude – Optical Networks Training and DocumentationRichard Pesant – Optical CAP DevelopmentBrenda Petersen – Optical Networks DocumentationCarol Purdy – Software Release ProcessValerie Sonnefraud – Wireless Training and Documentation

Documents

Authoring Tools Team Evaluating authoring tools/XML editors Contact: Paul Carnogursky - Chair/Executive Sponsor Robin Etherington - Project Manager Todd