What can XStructuring offer you?
XStructuring is founded and run by me, Birgit Strackenbrock. I have a wide range of knowledge and experience with content structuring, XML, DITA (L&T), DITA specializations, XML-schema development and more. With my substantive knowledge I can help my clients get their content creation processes ready to work with medium and product neutral XML and thus ready for the future.
What is XML good for?
XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a coding language. This is used to mark content and define the meaning of content. Only in the publication process you define the format in a style sheet. That way content can be easily reused for different publications. You can use XML for all kinds of content.
Why DITA?
DITA is an international XML standard for topic based writing. You can create and manage different kinds of content and combine it for publication e.g. theory and interactive questions for the same student book.
Extensible Markup Language (XML) expertises
Content- & information analysis
To make efficient use of information and to publish it correctly, it is important to have a good overview of your information. Which information do you have available? How is it composed and structured?
XML-schema
With an XML-schema (W3C standard (World Wide Web Consortium)) you can define which codes (elements and attributes) may be used in your XML document. Also determined are which context, order and how often an element may occur. For example, a list may contain an unlimited number of list items.
DITA
DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) is a standard that is developed by OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards). DITA is XML based architecture for creating, production and publication of information. With DITA you can structure almost all types of content, especially technical documentation, but also learning & training material.
XSL-T/-FO
XSL-T stands for Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations and is a standard for transforming XML-documents to another format e.g. (X)HTML or to another XML. In practice, XSL-T is often used together with XSL-FO. XSL-FO stands for XSL Formatting Objects. In XSL-FO the lay-out of a document can be defined. With XSL-T and XSL-FO together you can transform XML-documents to PDF.
Questions about content structuring, XML and/or DITA?
In a non-binding appointment I would like
to give you a first advise for your content and XML issues.
Domains
A magazine about building, information about a certain region, rules to a board game: there are many different kinds of information. They can be published in as many different ways: books, magazines, on the Internet and so on.
Educational material
Interactive questions, tests and exercises play an important role within educational content. Schools examine these test and study materials in different ways; through (work-)books, in web applications or a combination of both. So it makes sense to develop your content as medium-neutral as much as possible by using XML.
Technical documentation
There is technical documentation in many different shapes and sizes: end users manuals, business-to-business information, maintenance manuals, and so on. These have in common that they all describe a technical product. As user you want to be able to quickly find the relevant information you need at that moment.
Legal publications
Laws and regulations are important and have to be accessible to everyone. Therefore there are special governmental websites. But often these laws are not easy to understand so that it can be useful to add commentary. Also jurisprudence can contain much information about how to interpret a law or regulation.
Experiences from clients and partners
XStructuring (Birgit Strackenbrock) delivers consistent and high-quality work for years in the field of content analysis, XML schema design and XML advice in general. She is a highly regarded specialist and we really appreciate that we can use her expertise. Her most recent work focuses on the further develop of our content and publishing systems.
ThiemeMeulenhoff
With FontoXML, we work every day to simplify structured writing. A smart content-architecture is essential for this. We like to work together with Birgit on this; as no one else she can translate complex challenges into a smart information model.
Fonto XML
Birgit Strackenbrock from XStructuring has been supporting us in several DITA-projects over the last months. The cooperation was very efficient and pleasant. We appreciate her high knowledge of and broad experiences with XML, DITA, QTI, XML-schema as well as content structuring and content architecture. We are looking forward to further cooperation with Mrs Strackenbrock.
Cornelsen
Crius Group and XStructuring (Birgit Strackenbrock) already work together for several years on different projects within the educational sector. Birgit has an open and professional way of working. Her extensive knowledge of content and information analysis typifies her. She is a specialist in the field of XML and DITA and she is able to perfectly combine technical insights with business and educational concepts.
Crius Group