Electronic Publishing

• 11/26/03

Perhaps no traditional industry has been revolutionized by technology as much as publishing. With the help of tools like the ones listed below, anyone can build or find appropriate content, produce it, and publish it in print or online. New tools help authors collaborate with each other. Features that once were the domain of technical professionals are now accessible to the average user. Easy-to-use, drag-and-drop features have simplified the process of presenting dynamic content generated in or collected from various media sources.

Arbortext 5
Arbortext produces XML-based software for publishing to a variety of media from a single content source. Arbortext’s software suite is designed to streamline the process of creating and publishing complex documents. Arbortext 5, available in March 2004, will include seven components: Enterprise Editor, the authoring tool, content creation. It allows content to be stored in content management repositories and assembled on demand. Enterprise Editor builds content for publishing in a variety of media, including Web, CD-ROM, print, and wireless. The Enterprise E-Content Engine (E3) converts content from Microsoft Word, Adobe FrameMaker, and Interleaf documents to XML, and publishes that content to print, PDF, Web, and wireless. Contributor, the browser-based XML editor, helps contributing authors and subject matter experts create XML content. Companion, Arbortext's new add-in for Microsoft Word 2003, will provide several key features to XML applications in Word, including automatic styling of tags and access to E3 for publishing. In addition, Arbortext 5 includes Architect, a rapid prototyping tool, and a Dynamic Content Assembly Manager tool to help streamline.

Contact: Arbortext, Ann Arbor, MI; (734) 997-0200; www.arbortext.com.

Adobe Framemaker 7.0
FrameMaker 7.0 features new XML capabilities that allow users to create, edit, import, and publish content in many formats, including print, PDF, HTML, SGML, and XML. Version 7.0 essentially blends the WYSIWYG features of FrameMaker with the publishing options of FrameMaker+SGML. Users will find comfort in the WYSIWYG layout and the continuous validation feature. The software offers a choice of two authoring modes: the familiar word processing, style-tagging mode, or a fully structured authoring environment optimized to produce valid XML and SGML files. FrameMaker 7.0 offers enhanced book authoring and layout features, the ability to process thousands of pages of content, and built-in features that automate and simplify mundane document preparation tasks. FrameMaker outputs to tagged Adobe PDF files, which are accessible to users with visual disabilities who read with the aid of a screen reader. FrameMaker offers long document support that includes book management features, sophisticated templates, and rich formatting options.

Contact: Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA; (408) 536-6000; www.adobe.com.

Morphon XML Editor 3
Now free to anyone who wishes to download it, the Morphon XML Editor lets users create and modify XML documents. Morphon also provides a Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) editor. Because it is written in Java, the XML Editor runs on any platform. Morphon's XML Editor features WYSIWYG editing, a validation engine, and hierarchical views. Views are extensible through a plug in API with DOM3 support. New to the latest version are a spell check, print previews feature, folding options, support for tables, support for Mac OS menu bar, automatic save feature, and many more enhancements. Users can view the edit in three modes: no tags, boxed tags, and inline tags. Users can also work remotely via HTTP or FTP.

Contact: Morphor Technologies, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; +31 (0)10 750 2600; www.morphon.com.

Design Science’s MathML Tools
Design Science offers a range of tools for working with MathML. First is MathType, the professional version of the Equation Editor in Microsoft Office, which enables the user to easily create equations by pointing and clicking, and can convert those equations into MathML, in either 1.0 or 2.0 versions. Users can apply this capability in several ways. For instance, from within the MathType editing window, one can capture all or part of an equation written in MathML and place it into an open HTML or XML editing window. From within a Microsoft Word document, using MathType’s MathPage technology, users can save the document as a Web page with all of the symbols and equations represented as MathML within the HTML page. Web pages produced this way can be displayed in Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows enhanced by Design Science’s free MathPlayer MathML display software, Netscape 7.0, or Mozilla. Another Design Science tool, WebEQ Developers Suite, is a comprehensive toolkit for building Web pages that include interactive math. eLearning companies, content developers, and education portals are using WebEQ to create Web-based learning environments that help educators engage students in math and science on the Web. Because WebEQ is based on Java and MathML technology, developed solutions will be platform- and browser-independent. MathFlow is a suite of production tools for STM publishers (science/technical/medical) working with MathML in XML workflow. MathFlow consists of three separate tools, one for each phase of the production process: MathFlow Exchange, which converts equations in Microsoft Word documents (both Equation Editor and MathType equations) into XML+MathML documents; MathFlow Editor, a WYSIWYG, native MathML editor that can be used to author and edit MathML in conjunction with various XML editors, similar in feel to using MathType with Microsoft Word; and MathFlow Composer, which outputs XML pages with MathML into HTML, XTHML, and PDF formats.

Contact: Design Science, Long Beach, CA; (562)433-0685; www.dessci.com.

Macromedia eLearning Suite
The integrated set of eLearning tools from Macromedia includes Authorware 7, Dreamweaver MX, and Flash MX. LMS knowledge objects simplify the task of complying with learning management system standards. Authorware lets users import PowerPoint files and add to them, building rich, interactive learning experience. Intuitive tools such as drag-and-drop outlining and menu-based content creation designed to make authoring easy. Flash MX software helps users integrate video, text, audio, and graphics, create animation, add interactivity, and incorporate rich-media assets into a presentation or publication. The Web site and application building tool Dreamweaver MX facilitates the development of Web-based content.

Contact: Macromedia, San Francisco, CA; (415) 252-2000; www.macromedia.com.

Click2Learn Toolbook Instructor
ToolBook Instructor, an interactive content development tool from Click2learn, includes hundreds of preprogrammed catalog objects in a robust, object-oriented development environment that support visual programming and scripting to create interactive behaviors for custom or adapted content. Content produced with ToolBook is interoperable with learning management systems through SCORM and AICC standards. ToolBook Instructor content can be launched, bookmarked, and tracked using SCORM or AICC. ToolBook Instructor supports a wide variety of media files, including sound, animation, digital video, streaming media, and still images. It supports Flash animation files, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player formats, GIF, and JPEG files. Toolbook provides assessment capabilities through a number of assessment types: true/false, multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and others. Content developed in ToolBook can be deployed on the Internet, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or CD-ROM. Users can integrate ToolBook Instructor content with the Click2Learn’s Aspen Learning Management System or any other standards-based learning management system for a complete solution.

Contact: Click2learn, Bellevue, WA; (425) 462-0501; www.click2learn.com.

Table: Digital Libraries