Skip to main content
P
ptc-20602401-Visitor
1-Visitor
March 31, 2010
Question

Epic Editor and S1000D: newbie to Editor needs advice

  • March 31, 2010
  • 13 replies
  • 4381 views

Hi,

This is an appeal to those in this forum who have worked with Epic Editor and S1000D (schemaor DTDs). I've been tasked to do an eval of Epic Editor (rather quickly) but first I have to learn how to use it.

We are about to collaborate with a client to update their aviation manuals. They use Arbortext Epic Editor (version unk) and we use Framemaker 7.2. We are in two minds: there is some thought that we should get Epic while there is other thought that we stick with Framemaker, as long as we can get their DTDs. I've gone through the tutorial and looked at the templates that come packaged with Epic. I've tried to plunge straight in and import/use an S1000D DTD but I can't find/don't understand how Epic does it (beside the fact that when I clicked on Import in the menu, I was told I didn't have the licence). I know how to do this in Frame but I want to give Epic a chance. Could someone please advise me or point me in the right direction to where I can get the info.

Help appreciated. Cheers

Carl Sarelius
Technical Author
BAE Systems

    13 replies

    Show previous replies
    I
    IanBoulton5-Regular Member
    5-Regular Member
    March 31, 2010
    Hello All,

    Editor does require extensive configuration to be used with S1000D. You need screen FOSI and publishing style sheets as a minimum. Then there's the data creation and codification, DM referencing, ICN generation etc..etc..

    Because of this, we created an OOTB solution for S1000D as a commercial application. It is referred to as Arbortext for S1000D. You can find details on the PTC website or you can contact me for further info.

    Best Regards,

    Ian Boulton
    Manager, NA S1000D Client Services
    PTC

    -

    P
    ptc-20602401-VisitorAuthor
    1-Visitor
    March 31, 2010

    Thankyou Dan, Alexander, Andy, Greg, Elizabeth and Ian,

    your answers were concise, confirming what I was already starting to think from my attempts to use the S1000D DTD with Abortext Editor: basically that I need to do/get a lot more before I can start editing documents, and producing SGML/XML, using just Editor.

    From my end, in a former company I have had experience using S1000D (v2.2) with a CSDB, Framemaker was our authoring tool, and usingthe various DTDs was relatively simple. Now I'm in a different company, different toolset different ideas.

    Thanks all for your input, you've been a great help.

    Cheers

    Carl Sarelius
    Technical Author
    BAE Systems Australia (Aerospace)

    A
    aleslie1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    April 27, 2010

    Hello Carl,

    I have been heavily involved with Arbortext Editor (formerly Epic Editor ) and S1000D; I also worked for BAE Systems,UKfrom 2001 developing and maintaining their Arbortext applications which included S1000D application amongst others. I was made redundant end of last year and have now set up my own company, Structured Information Ltd,providing the same capability and things are going well so far.

    In order to generate the S1000D templates you will need to :

    1. Download the correct issue of DTD/Schema from the S1000D website - work out which doctypes you need as each has it's own DTD.
    2. Copy into an appropriately named folder
    3. Create a catalog file.
    4. Make sure Arbortext references the catalog file
    5. Compile the DTD
    6. Attempt to open the template.sgm which should be generated for you by Arbortext

    If successful, you should see <dmodule></dmodule> within the editor window.

    You can now go ahead and create valid S1000D data modules however, it won't be easy without a stylesheet to help you.

    In order to create the stylesheet or FOSI you will require training and you will also need to purchase Arbortext Architect.

    A simpler method is to purchase a prebuiltS1000D application.

    If you are interested, I can provide you with a quote.

    Regards,

    Andy

    Terms & ConditionsCookie settingsAccessibility statement