Mekon Eclipse Create is built on the power and usability of Arbortext Epic.
It was designed from the outset for technical authors creating data modules in a busy production environment. Eclipse Create provides support for S1000D Issue 2. No other applications come close to matching the broad coverage and depth of detail unique to Mekon Eclipse.
The strength of Eclipse Create for S1000D is in the clear and concise editing environment provided by Epic and in providing the options for printed output.
Eclipse Create has many powerful features including:
In S1000D-based projects, the single source is the Common Source Database (CSDB) or, at a finer level of granularity, the SGML data module. Eclipse Create for S1000D lets you publish your data modules to a wide range of output formats. You can publish single documents or collections to SGML, PDF and high quality printed output.
SGML or XML is a data module’s native storage format. SGML viewing systems are available, but the most exciting developments in this field are XML-based. XML is effectively a web-friendly application of SGML technology. S1000D Change 9 introduced the XML-based Interactive Electronic Technical Publication, XML oriented (IETP-X). IETP-X uses XML versions of data modules conforming to the dmodulex DTD. Eclipse Create for S1000D gives the author the power to prepare SGML data modules fully for IETP-X use (including Xlink behaviour and intelligent graphics hotspot integration).
Eclipse Create for S1000D has been designed to give the widest range of output options across the suite. The formatting follows the S1000D specification, but provides additional control to address ambiguities in the specification or customer-driven alternatives. Our plug-in technology also allows project-specific formatting requirements to work alongside or completely replace existing S1000D rules. Publishing data modules as hard copy manuals may not have been the original intention of the specification, but many organisations have decided that it suits their needs. Mekon can help here too, as the Eclipse BookBuild tool is designed to make the process very simple while providing the enhanced functionality required to produce and manage a traditional printed manual.
The Table of Contents, Lists of Figures and Tables and References Table are automatically generated on request. This behaviour can be changed so that these items are not generated. You may wish to include a ToC in a normal descriptive module, but exclude it from a datasheet that uses the same document type.
Each page of a data module includes an effectivity block. This displays information about the applicability status of the data module. Because every project has different requirements for the text that is displayed in the block, you can now tailor the display by manipulating a configuration file. Alternative configurations are possible for each active plug-in.
S1000D Issue 2 introduced project-specific attribute values for certain elements. For example, Skill level “sk01” could mean different things on one project than another. The Epic applications are designed in a modular fashion and a project is easily able to change outputs as required.
In Epic, we’ve added a user-friendly way to create ISO special character entities, which is more robust than the standard implementation. We also include the special “Mekon ISO Entity Symbol” font to ensure that all of the permitted ISO characters are available for use.
The Epic applications can provide different views of the document suited to screen and paper. Tagged views of the document can be achieved using Epic’s Tag View function.
As an alternative to element renaming in the Epic applications, help is provided so that the user can see the definition of a element by pressing a key when the cursor is next to it. The element help panels can be configured by the project.
As an alternative to element renaming in the Epic applications, Help is provided so that the user can see the definition of an element by pressing a key when the cursor is next to the element. The Help panels can be configured by the project. The approach here is to leave the elements and attributes as they are in the DTD or Schema and to provide the full explanations and supporting business rules in the hyperlinked tag help system.
Mekon is able to provide SE guidance and training on the specification and to give advice on applications that will automatically check textual content against the rules of ASD SE.
The application has a number of tools that assist the author in the creation and editing of Data Modules:
Internal cross-references - selection of any of the elements to which reference can be made (a local file contains the business rules), including the insertion of an ID where this has not yet been done.
Reference to other data modules - selection of a data module from a list enables the user to insert the ‘REFDM’ element complete with DMC at a click, enhancing accuracy.
Reference to another technical publication - selection of technical publication from a list, which can be added to by the user if required.
Selection of items from predetermined lists of support equipment, supplies and spares enables the preliminary requirement lists to be automatically populated from approved items.
The Epic applications can provide different views of the document suited to screen and paper. Tagged views of the document can be achieved using Epic’s Tag View function.
Often in the creation of data modules common structures are required that would normally take some time to create. This tool enables the user to insert common items into the document. Examples are: regularly used tables; common warnings, cautions and notes; and other common items (such as regularly used phrases).
This feature enables the user to create automatically the list of references that occurs at the front of every data module.
The user has the facility to select from approved graphics. The application enables the user to view the graphics to ensure that the correct one is selected. On selection of the required graphic the application carries out all necessary tag insertion.
Some of these tools make use of a database. This may be standalone or it may be the Common Source Database (CSDB) used by the project. If the CSDB is used, the contents are dynamic and reflect the latest state of the material.
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