What is XDocument?
XDocument is a document construction application for building documents from managed content across the enterprise. XDocument represents a new paradigm for creating documents that maximizes reuse by combining versioned fragments into new documents and producing standardized outputs.
Currently, 95% of enterprise documents are created using Microsoft Word or other word processors. However, these tools don't allow multiple users to work on documents simultaneously or provide the audit information regarding who made what changes to the document. Even with these documents, the majority start with fragments of other existing documents. All too often, this content is not indexed or searchable, making it difficult for users to find relevant existing content.
XDocument solves these problems and provides an advanced way of creating documents that will result in the following benefits:
- Lower cost and less time to create documents
- Auditable document history
- Multi-user collaboration on documents
- Consistent look and feel to documents (with Microsoft Word and PDF outputs)
Working with Fragments
Documents in XDocument begin with document fragments. Fragments consist of structured XML documents that are stored and versioned in a content management system (i.e. Documentum). XDocument provides a word processor-like interface for creating and editing fragments.
Because fragments are checked out and edited by various users, multiple users in the enterprise can contribute to the construction of a document, either sequentially or simultaneously. Having users work this way with fragments provides an audit trail for each fragment which consequently provides an audit trail for each document. Each document fragment can also undergo its own review process.
The content in fragments is indexed and assigned attributes so that an approved fragment can be later retrieved for inclusion in other documents. Powerful XDocument searching allows new documents to be created from existing content.
Assembling Documents
Documents are constructed by dragging and arranging fragments into the document. Once inside a document, a fragment can be customized for that particular document. XDocument also supports variables that can be assigned on a per document basis. When a fragment that was incorporated in a document is modified outside the document, the document author is notified so that he can reincorporate the changed fragment in the document. This provides document authors with the knowledge that the document they are working on represents the most current content.
Rendering Outputs
Anytime during the document construction process, documents and fragments can be previewed to produce a rendering of what the document will end up looking like. When a document is ready for final review or release, selecting a build option will produce PDF and Microsoft Word renditions of the document. These renditions are stored and versioned in the content management system.
Because XSLT technology is used to produce document outputs, you are guaranteed a consistent look and feel between documents irrespective of the author. This consistency assures professional looking documents from your organization.
Features
- Integrated content editing/management environment
- Integrated word processor for editing fragments and documents
- Customizable user layout (docking windows, tabbed, MDI interface)
- Native CMS connectivity with Documentum 5.x and Microsoft SQL Server
- Document searching, favorites and checked out documents lists
- Integrated user level security
- Extensible to incorporate custom editors or custom functionality
- Wizards and templates provide quick starts to documents
For more information or a live demonstration of XDocument's capabilities contact CUESoft.
