XML Documentation - The Missing Link (2)
by - January 25th, 2008
Sharing XML documents during the writing and review process is a missing link in the XML publication chain. While Office or PDF applications help, they also add another extra-layer of complexity and loose the “XML awareness” of our initial document. That’s where LiveTechDocs comes into play.
LiveTechDocs is an innovative web-based collaboration service that closes the gap between the creation of XML documents and collaboration. Being involved in LiveTechDocs makes me bias. Therefore, I will simply outline the key benefits you get using this collaboration platform and let you decide whether this is the right way to deal with “the missing link”.
The table below summarizes LiveTechDocs key benefits:
| BENEFIT | DESCRIPTION |
| Consolidated environment | Manage your documentation project in a single and secured website that acts as central point for the documentation team and company stakeholders. |
| Simplified process | No publishing just for reviews. The latest files are always ready review and the comments are integrated into the XML source files. |
| Increased productivity | Online review simplifies the reviewers’ job and facilitates communication; writers download XML files with the latest comments. |
| Efficient project management | Manage your project faster and better with built-in review workflow, activity dashboard, and task lists. |
However, using LiveTechDocs with your favorite XML Editor will generate efficiencies and transparency in the process. With this approach, your employees “work locally” (technical writers on XML software) “but manage globally” (documentation stakeholders on LiveTechDocs).
In summary, while XML technology and standards brought a lot of innovation into the world of technical documentation, they also introduced a new challenge to manage the documentation process. Online collaborative environments such as LiveTechDocs provide a great solution to smoothly and efficiently manage single-sourced documentation projects in a cost-efficient way.
Ready to close the missing link? Try LiveTechDocs now, it’s free. And don’t forget to send us your feedback!