The comparison with other tools
We are often asked to estimate how much time can be saved with ARDOS compared to standard technical documentation or compared to FOSI-based SGML and XML documentation. The following example might not be 100% accurate since the estimation also depends on the know-how of the technical writer, the consequent usage of ARDOS tools or the tools of competitors and how precise the usage of all data elements is (data elements are often optional according to the DTD but they should be used if they are available). Only the consequent usage of all data elements makes online and PDF documentation interactive, user-friendly and consistent.
| Section of manual | appr. pages |
|---|---|
| Pages complete | 0 |
| Pages - index (LEP, TOC, NI etc.) | 0 |
| Frontmatter / Static content | 0 |
| DPL illu | 0 |
| Parts list | 0 |
| Descriptive part | 0 |
| Descriptive illu | 0 |
| Procedural part | 0 |
The following table gives estimations (in minutes) based that the PDF consists of the same functionality.
It is based on new manuals or on manual revisions with appr. 20% changes on the content.
Please move the mouse over the ARDOS column to get further explanations.
| Task | non SGML / XML | FOSI based | ARDOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation of project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of frontmatter incl. highlight | 0 | 0 | max 1 min. |
| Creation of indexes (LOI, LOT, TOC, NI, OVI) | 0 | 0 | max 1 min. |
| Creation of LEP (incl. revision) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of descriptive text | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of illustration (desc. part) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of DPL parts listing | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of procedural text (Disassembly / Assembly) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Key assigment, sequence number management, inheritance of attributes | not included 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Insertion of graphic references | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of links between DPL and NI | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Proofreading - procedure against DPL, correct use of itemnumbers and corresponding part |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| Correction of procedure (DPL <--> procedure) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of IPL illustration | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of links between illu and DPL (IPL) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of procedural text (Testing) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Spell check | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Simplified technical English check | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Correction of simplified technical English | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reuse of text incl. correction of meta-info and revision settings | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of PGBLK 9000 (incl. general section of each affected PGBLK) | 0 | 0 | max 1 min. |
| Comparison PGBLK 8000 with remaining manual | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Definition of effectivities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Check of effectivities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Check of Meta-Information within the manual (function codes, sequence number, key/id, etc.) |
not included 0 | 0 | 0 min. |
| Insertion of REV. marking / deletion old ones | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Comparison of page setting (left/right, fold-out, "intensionally left blank"), correction of the corresponding required settings / use of correct attributes etc. |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| Creation of PDF bookmarks | 0 | max 1 min. | max 1 min. |
| Setting of PDF properties | max 5 min. | max 5 min. | max 1 min. |
| sum | 0 h | 0 h | 0 h |